Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka, Nov 13: Norwegian peace envoys met Sri Lanka's reclusive rebel leader today to discuss a power struggle between the nation's President and Prime Minister that has threatened to derail the peace process. Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and special envoy Erik Solheim met with Vellupillai Prabhakaran behind closed-doors in this northern rebel capital, as tiger guerrillas kept guard.
Prabhakaran founded and leads the liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam, the separatist group embroiled in a 19-year civil war to establish a homeland in the northeast for the country's 3.2 million Tamils.
The Norwegians, who have played a crucial role in efforts to end Sri Lanka's civil war, met with President Chandrika Kumaratunga in Colombo yesterday.
Kumaratunga last week wrested control of the ministries of defence, interior and media from her rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, claiming he has made too many concessions to the Tamil rebels.
In Colombo, chief government spokesman G L Peiris said the Prime Minister, who initiated the peace process after winning elections in December 2001, believes his administration can not carry forward the peace process with "truncated responsibility," a reference to Kumaratunga retaining the crucial defence portfolio.
"This is not just possible, and the Norwegians also agree with us," he said.
There was no immediate comment from Kumaratunga's office. Bureau Report