Foreign Minister to visit Norway, Finland [Monday , June 12, 2006- 9.00 GMT]

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will visit Norway and Finland for bilateral visits this week. The visit was previously planned to the failed Oslo talks. Though it is widely believed that talks would focus on the peace process, officials at the Ministry were unable to confirm it.

In Norway, the Minister will meet his counterpart, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Meetings are also likely to be held with other Minister of the Norwegian government where issues of varying bilateral interest to the two countries will be discussed.

Minister Samaraweera will also receive an audience with the King of Norway, His Majesty King Harald V, at the Royal Palace, and call on Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

A business/investment promotion seminar is scheduled at Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO).

The Foreign Minister will thereafter visit Finland, where he will meet with the Foreign Minister Erkki Tumioja and hold bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest to the two countries. The visit to Finland becomes important in the contest of Finland assuming presidency of the EU from July 1, this year.

Minister Samaraweera is also expected to interact with sections of the Sri Lankan diaspora in both Norway and Finland.

These are the first visits by a Foreign Minister under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government to the Nordic countries. It is expected that these visits will give new impetus to Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with Norway and Finland.

In between the two visits, Minister Samaraweera will be in London to participate in a series of promotional events titled “Refreshingly Sri Lanka”, commencing June 17. These promotional events are party of the cultural diplomacy initiative of the government to showcase Sri Lanka overseas, in all its aspects.

Senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ports and Aviation and the Board of Investments will accompany the Foreign Minister.

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Last Updated Date: June 12, 2006 -9.00 GMT