Jayakody's visit a thanksgiving mission

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JULY 4. The Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga's special envoy to New Delhi, Mr. Lakshman Jayakody, the Minister for Culture and Religious Affairs, will thank the Indian Government for extending ``moral support'' during Sri Lanka's hour of crisis.

Mr. Jayakody, a senior and respected member of the Kumaratunga Government, will meet the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Jaswant Singh, during his two-day visit to India that began today. ``The mission does not seek to go beyond that,'' Foreign Ministry officials here said. Mr. Jayakody is also expected to brief New Delhi on the political developments here, including the progress on the constitutional reforms package.

The President's secretary, Mr. K. Balapatabendi, and Sri Lanka's High Commissioner designate to New Delhi, Mr. Senaka Bandaranayake, are accompanying Mr. Jayakody.

The Minister is carrying a letter of appreciation from Ms. Kumaratunga, expressing Sri Lanka's gratitude to India, especially for the visit by Mr. Singh.

``Sending a minister of Mr. Jayakody's seniority is a public way of saying thank you. We wanted it to be so,'' said an official. Sri Lanka will also send special envoys to six other countries, including Pakistan and China. Mr. Jayakody will double as the special envoy to Pakistan, and will be accompanied on that visit by the Army Chief, Lt.Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya.

Reports in the local media have indicated that Lt.Gen. Weerasooriya may be Sri Lanka's next High Commissioner to Pakistan after he retires this December. He and Pakistan's Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, are known to enjoy a friendship that goes back to their days at the Pakistan Military Academy.

Pak. assures help

Sri Lanka bought multi-barrel rocket launchers from Pakistan in May, besides ammunition and small arms. The Daily News reported today that Gen. Musharaff had assured Sri Lanka of his country's continued support.

``Even India supported Sri Lanka militarily by sending troops where hundreds of Indian soldiers lost their lives in Sri Lankan soil. We did not go to that extent, but why cannot we support Sri Lanka, another brother nation,'' he is reported to have said at a press conference.

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