DATE=5/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA/ SHELLING (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262765 (CQ)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Soon after a Norwegian peace mission left Sri
Lanka, unidentified persons threw an explosive device
at the Scandinavian country's embassy. Vandana Chopra
has more from Colombo.
TEXT: Sri Lanka police officials say a crude
explosive device was aimed at the Norwegian embassy.
No one was reported hurt in the attack and no damage
was done to the embassy building.
The explosion occurred soon after a high-level
Norwegian diplomatic delegation flew to New Delhi to
brief Indian officials about the talks with Sri Lankan
leaders. The delegation met with President Chandrika
Kumaratunga and the opposition during a three-day
visit to the island.
Norway has offered to mediate between the two warring
sides, the Sri Lankan government and guerillas who are
fighting for a separate homeland for the minority
Tamil ethnic community.
In the past, Sri Lanka's influential Buddhist clergy
have opposed the Norwegian peace initiative.
Meanwhile, Tamil rebels shelled an army camp and
airbase in Batticoloa - 300-kilometres east of the
capital, Colombo. Fighting in the east is seen as a
bid by Tamil separatists to divert the army's
attention from fighting in the north, on the Jafna
Peninsula.
The government says two crewmembers were killed when a
helicopter gunship made an emergency landing in
Jaffna. The statement did not say what forced the
helicopter down.
Fierce fighting has raged for days in Jaffna as rebels
try to regain the stronghold they lost to government
forces in 1996.
The government has introduced censorship on all media
and government statements on the war are nearly
impossible to confirm since no reporters are allowed
in the war areas.
The Tamil rebels have been fighting for a separate
homeland since 1983. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/RAE
24-May-2000 16:06 PM EDT (24-May-2000 2006 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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