COLOMBO: The United States and Norway today denied funding Sri Lanka’s main opposition to defeat President Mahinda Rajapakse’s re-election bid later this month.

The US embassy in Colombo said it “strongly” rejected the charges made by a ruling party legislator that he was given US$265,000 that had come from the US and Norwegian embassies to defect to the opposition. Legislator Mohamed Musammil told reporters in Colombo yesterday that he was given a suitcase full of the cash to defect and support the main opposition presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka.

“This is the money which had come from the US embassy, the Norwegian embassy,” Musammil said.

The US and Norwegian embassies in separate statements denied the allegation and said they were ready to work with whoever won the January 26 election. The two countries

had backed Colombo’s failed peace bid with

Tamil separatists.

“The US is neutral

and we strongly condemn allegations that we are

supporting one side

over another,” the US statement said.

Norway, which was the peace broker until the Rajapakse administration withdrew from a faltering truce and escalated a military campaign against the Tigers early last year, denied it was funding the opposition in Colombo.

“The accusation is untrue and totally unacceptable,” the Norwegian embassy said in a statement. “Norway has never — and will never — interfere in an election in another country.” Rajapakse is seeking re-election after government troops in May wiped out the Tamil Tiger rebels and ended a 37-year separatist conflict that claimed up to 100,000 people.