SINHALA MINISTER ONLY WORRY ABOUT SINHALA EMBASSY's SAFETY!!! BUT NOT WORRIED ABOUT KILLING/ MAIMING 1000s OF TAMIL CIVILIANS!!!

NORWAY NOT A FRIEND: GOVERNMENT.

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The Government yesterday claimed that Sri Lanka would not consider Norway as a country capable of assisting Sri Lanka to resolve the ethnic issue through dialogue as it likes to portray itself before the international community because the much-hyped Norway’s ‘conflict resolution’ has become a flop.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana charged that Norway has given a free hand to LTTE supporters to carry out terrorist acts against Sri Lanka in that country and Sri Lankans have irretrievably lost confidence in the country.

Commenting on the attack on the Sri Lankan embassy in Oslo by LTTE supporters last Sunday, Minister Yapa asked what kind of assistance Sri Lanka could expect from a country that cannot provide ample security to the Sri Lankan embassy.

“It is a well known fact that Norway has a soft spot for the LTTE and is soft-peddling terrorist activities in its territory. The LTTE holds rallies, demonstrations and publicity campaigns against Sri Lanka in addition to fundraising for its war efforts. While letting LTTE supporters carry out all these unlawful activities in that country, Norway asks Sri Lanka to declare a ceasefire, apparently to give a breathing space to the terrorist outfit. What kind of conflict resolution is that?” Minister Yapa asked.

What Norway should do now is to compel the LTTE to release civilians and surrender to the security forces. If and when the LTTE lays down arms and surrender, then Sri Lanka can start from that point and Norway may have a part to play at that juncture, he said..

“What is the response of Norway to the current ‘pause in military activities’ maintained by the LTTE. Why can’t Norway pressurize its friend to let the civilians in its clutches go free. That is the kind of assistance Sri Lanka expects from Norway if that country has a genuine desire to help Sri Lanka to resolve the ethnic problem,” Mr. Yapa said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told the Daily Mirror that Sri Lanka lodged the strongest possible

Norway

protest with the Norwegian Government on the Sunday attack on its embassy in Oslo.

“The Norwegian Government assured Sri Lanka that there will be no repetition of that kind of attack and would provide maximum security to the Sri Lankan embassy there,” he said.

However, Mr. Kohona declined to comment on whether Sri Lanka is re-evaluating the diplomatic relationship with Norway as several groups and political parties had asked the Government to break diplomatic ties with Norway in the backdrop of its support to the LTTE and the recent attack on the Sri Lanka embassy in Oslo.
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