President discusses peace process with Norwegian PM

Bandula Jayasekara in New York

US: President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg discussed the Sri Lankan peace process when they met at the United Nations on Tuesday.

They discussed issues pertaining to the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) and in particular the ceasefire violations. Both leaders discussed the need to commence talks between the Government and the LTTE. They emphasised that an early date should be set for talks.

President Rajapaksa recalled that Norway has been one of the first countries to provide development assistance to Sri Lanka through NORAD. The two leaders agreed on measures to enhance further bi-lateral co-operation in recognition of the good relations existing between the two countries.

Norwegian Envoy for Peace Process in Sri Lanka Jon Hanssen Bauer was present at the discussion. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam and Foreign Secretary G.Palihakkara were also present.

President Rajapaksa also attended the Roundtable Discussion on Democracy on the invitation by President George W. Bush to a selected group of Heads of State and Governments. Kariyawasam said the discussion was lively and there was a good exchange of views between the American President, Heads of State and members of the NGO community at the discussion.

Earlier in the day, UN Under-Secretary General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy, Director- General of the International Labour Organization, Juan Somavia, Executive Director of UNICEF Ann Veneman and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Gutteres called on the President.