Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Trine Eskedal, congratulated Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on his recent election victory, and told him that she is looking forward to working with the new government.
In their meeting, the Ambassador emphasised that Norway is looking forward to a continued positive relationship with Sri Lanka, and discussed areas of collaboration such as development and renewable energy.
Norway played a crucial role in negotiating the ceasefire agreement between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government, where Norwegian officials have previously stated that they would testify to international war crimes investigations over atrocities committed during the armed conflict.
Rajapaksa has also previously accused Norway of funding the LTTE, specifically blaming former Norwegian minister and peace facilitator Erick Solheim.
In the meeting last week, Ambassador Eskedal called for the government to weigh the importance of creating a more inclusive society for all people living in Sri Lanka, but failed to directly address any of the ongoing concerns facing minority communities on the island.
