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Norwegian team to visit Lanka in quest of peace

As fighting between security forces and the LTTE intensified, a Norwegian delegation led by deputy foreign minister Raymond Johansen is to arrive in Sri Lanka on May 22 in an attempt towards bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table.

The Norwegian minister will be accompanied by Norway's special envoy Erik Solheim, official sources said, quoting Norwegian embassy sources.

US under secretary of state Thomas Pickering is also expected in the island next week in connection with the peace process but no specific dates have been given.

The Norwegian delegation will meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and Opposition leader Ranil Wickramesinghe. During its three-day stay, the delegation will also meet other members of the government as well as representatives from the civil society.

Political sources said the Norwegian delegation was expected to have wide-ranging talks with the Sri Lankan government and Opposition leaders. These discussions were expected to cover the present war situation, examine whether there was any possibility of starting talks with the LTTE and what role countries like India could play in such talks.

Solheim, who is coordinating Norway's bid as a facilitator, said earlier this week in Oslo that he was not discouraged by the latest LTTE offensive, but warned peace was still far off.

The visit also follows Solheim's visit to New Delhi last week to hold talks with Indian authorities on brokering peace in Sri Lanka.

UNI

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