Colombo, Nov 08: Norwegian envoys will go ahead with a planned visit to Sri Lanka on Monday despite political turmoil that has cast a shadow over their peace efforts here, Norwegian Embassy spokesman Tomas Stangeland said. Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and special advisor to the Foreign Ministry Erik Solheim will arrive in Sri Lanka on Monday as scheduled, Stangeland said.

"There is no change in plans as of now," he said. President Chandrika Kumaratunga in a televised address to the nation last night said the Norwegian-arranged truce with Tamil Tiger rebels was illegal, yet she ordered troops to abide by the ceasefire.

The two Norwegians are expected to meet with Sri Lankan leaders on arranging the next round of face-to-face talks since the rebels announced last week that they were ending their boycott of peace negotiations. Official sources said the government had asked Norway to arrange a preliminary meeting with the Tigers to discuss dates and a venue for a full round of negotiations early next year.

The talks were to be arranged sometime later this month or early December, officials said.

Bureau Report