rediff.com: Blast greets Norwegian envoy's visit to Colombo

A grenade blast rocked the office of a Norwegian funded non-governmental organisation in Colombo early today, hours after the arrival of Norway's special envoy to Sri Lanka Eric Solhiem, for a fresh round of peace talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunga and other leaders.

Police sources said that a handgrenade was hurled at the office of Redbarner, in central Colombo around 0130 hours today. The blast damaged the windowpanes of the office, but no one was hurt.

Solheim arrived yesterday on a three-day visit, for a comprehensive round of negotiations with Kumaratunga, opposition United National Party leader Ranil Wickramasinghe and other leaders.

Solheim is to visit New Delhi on June 29 to, to appraise Indian leaders about talks with Sri Lankan officials and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Solheim met Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prof G L Peiris, to appraise himself of progress by Kumaratunga and Wickramasinghe during numerous rounds of talks in Colombo, since last month, to finalise a new draft constitution, which includes proposals to grant autonomy to the Tamil-dominated north and eastern province.

Solheim, on an unscheduled visit, is also to meet Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and other officials.

It is not clear whether Solheim carried any fresh proposals from the LTTE to declare a ceasefire to start a fresh round of talks. Norwegian and Sri Lankan officials are tight-lipped on the issue.

Kumaratunga and Wickramasinghe have reached agreement on some of issues like formation of an interim council for five years to administer the north and eastern province, powers to be granted to the provinces to administer land and unit of devolution for the Tamil provinces.

The draft constitution is to be finalised by June 30 and will be placed before parliament for ratification.

Today's attack is the second of its kind on the Norwegian institution since last month. A grenade was hurled at the Norwegian Embassy compound on May 24, a day after Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Reymond Johenson and Solheim's visit, during which they made a serious bid to work out a ceasefire.

Police later said that the May 24 grenade attack was the result of a land dispute between the neighbour of the Norwegian embassy and his relatives.

But right wing sections of the Sinhalese community resent the involvement of Norway since it was officially designated as facilitator by the Sri Lankan government and LTTE early this year.


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