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by Uditha Kumarasinghe and Tharika Goonetilleke

[intro] Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday told visiting Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga together with the Opposition had no intention of sabotaging the peace process.

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday told visiting Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga together with the Opposition had no intention of sabotaging the peace process.

In a 45-minute discussion held at the Opposition Leader's private residence the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister and Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg briefed him on the progress achieved so far in the peace process, PA sources told the Daily News yesterday. Significantly, the discussions centred only on the peace front and no political issues were discussed, the sources said.

While stating that the Opposition did not intend to derail the peace process, the Opposition Leader expressed regret over the incidents in the East.

Rajapakse also emphasised that the peace initiative should be conducted without causing injustice to any community, the sources said.

The Opposition Leader thanked the delegation for their candid efforts as a facilitator to restore peace in Sri Lanka. The Opposition Leader also told the delegation that the People's Alliance was deeply concerned about restoring peace and that attempts should be made to safeguard peace.

Meanwhile, Rajapakse yesterday met Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson to explore the possibility of obtaining the release of PA activists in remand.

Rajapakse told the Daily News that the Attorney General had assured him that he would study the cases and ensure justice.

Yesterday's meeting comes in the wake of allegations that a large number of PA activists are being held on "trumped up charges" for political reasons.

"Some activists have been victimised, denied bail and jailed for their political ideologies and nothing else.

There is also a large number of cases that have been postponed without due reason," the Opposition Leader said.

According to him, certain PA activists are also being held without proper evidence. Rajapakse said he believed that "the Attorney General would expedite the disposal of these cases".

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