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Uncertainty over Norway role ends

V.S. Sambandan

Rajapakse asks Oslo to continue facilitation in peace process

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Wednesday invited the Norwegian Government to "continue its role as facilitator" in the nation's peace process.

Mr. Rajapakse's main allies — the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) — were opposed to the Norwegian role.

Mr. Rajapakse extended the invitation during a meeting with Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hans Brattskar, a statement said.

It is not clear if the role would be "reviewed" — a pre-poll demand from the critics of Oslo's role.

Mr. Rajapakse briefed representatives from the U.S., U.K., Japan and Norway, who are the co-chairs of the initiatives to financially back the peace process, on his consultations and preparatory work for the continuation of the peace process, the statement said.

Grenade attack

In continuing low-intensity violence, a civilian was killed and eight persons, including a soldier, were injured in a grenade explosion in the northern Vavuniya town.

The Army suspected the LTTE's role in the explosion and described it as part of the "terror tactics".

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