The Norwegian peace facilitators are making yet another attempt to make Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers reach an accord on a joint mechanism to deliver tsunami relief assistance to Tamil regions.

Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim arrived in Colombo in the early hours of Sunday for a four-day visit, government officials said.

Although the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo described Solheim's visit "routine," the focus would be on finalizing the tsunami joint mechanism, analysts said.

The international community has been urging the two sides to agree on the mechanism aimed at better coordination of relief assistance to areas devastated by the Dec. 26 tsunami last year.

The talks which commenced mid February is yet to bear fruit despite many visits by Erik Solheim to Colombo.

The Norwegian envoy is scheduled to meet with Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and opposition leaders.

He is also scheduled to visit refugee camps housing the Muslims from the northern town of Jaffna evicted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the height of the separatist conflict in 1990s.

The Norwegian Embassy said that he would also visit the eastern town of Batticaloa on Monday.

The joint mechanism is viewed by the Sri Lankan president as one that could lay foundation for the final solution of the conflict that had claimed over 64,000 lives since the mid 1980s.
 
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2005)