( Mr. Vidar Helgessen (centre) and Special envoy to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, Mr.Erik Solheimmet with then Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga – file photo)
The Norwegian Government is to hold talks with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Børge Brende, who will undertake a one-day official visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow, will hold talks with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Foreign Ministry said.
Norway played a key role in Sri Lanka during the war when Kumaratunga was President. The last visit by a Foreign Minister of Norway took place in 2005.
The former President currently heads the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR).
Børge Brende is visiting Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera.
Minister Brende will hold bilateral discussions with Minister Samaraweera at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow, following which the two ministers will address the media.
Minister Brende will call on President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of Opposition R. Sampanthan, and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga tomorrow afternoon.
In the evening Minister Brende will attend a Business Forum organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
The visit is expected to focus on economic and development cooperation and explore ways to strengthen and enhance bilateral relations. (Colombo Gazette)