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Helgessen-Ranil pow-wow on agenda for
2nd round by Kesara Abeywardena October 22 Island: Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen held a dinner meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last night where the discussion revolved around the agenda for the second round of peace talks to begin late this month and other development matters concerning the North and the East as well as the whole country. The formation of the Joint Task Force as a precursor for the interim administration to the North-East was also discussed. Helgessen met Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday morning at his official residence in Torrington. The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister had apprised Opposition Leader Rajapakse of the progress in peace talks. Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Jon Westborg also attended the discussions. Helgessen arrived in the country on Sunday. Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim is expected to arrive in the country today. A Norwegian delegation comprising deputy foreign minister Vidar Helgessen, special envoy Erik Solheim, security adviser Lisa Golden and ambassador Jon Westborg are expected to meet the LTTE leadership including Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, chief negotiator Anton Balasingham and LTTE's political wing leader S. P. Tamilchelvan on Wednesday. Although the delegation is expected to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga, President's media secretary Janadasa Peiris said that the discussion would take place after the Norwegians' meeting with the LTTE. Helgessen and ambassador Westborg travelled to Hambantota on Sunday and met MPs of the area including Minister of Southern Development Ananda Kularatne, deputy minister Sajith Premadasa, deputy chairman of committees Siri Andrahannedi. They discussed about Norwegian-funded development work in the area. However, the Norwegian delegation was confronted by a protest in Hambantota organised by the JVP. The second round of peace talks will begin on October 31 in Thailand and will continue till November 3. (22/10/02 go2lanka.com) |