The Hindu : SLFP to discuss peace process with Indian leaders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

International

International

SLFP to discuss peace process with Indian leaders

By. V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO. DEC. 1. A delegation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the island's main Opposition party, is to meet a cross section of the Indian political leadership over the next few days from Monday.

The team will include Anura Bandaranaike, the President's adviser on national integration, the chief Opposition Whip, Mangala Samaraweera, and Sarath Amunugama, the spokesman for the People's Alliance (PA), in which the SLFP is the major constituent.

It proposes to meet the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, the Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, CPI (M) leaders and senior Government officials.

``It is primarily a visit to talk to the Indian political leadership about our views on the peace process'', Mr. Amunugama told The Hindu today.

The party, which had opposed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, has now said that Indian sensitivities must be weighed in the negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

At a press conference a few days ago, Mr. Amunugama said India was an important ``stakeholder'' in the peace process and its views must be taken into account.

There were no clear indications on whether the team would call on leaders in Tamil Nadu, but he said it hoped to meet as many political representatives as possible in New Delhi.

During the past week, the India factor came to the forefront here, largely on account of the non-participation of a team from New Delhi in the November 25 donors' conference in Oslo aimed at winning international financial backing for the peace process.

In a sharp turn from the 1980s, the major political parties have been pressing for an Indian involvement. Apart from the SLFP, the left-radical Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which termed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord as ``expansionist'', has backed an Indian endorsement to the process.

It has re-interpreted the Indian role in the 1980s as one triggered by the then Sri Lankan Government's ``pro-imperialist, U.S.-tilt''.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Pak. warns India against `war-mongering'

Crisis in Muslim party may affect Oslo talks

SLFP to discuss peace process with Indian leaders

`Kashmir talks can proceed only if Mufti gets cooperation'

Ruling alliance wants Hasina tried for `treason'

`Honourable' no more?

Russia deploys aircraft in C. Asia

Compromise candidate elected Baluchistan Chief Minister

`India preferred over China for Russian defence supplies'

MMA having its way with Jamali