Balasingham to join Norwegian meet in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 January 2005, 11:30 GMT]
Liberation Tigers’ Political Strategist and Chief Negotiator, Mr. Anton Balasingham, and his wife Adele are scheduled to arrive in Kilinochchi on Friday, sources close to the LTTE told TamilNet. He is expected to participate in the meeting of LTTE leaders with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson who are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday on a four-day visit to assess the damage and the needs of the people of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of tsunami disaster.

Norwegian special peace envoy Eric Solheim has already arrived in Colombo, sources said. Mr Solheim and Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen will accompany Norwegian Ministers to the meeting in Kilinochchi Saturday, sources said.

Balasinghams are expected to reach the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake on Friday morning, from where they will be airlifted to Kilinochchi in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter, sources in Colombo said.

"The two ministers plan to visit Hambantota and Mullaitivu to study the ground situation and to gain a first hand impression of how the relief work is proceeding for the people struck by the greatest natural disaster in the history of Sri Lanka," a statement from the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said early this week.