Brattskar's visit to Kilinochchi cancelled

COLOMBO: Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar's planned visit to Kilinochchi was cancelled due to security reasons yesterday, official sources said.

Peace Secretariat Chief and Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona said the Government advised him not to undertake the visit under the current circumstances. He did not elaborate.

Brattskar met Chief Government Negotiator Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on Friday, prior to the planned visit to meet LTTE's S. Thamilselvam.

Norwegian diplomatic sources, on Friday, termed the trip to be 'one of Brattskar's routine visits' to Kilinochchi to revive the stalled peace talks. He also added that there was little hope of any positive outcome from the visit.

At the Health Ministry meeting Minister de Silva briefed the Norwegian diplomat on the on going efforts by the Government to evolve a political solution through the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) reiterating the Government's commitment for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.