Lanka summons Norway’s envoy over LTTE call

A diplomatic row has broken out between Sri Lanka and Norway over two telephone conversations this week between LTTE leaders and a Norwegian minister and one with an UN diplomat, which was facilitated by Norway, reports Sutirtho Patranobis.

A diplomatic row has broken out between Sri Lanka and Norway over two telephone conversations this week between LTTE leaders and a Norwegian minister and one with an UN diplomat, which was facilitated by Norway.

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In Colombo, senior Lankan diplomats expressed their displeasure to Norway’s ambassador Tore Hattrem who was called to the foreign ministry twice this week.

Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told news agencies that the Lankan government voiced its “displeasure’’ over the first call arranged between UN humanitarian chief John Holmes and a Tiger leader based abroad. Kohona said Norway “admitted’’ helping the international representative of the LTTE, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, better known as KP, speak with Holmes.