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Government takes policy decision to abrogate CFA.
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Rajitha rejects fresh Norwegian role
Editor on 19 May, 2008 08:33:14 | 934 times read
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by Don Asoka Wijewardena Amidst claims President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government is seeking a fresh Norwegian role in Sri Lanka, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne has told former Norwegian peace envoy to Sri Lanka Eric Solheim that Sri Lankan State wouldn’t trust Norwegian facilitation in the peace process. The Patriotic National Front (PNM) last week regretted the government decision to send Senaratne to Oslo as it would have a detrimental impact on the efforts to defeat the LTTE militarily. Addressing a press conference called by the JVP on the PNM’s behalf, Ven. Dambara Amila criticised the visit. In a brief interview with The Island on his return from Norway Senaratne said the vast majority of the people had felt the Norwegian government had given oxygen to the LTTE during the CFA, thereby strengthening its capacity to achieve its objectives through military means. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government would continue military operations against the group until it laid down its arms unconditionally and returned to the negotiating table. Minister Senaratne dismissed assertion that the government would undermine the ongoing military campaign. During his meeting with Solheim, Senaratne said the people believed that the Norwegian government had been partial to the LTTE. The Minister said that he asked Solheim whether the Norwegian government, the United States and the European Union would guarantee that the LTTE was genuinely interested in a negotiated settlement.
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