Former Norwegian PM will not speak to leaders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 12:50 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik will not hold talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe as scheduled, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said Thursday.

Embassy officials said scheduled discussions with the President, Prime Minister and the UNP leader have been cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances.

Mr.Bondevik is in Sri Lanka to participate in the commemorations to mark the first anniversary of the death of the late Foreign Minister Mr.A.C.S.Hameed. He will address the commemoration meeting at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall on international understanding and peace in a fast changing world.

Among others invited to speak at this meeting are UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, Ministers Professor G.L.Peiris and M.H.M.Ashraff.

Mr.Bondevik will leave the island on Friday after a two-day stay in Colombo, Embassy officials said.