The Government of Norway condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the latest acts of violence in Sri Lanka.

The media report heavy loss of life in a new Claymore mine attack today. This is the third such attack in the last three days in which people have been killed or seriously injured.

These attacks must be seen against the backdrop of other serious acts of violence during the last few days. The assassination of a prominent Tamil civil society representative in Trincomalee, Mr V. Vigneswaran, and other serious incidents are adding to the vortex of violence that could eventually create a situation similar to that in December 2005 and January this year.

“ I strongly urge the two parties to meet in Geneva on 19-21 April as planned”, says Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim. “This meeting will provide an opportunity for finding ways to implement the Ceasefire agreement and the promises the parties gave in their previous meeting”.