Solheim reveals assassination attempt

27 July 2012 07:49 am - 38 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Former Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim has revealed that there were specific plans to assassinate him when he visited Sri Lanka in 2000.

“We assumed that the threat came from Sinhala extremists,” Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten has reported Mr. Solheim as saying 12 years later.
He came to Sri Lanka on May 22, 2000 with the then State Secretary Raymond Johansen and President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The planned bomb attack against Mr. Solheim's motorcade was to have taken place during the three-day visit.
He confirmed he was briefed about the assassination attempt. Police Security Service (PST), which at that time was called Police Intelligence Service, was made aware of the threats several days before Mr. Solheim arrived in Colombo.

The tip off came from people in Norway with knowledge of the radical groups in Sri Lanka.

“We were at different times made aware of the threats, and also had access to highly classified information on the situation in Sri Lanka,” Mr. Solheim said. “During our stay in Sri Lanka, we were aware that we were vulnerable. It is probably the only place where we are vulnerable precisely because we are Norwegians.”

Mr. Solheim confirmed that the travel plans were held under wraps.

“We never went to Sri Lanka without taking bodyguards from the PST. In addition, there was a large security contingent from both the Sinhalese government and the Tigers when we visited them. But there is no absolute guarantee. The many Sri Lankan leaders, who were killed, also had a large security apparatus around him,” he is reported to have said. “It was very tense atmosphere in Colombo, as the Tamil Tigers had great military success at the time. We were actually in dialogue with India about a possible evacuation of the Sinhala army to the Indian mainland.”

On the day Mr. Solheim left Sri Lanka some unidentified assailants threw an explosive at the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo. The object passed over the embassy roof and landed in the garden of an uninhabited neighbouring house, where it exploded. Mr. Solheim says he does not know if he was the target of this action.

“It may have been, it is impossible for me to know. I perceived it as a warning to Norway,” he said and added that Tamils must have equal rights.
“That question is still not resolved, the conflict may break out again in new forms in the future if these matters are not solved,” he said.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 38

dava Friday, 27 July 2012 05:31 PM

Whatever you have the right to say what you feel and want, as we have the right to say what we feel.
Sri Lanka now has peace, and it's not helping by talking of what was to take place in 2000, but try to say something for the future to solve problems.. like to suit 2020 or even after.
We need solutions and not the past, we have learned by the past lessons...

Gayan Friday, 27 July 2012 01:49 PM

To get back his lost office of course

Historian Friday, 27 July 2012 01:40 PM

Hugh
Jaffna was about to fall to the LTTE at that time. Gen SF defended Jaffna. Gen Wijendra who took over from him turned the situation round by driving the LTTE out of the Peninsula by Feb 2001. Jaffna remained under Government control thereafter.

peeda mossa Friday, 27 July 2012 01:46 PM

Why come up with this cock and bull story after 12 years, Eric ? Are you seeking sympathy votes from the diaspora ? Anyway, damn sorry that the assassin missed the target.

Senna Friday, 27 July 2012 02:02 PM

Very correct, well said. . He did more damage to SL than good. At least now he must keep quiet. Our president is capable of handling our issues so that all Srilankans will be benefitted but not TNA who has got other agendas.

Senna Friday, 27 July 2012 02:20 PM

Very true, These two persons are out of mind? If Solheim had that idea , probably our leaders at that time would have agreed even. God saved our country.

Sanjaya Anuruddha Friday, 27 July 2012 02:23 PM

Well , I wonder why this guy kept this secret for so long.. What a great revelation-- a person who worked for the world's most extremist and brutal terrorist outfit was about to be killed --what a relief to the world that he still survived

brinthan Friday, 27 July 2012 03:04 PM

Solheim your duty so far not finished becasue now tamil ssuffer not only from SL Govt and but from Muslims too/
India or US or any big countries never like Sinhales army stay in N & E, . But in a united SL

raj Friday, 27 July 2012 03:48 PM

he kept quiet when tamils were killed in large, and abduction were taken place

Baaandahh Friday, 27 July 2012 04:41 PM

Pity he survived. Bloody terrorist sponsorer

Dalu Banda Friday, 27 July 2012 01:35 PM

"We were actually in dialogue with India about a possible evacuation of the Sinhala army to the Indian mainland" - This fellow must be sleeping during day time and plotting against Sri Lanka during night.

Asitha Saturday, 28 July 2012 02:48 AM

why talk about it now.

kolla Saturday, 28 July 2012 04:00 AM

I think he is loosing his scenes as he is being stripped off his ministry.. Poor guy now the best option for him is to fly some kites.

sara Saturday, 28 July 2012 03:59 AM

Hi Erik.
Opened you mouth once again after a long time. You sound as if you are waiting to see the troubles start agin in SL "the conflict may break out again in new forms in the future if these matters are not solved,”

Fat hopes eh!! to come back and mess around agin?

bandara Saturday, 28 July 2012 05:01 AM

that was no assumption, but intelligence report

Calistus Jayatilleke Saturday, 28 July 2012 09:42 AM

The Salmon eating double crosser has come up with another fairy tale to justify his eistence.

sam Saturday, 28 July 2012 02:46 PM

Earn his daily bread thanks to Tamils in Sri Lanka ........Pathetic guy

asoka Saturday, 28 July 2012 04:25 PM

well, well, well...you must be dead by now...how sad you still alive...common solheim give it another try...

muckgona Saturday, 28 July 2012 04:50 PM

Shame it plan did not suceed, had it happned, would have saved the lives of thousands

Hugh Friday, 27 July 2012 09:08 AM

So he was arranging for the SL Army to be evacuated to India!!! Was that to enable the Tamil Tiger Terrorists to control the whole of Sri Lanka?? Both Solheim and his friend Ranil have a lot of explaining to do.

AMG Friday, 27 July 2012 08:04 AM

Oh sorry solheim !

Aney Machang Friday, 27 July 2012 08:03 AM

His imagination is running riot! He has mistook a tennis ball for hand grenade, human rights to equal rights and many more.

Prasa Friday, 27 July 2012 08:01 AM

Oh what an important person to survive

Fusion Friday, 27 July 2012 08:19 AM

This is the mentality of some Sri Lankans. Remember Sharukh Khan also faced a grenade attack. So no surprise that Mr. Solheim was a target.

FLY Friday, 27 July 2012 08:13 AM

this man is planned to take simpathy votes from LTTE LOVERS

Arun Friday, 27 July 2012 08:15 AM

Ha ha, Solheim.. whats your point in make revealing it now.. ?Don't fool us..

golding Friday, 27 July 2012 08:28 AM

took him a long time to remember it and disclose it now?

Just Another Citizen Friday, 27 July 2012 08:22 AM

So why reveal this now?

Yohan Perera Friday, 27 July 2012 09:04 AM

Looks like Fusion is in confusion...

AMG Friday, 27 July 2012 08:00 AM

Thanks god you still alive !

Bobby Pereira Friday, 27 July 2012 12:15 PM

Hey Eric,
If you were acting so impatially as you claimed, how come you assumed that the threat to your life was from the Sinhalese?

Manjula Friday, 27 July 2012 12:30 PM

Is there an election in Norway?

IBNUABOO Friday, 27 July 2012 12:50 PM

reasonable attempted to murder

Ramith Thotawatte Friday, 27 July 2012 01:09 PM

oh...... poor innocent Solheim......... We wanted to Kill only L.T.T.E terrorists ........not the innocent Tamil people or a this type of goat..............!!!

Mario Friday, 27 July 2012 01:16 PM

Even Chandrika and entire cabinent wanted India to intervene, now that war is over you comment as if nobody wanted intervention..

Mario Friday, 27 July 2012 01:33 PM

Important indeed, responsible for the ban of LTTE in Europe, our beloved China and Russia still haven't banned LTTE.

Mario Friday, 27 July 2012 01:33 PM

This man played a big role in ban of ltte in europe and tamils vote base is very little,you mistake that all politicians talk for votes, that is only here.

Mario Friday, 27 July 2012 01:34 PM

As if we lankans are not fooled, we are fooled everyday by our politicians.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Solheim reveals assassination attempt

Comments - 38

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations