The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jan Petersen, today replied to a letter of 23 October 2003 from the President of Sri Lanka, Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga, regarding a reported incident on 16 October 2003 involving the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

In his letter Jan Petersen informed the President of Sri Lanka of the steps that Norway will take in this matter and referred to the inquiry the Sri Lankan Government has launched into the reported incident.

Jan Petersen said he ‘will study carefully the report of the Government of Sri Lanka and also undertake a separate examination of the issues regarding the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.’

Further, Jan Petersen stated that in this process he ‘will consult closely with the governments of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, which participate in the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, in order to jointly assess the situation and the implications for the presence of the international monitors in Sri Lanka.’

Jan Petersen has asked the head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Major General (ret.) Tryggve Tellefsen, to be available for these discussions, including meetings with the Nordic governments.

The Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam will both be consulted as parties to the ceasefire agreement, under which the establishment of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was agreed.

Jan Petersen confirmed that ‘The Government of Norway remains committed to facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka at the request of both parties.’ - adding that, ‘The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission will continue to monitor the ceasefire agreement, upon the parties’ request, while we look into the incident.’