LTTE on the way to Oslo

Reports from Oslo confirm that the LTTE and government delegations were meeting the facilitators separately and a press briefing by the Norwegian foreign ministry has been scheduled for the evening.

The Sri Lankan government delegation in a statement posted on the Peace Secretariat website says that it made extensive preparations and was looking forward to these talks which would have been of a technical nature to provide SLMM with the required assurances.

“On the Thursday 08 June at 09:00 a.m. the Sri Lankan Delegation was informed by the Norwegians that the LTTE had declined to meet the GOSL delegation. The Norwegian government representatives themselves expressed complete surprise at the stance taken by the LTTE despite all the background preparations made by the Norwegian facilitators.” says the GOSL delegation.

Speaking from Oslo,chif of the delegation Palitha Kohona said that he is still optimistic and that the government will do every thing to encourage the LTTE to return to the negotiating table.

“This is not the end of the road “said kohona

The GOSL delegation say that they have been informed of the LTTE s objection to the presence of nationals from Sweden, Denmark and Finland as members of the SLMM was as they are from EU member countries.

The LTTE was banned by the European Union recently.