Aftenposten claims to be counter-checked

by Manjula FERNANDO

Sri Lanka said they have to check the veracity of a newspaper report which claimed Norway embassy staff in Colombo aided LTTE terrorists to flee the country, before contemplating any action.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said they could not possibly go by a mere newspaper report but needed proof of what has been claimed. "We are checking with our people," she said meaning officials of the Sri Lankan mission in Oslo .

Asked about the statement said to have been given by Norwegian Minister Eric Solheim, in reaction to the news report that Norway had a tradition of helping people whose lives were at risk and that it was a humanitarian obligation, the spokesperson said there was a big difference between helping an ordinary person and a terrorist whose wanted by the state.

Solheim was a peace negotiator between the LTTE and the Government during peace talks that took place from time to time between 2003 to 2006. "But that is a very general statement that he has made and we are trying to verify the reports," she said.

Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten claimed that the staff at the Norwegian embassy here had helped over 12 terrorists to flee the country so far.

The embassy has purchased the tickets, driven them to the airport and issued visas at short notice, the report said.