Solheim to meet LTTE leaders

by Manjula Fernando

Norwegian Special envoy Eric Solheim will meet the LTTE team led by its political wing leader Thamilselvan, on their return from Europe at the Bandaranaike International Airport today.

The special envoy who is here to take stock of the post-tsunami reconstruction work and finalise the proposed tsunami reconstruction joint mechanism for the North and East met the Muslim community at Kathankudi during his Batticaloa visit yesterday.

Solheim also met the Eastern Army leaders, LTTE area leaders and SLMM officials before returning to Colombo last evening, Norwegian Embassy spokeswoman Kejetsky Tromsdalan said.

"He will discuss the joint mechanism and other things with the LTTE leaders," Tromsdalan said.

The special envoy who is striving to broker a deal on a working arrangement between the Government and the LTTE to collaborate on the donor funded tsunami reconstruction activities in the North-East, expected to revive the stalled peace talks, on Tuesday expressed that they will be able to finalise the joint mechanism soon.

The special envoy who is scheduled to leave on Thursday afternoon will meet Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse today and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday to brief them on his discussions with the LTTE and the Muslim community.

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and Peace Secretariat Director General Jayantha Dhanapala also held discussions with the special envoy on Tuesday where details of the proposed working arrangement on tsunami reconstruction between the Government and the LTTE were taken up.

Asked whether Solheim cancelled a trip to the Vanni to meet the LTTE leaders the Tromsdalan said: "The arrangement was to meet the LTTE leaders on their return at the BIA. Usually he travels to the Vanni to meet them, but this was more convenient. There was no plan to go to Vanni this time."