Fresh initiatives to stabilise CFA

by Ananth Palakidnar

The representatives of the Co-Chair countries dealing with the Sri Lankan peace process are expected to gather at the Norwegian capital Oslo this week to discuss the current state of the Ceasefire Agreement in Sri Lanka (CFA).

The Co-Chair countries are expected to come up with fresh initiatives in stabilising the CFA in Sri Lanka which is in a weak state, informed sources said.

The Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission along with the American Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi and the Norwegian Facilitator Erik Solheim will take part in the Oslo discussion on June 25 and 26 on the CFA in Sri Lanka.

The US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher and the Japanese Special envoy Yasushi Akashi are expected to present their recent findings in Sri Lanka at the Oslo meeting.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Minister and the Facilitator Erik Solheim met President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Geneva on Friday and discussed the current state of the Lankan peace process.

The Eelam People's Democratic Party leader and the Minister of Social Services Douglas Devananda along with Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was also present at the meeting.

The security for the Lankan Presidential entourage was strengthened in Geneva following a demonstration staged by the LTTE a few days ago in the city. Security was beefed up in the areas of Germany and France bordering Switzerland, informed sources said.

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