New Deputy Head for SLMM

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 10:33 GMT]
Mr.Wagn Wikel, a Danish citizen with a diplomatic and military background, has been appointed Deputy Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and will assume duties on November 8. He will be replacing Mr.Hagrup Haukland who has been serving in this capacity for about two years, SLMM sources said.

Mr Wickel toured northeast provinces last week on a fact-finding study regarding the ground situation in relation to the current ceasefire agreement, SLMM sources said.

Mr Wikel up to 1993 served as a Minister Counsellor in Tanzania, Bangladesh and Nicaragua. He also worked in the Norwegian foreign ministry.

Prior to his diplomatic services in Denmark, he was a Commander in the Royal Danish Navy and is currently a Commander in Reserve, SLMM sources said.