In connection with the planned departure of the present Head of Mission of the SLMM, Major General (retired) Trond Furuhovde, the Government of Norway has appointed a successor, at the request of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Major General (retired) Tryggve Tellefsen, Royal Norwegian Army, has been appointed as the new Head of Mission of the SLMM. Mr. Tellefsen will arrive in Sri Lanka in late February or early March 2003, and there will be brief period of transition before Mr. Furuhovde’s departure.

Mr. Furuhovde has made an outstanding contribution to the establishment of the SLMM, pursuant to the Ceasefire Agreement of February 22, 2002, and has lead the monitoring mission through its crucial first year of operations. As Head of Mission, Mr. Furuhovde’s assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE in their efforts to implement and consolidate the Ceasefire Agreement has won him the deep appreciation of both parties. He will remain available to advise the Government of Norway on matters relating to the peace process.

Mr. Tellefsen comes to the SLMM with a broad experience from the Royal Norwegian Army and after many years of distinguished service in peacekeeping operations. In his most recent assignment, Mr. Tellefsen served as the Commander of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) – the peacekeeping force that oversees the security arrangements in the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel – from April 1997 through March 2001. From his service in the MFO, Mr. Tellefsen is noted for his tireless effort and his success at strengthening the liaison system between the Treaty Parties and the effectiveness of the MFO. Among other assignments relating to peacekeeping, Mr. Tellefsen has served as the General Officer Commanding UN Forces in Macedonia (UNPROFOR) from 1994 – 1995 and as the Commander of the Infantry Regiment responsible for the selection of and training support for all Norwegian Army units in UN peacekeeping missions and other personnel abroad from 1989 - 1994.