A Norwegian mediator has arrived in Sri Lanka to prepare the ground for the second round of talks between the government of this country and the rebels known as the Tamil Tigers. The second round of talks is scheduled to take place later this month in Thailand. The first round of talks was also held in this country last month. Vidar Helgesen, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway, arrived today in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, to arrange negotiations with senior officials of the country and leaders of the Tamil Tigers. He will stay in the region for 5 days. Another task of Mr. Helgesen is to establish a joint task force to address humanitarian issues. In the civil war in Sri Lanka, which began in 1983, more than 60,000 people have been killed, and the rebels are seeking an independent Tamil state for the ethnic minority of the island.
Second Round of Talks Between the Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil Tigers is Ahead - 2002-10-20
The Norwegian mediator Vidar Helgesen has arrived in Sri Lanka to facilitate the second round of peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers, scheduled for later this month in Thailand. The ongoing civil war has resulted in over 60,000 deaths since 1983, with the rebels seeking an independent Tamil state.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Norwegian mediator Vidar Helgesen has arrived in Sri Lanka to prepare for the second round of peace talks between the government and the Tamil Tigers, scheduled for later this month in Thailand.
- The first round of talks was held last month in Thailand.
- The civil war in Sri Lanka has resulted in over 60,000 deaths since 1983.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The civil war in Sri Lanka has been ongoing since 1983, primarily between the government and the Tamil Tigers, who seek an independent state for Tamils.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%