Norway urges holiday-makers in Sri Lanka to take care

OSLO, Aug 26 (AFP) - Norway, the mediator in a tense peace process aimed at ending ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, warned its citizens Friday to exercise care when travelling to the island.







OSLO, Aug 26 (AFP) - Norway, the mediator in a tense peace process aimed at ending ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, warned its citizens Friday to exercise care when travelling to the island. "Norway is playing an active and controversial role in the Sri Lankan peace process.









There is a growing tendency to portray Norwegian involvement in a negative light," the Scandinavian country's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"In view of current circumstances in Sri Lanka, the foreign ministry calls on any Norwegian citizens to remain vigilant throughout their stay in the country," it said.

Norway, asked by Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 2000 to act as a peace broker in negotiations between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is regularly accused of bias.

These criticisms increased in the wake of the August 12 assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, which the authorities blamed on the LTTE.

But Norway confirms that none of its nationals has