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| Friday, 21 January 2005 |
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| Norwegian delegation holds talks with Finance Minister by Uditha Kumarasinghe Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim and a special Norwegian delegation who arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday held talks with Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama yesterday on the reconstruction activities undertaken by the Government to rebuild the tsunami-hit areas. The delegation comprising Peace envoy Solheim, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and International Development Minister Hilde Johnson outlined that the Norwegian Government would extend their fullest cooperation towards efforts launched by the Sri Lankan Government to rebuild the lives of the affected people, a Finance Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday. The delegation also briefed the Minister on their objective to launch the first post-tsunami attempt to resume peace talks between the Government and the LTTE. The Norwegian delegation emphasised that the rebuilding measures undertaken by the Government so far to restore the affected areas in 13 districts has achieved many positive results and conveyed their appreciation to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and her Government in this regard. he said. Dr. Amunugama told the delegation that the intention of President Kumaratunga is to steer the country to a new direction free from bribery and corruption. The Minister said the Government will implement a systematic program to rebuild the devastated areas affected by the tidal waves and provide relief measures to all tsunami stricken families on an equal basis. The Government will formulate all reconstruction plans giving thought to coast conservation. The Minister also stressed that the Government was deeply committed to resume peace talks in a more systematic and transparent manner. The President is fully committed to peace and economic development, he told the delegation. Minister Amunugama said that he will hold a special discussion with Government officials of the Ampara District Secretariat to speed up the rehabilitation activities implemented by the Government in tsunami stricken areas in the Ampara district tomorrow. |
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