Colombo: Sri Lanka on Friday said there were reports that the leaders of proscribed LTTE, believed to be hiding in the 'No Fire Zone' in the country's embattled north, are in touch with the United Nations.
"There are news reports that Erik Solheim, the Norwegian International Development Minister, had told a group of Tamil demonstrators that LTTE leaders now in the No Fire Zone in Mullaittivu were maintaining close contact with the United Nations," the Presidential Secretariat said in a release on Friday.
Solheim had reportedly told the Tamil demonstrators at the Norwegian Parliament that the LTTE leaders were in touch with the UN.
Sri Lanka's comments come close on the heels of the island nation summoning Norwegian envoy for expressing its displeasure over Norway's alleged role in mediating a phone call between a LTTE leader and an UN official.
Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE website <i>TamilNet.com</i> said Solheim spoke with B Nadesan, head of the political wing of the LTTE, for 30 minutes on April 1.
It quoted S Puleedevan, director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat, as saying that Solheim apprised him of the recent developments in the international arena regarding the Tamil conflict, especially with regard to the latest briefings at the UN Security Council.