Norway seeks new role in Sri Lanka, explore ways to promote cooperation

The Island
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Former Chief Norwegian peace facilitator Environment and International Development Minister Erik Solheim is expected to visit Colombo to explore ways and means of promoting cooperation between the two countries.

Government sources told The Island that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Norwegian Premier Jens Stoltenburg had an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations on the sidelines of the 65th UNGA I New York on Tuesday (Sept 21). Sri Lanka’s Chief negotiator during the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNFgovernment, External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris and Minister Solheim participated at the discussion.

Presidential Secretariat quoted the Norwegian Prime Minister as saying that it was very important for President Rajapaksa to engage in both rebuilding the country and reconciliation among communities. The Norwegian leader said that Norway was eager to play a supportive role in Sri Lanka.

When asked what role Norway could play in strengthening the peace and also assist in reconciliation, President Rajapaksa said the best role for Norway today would be to assist in development.

The President, while recalling how Norway had taken the initiative through NORAD to help the people of Hambantota many decades ago, when there was no help for such rural areas, said there was ample scope for Norway to be associated in such development work in all parts of the country.

In discussing the situation regarding the Tamil people and the possibility of being engaged in the developing political process among them, President Rajapaksa was of the view that the problems of the Tamil people should be resolved through their leaders within the country.

President Rajapakasa explained that there was no purpose in those who claimed to support the Tamil people, campaigning for them from abroad; they had to return to Sri Lanka and work with the Tamil people at home, the President said..

Minister Solheim, Norway’s Minister for the Environment and International Development expressed an interest in visiting Sri Lanka to identify areas in which the two countries could cooperate in development activity. He suggested areas such as the protection of the environment, fisheries and the hospitality industry.

President Rajapaksa informed the Norwegian delegates that Tourism in Sri Lanka had risen by 196 per cent during the last year, and there was ample scope for development and investment in that sector.

Solheim said that the leaders of the expatriate Tamil community in the West should take a proper view of the changes now taking place in Sri Lanka and how best those developments could be used to benefit by the Tamil people and the country.

Prime Minster Stoltenburg looked forward to continued co-operation between Sri Lanka and Norway in areas of social and economic development, investment in the new economic environment following the end of the conflict, and the emergence of a fresh and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

Associated with President Rajapaksa in the discussions were External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary, External Affairs Romesh Jayasinghe, Namal Rajapaksa MP, Sri Ranga MP and Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in the UN.

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