Certain media reports referring to the meeting in Hong Kong between Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, have been brought to the attention of Minister Samaraweera.

The factual outcome of the ministerial discussion on the Sri Lankan peace process is contained in the joint statement issued yesterday.

Therefore, the references made to certain conditions are misleading as the discussions focused on evolving a fresh approach by the two new governments to carry forward the peace process and including modalities to resume talks at the earliest.

The Sri Lankan Minister also stressed the importance of formulating a more professional and broad-based approach in this regard, as opposed to the personalized approach of the past. To this end a new Norwegian team and a Special Envoy will be appointed shortly, subsequent to the proposed visit of Minister Eric Solhiem to Sri Lanka.