No report of Lankans affected by Oslo blast: Ambassador

There have been no reports yet of any Sri Lankans being affected by the explosion in Oslo, near the Norwegian Prime Minister’s office, Sri Lanka’s ambassador in Norway told Adaderana a short while ago.

Ambassador E. Rodney Perera said that however further inquiries were under way to ascertain whether there are any Sri Lankans who have been affected by the blast.

Media reports say that there were several bodies and the injured were being rushed to hospital. It is also reported that the Norwegian police have already announced that the explosion may have been the work of terrorists.

When Adaderana inquired from Ambassador Perera, he said that while nobody could be happy about such explosions and the loss of life and property, Sri Lanka has faced similar situations almost daily for nearly three decades. While sympathizing with the Norwegian government and people, Mr. Perera added that Sri Lanka has been telling the world of such terrorist deeds and it was time that the world stood by Sri Lanka which has been able to eliminate a terrorist outfit as brutal as the LTTE.

Norway acted as the main mediator during negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the Tigers. Ambassador Rodney Perera said that Sri Lanka has been telling Norway of the brutalities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for a long time. Now that Norway has experienced a similar situation it may understand Sri Lanka’s plight during the past.

Can any government sit down and negotiate with terrorist after such blasts, he asked.