Solheim arrives in Colombo, visits Puttalam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 April 2005, 14:37 GMT]
Mr.Erik Solheim, Norwegian special peace envoy arrived in Colombo Sunday on a five day visit to Sri Lanka amid expectation that he would seal an agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that would establish a joint mechanism to take forward the post-tsunami relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation programme in the northeast province, sources said.

He paid a visit to Puttalam, a Muslim dominated town in the western province bordering the northern province and met with representatives of displaced Muslim families of Jaffna district now sheltered in welfare centres. He visited Nooraichcholai, Alankulam and Puttalam areas, sources said.

Mr.Solheim told media persons in Nooraichcholai that he would meet leaders of government, opposition and the LTTE during his stay regarding the formation of joint mechanism.

He assured Jaffna IDP delegation that he would take up their matter during the talks with the LTTE, sources said.

He is scheduled to visit Batticaloa Tuesday and thereafter he would meet the Sri Lanka's President in Colombo and would discuss about the joint mechanism proposal.

Colombo political sources said Mr.Solheim will visit Killinochchi to have talks with the LTTE leaders after obtaining the views of the government and opposition leaders.

Meanwhile Colombo media sources Sunday reported quoting Mr.Jayantha Dhanapala, Government Peace Secretariat head that an announcement can be expected in regard to the formation of the Joint Mechanism once Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge returns to the island after her New Year vacation in United Kingdom.