SLMM Chief, Solheim discuss truce monitoring

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Ulf Henricsson and Norway's International Development Minister Erik Solheim had met in Norway to discuss issues pertaining to ceasefire monitoring.

Henricsson and Eric Solheim are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka today. Visiting Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The SLMM chief is returning after a meeting held in Norway among the Mission's participating countries where they had discussed strengthening the implementation of the ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

Asked to reveal the outcome of this meeting, SLMM spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir said it was an "internal meeting" and she could not comment on its outcome.

Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar met LTTE political head S.P. Thamilchelvan in Kilinochchi on Tuesday.

SLMM sources said the Government and the LTTE were yet to respond to "requirements" forwarded by the SLMM to commence naval monitoring.

Olafsdottir said yesterday that the Government had assured the SLMM that its reply was on the way. Meanwhile, the LTTE had responded by forwarding a letter to the SLMM.

"This letter, however, does not concern the SLMM requirements. The letter is about the general situation and their concerns," she said.

Olafsdottir declined to give details of the letter saying "it is between the SLMM and the parties concerned".