Jaswant Singh to visit Sri Lanka tomorrow

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JUNE 9. In a significant development, the Minister of External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh, is scheduled to arrive here on an official visit on Sunday to hold discussions with the Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, on the crisis in the island.

With New Delhi reiterating its commitment to a united Sri Lanka, Mr. Singh's visit is expected to allay apprehensions here about statements made by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the BJP's partner at the Centre, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, that he favoured a Czechoslovakian-style solution to the ethnic conflict.

Mr. Singh is expected to stress the urgency for a speedy political solution to the aspirations of the Tamil minority of Sri Lanka.

While Sri Lanka and New Delhi have been in constant touch over the last few weeks, the Sunday's meeting will be the first top- level contact between the two governments since the India's refusal of military assistance to Colombo last month.

The meeting is expected to touch on all aspects of the ethnic conflict, including the military situation in Jaffna, the progress of the Constitutional reforms process and diplomatic initiatives to open negotiations with the Tigers.

The last high-level contact between the two sides was when the Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, met his Indian counterpart at New Delhi in early May, at the height of the Sri Lanka's military crisis.

India had then responded to Sri Lanka's request for military help with the offer of ``humanitarian assistance'', interpreted as the evacuation of soldiers and civilians from the peninsula.

Subsequently, Mr. Singh stated during a TV interview that India was ready to mediate if the parties to the conflict so desired.

Ms. Kumaratunga recently told The Hinduthat India could help bring the LTTE to the negotiating table and support the efforts of Norway, the ``chosen facilitator'' in the peace initiative.

Mr. Singh is expected to meet the leader of the United National Party (UNP), Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, during his visit here.

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