Colombo, Nov 14: Norway withdraws from Sri Lanka's peace process until its President, Prime Minister settle political dispute, a Norwegian official has said. "We are going home to wait,'' Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen told reporters. “In the current political situation, holding talks will be impossible.''
Norway has been instrumental in Sri Lanka's peace process, brokering a February 2002 cease-fire between the government and the tigers and helping to launch peace talks. But those talks have been on hold since April, with the rebels demanding broader interim autonomy.
Norwegian mediators came to the country this week in hopes of setting the stage for new talks between the sides.
But the country is embroiled in a political power struggle between the Prime Minister who has sought to negotiate a lasting peace with the rebels and the President who alleges the Prime Minister has made too many concessions.
President Chandrika Kamaratunga has wrested control of the ministries of Defense, Interior and Information from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as part of their dispute.
Bureau Report