Norway shocked by Lankan Court ruling

Colombo Gazette: The Norwegian Foreign Ministry says it is unable to understand the court ruling that allowed an NGO to proceed with a case against the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.

Colombo Additional District Judge Amali Ranaweera had ruled recently, that the foundation for co-existence headed by Kumar Rupasinghe can proceed with the case to sue the former Norwegian Ambassador, Hilde Haraldstad and other Norwegian officials for Rs. 98.5 million for failing to honour a 2008 agreement. “We are unable to understand the court’s decision in this matter. The local court has chosen to disregard the statements of the Sri Lankan Government lawyer and Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry in this lawsuit,” Norwegian Foreign Ministry deputy director Frode Andersen was quoted as saying by The Nordic Page website.  Norwegian authorities had earlier dismissed the lawsuit saying that diplomats could not be sued because they had immunity. However, the Judge had dismissed the immunity claim and allowed the NGO to proceed with the case.