Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Vidar Helgesen visits Sri Lanka 1-2 May

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Vidar Helgesen will arrive in Sri Lanka on 1 May 2004. Special Adviser Mr. Erik Solheim will accompany him during his programme together with ambassador Hans Brattskar and other officials.

The Norwegian delegation will have consultations with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on 2 May. Mr. Helgesen will have to leave Sri Lanka for a long-standing commitment in Indonesia after the talks with President Kumaratunga. The other members of the delegation will proceed to Kilinochchi on May 3 for consultations with the leader of the LTTE Political Wing, Mr. Tamilselvan.

The Norwegian delegation will explore with the two parties possible ways to take the peace process forward and how Norway might assist in this regard.