Sri Lankan youth seek India's intervention

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MAY 16. A 15-member group of Sri Lankan youths, which was on a fortnight- long cultural exchange tour in India, was in favour of India's intervention to solve the ethnic problem in their country. The members of the group who spoke to The Hindu during their visit to Bangalore on the last part of their tour, said they welcomed the Indian offer to bring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Government of Sri Lanka to the negotiating table if the two parties pressed for it.

Mr. T.Sivadakshinamurthy, leader of the team, and Ms. Wasana Premadasa, a member of the team, said the group welcomed any positive initiative in solving the ethnic problem. Mr. Sivadakshinamurthy said India was like ``our mother'', and it was only fair that she should play a positive role. Ms. Wasana pointed out that Buddhism, which was practised in Sri Lanka, had its origins in India. They said that this was the reason why they looked upon India as their ``mother''. They recalled that Sri Lanka had strong ties with India.

Ms. Premadasa, who is a student of economics, political science and Buddhist civilisation feels that her country, as a polity, was capable of handling the problem on its own. But, if anyone could help ease the tension, it would be welcome. The team consisted of three officers, six youth leaders and a six-member cultural troupe.

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