The Sri Lankan government has accused former peace negotiator Eric Solheim of being "a liar and a supporter of terrorists", after he rejected claims made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reported the Daily Mirror.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing of the cabinet, government spokesperson and minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Solheim had a "soft spot for separatist terrorists" and that he provided the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam with equipment, including parts for its air force.
“It was he who arranged to transport high-tech communication equipment to the North for the use of LTTE from the Bandaranaike International Airport and spare parts to assemble an impoverished flying machine, (kurumbatti) for the LTTE. In short, Eric Solheim did a lot of harm to Sri Lanka and its people masquerading as a peace negotiator,” Minister Rambukwella said.
Rajapaksa had accused Norway of funding the LTTE and Eric Solheim of supporting the organisation, a claim rejected by the former peace envoy.
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