Date:21/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/21/stories/2008062155081200.htm

International - India & World

High-profile Indian team in Sri Lanka

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: A high-profile Indian team represented by the National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh arrived here on Friday afternoon on an unannounced two-day visit.

Sources on both sides maintained that the team was here for consultations with their counterparts in the island nation on matters of mutual interest and scheduled visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to participate in the SAARC Summit scheduled here for the first week of August. Both sides refrained from any on the record comment as per an agreement not to go public with the details of the talks.

The delegation would call on Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa at 10 a.m. on Saturday and exchange views on matters of bilateral relations and Dr. Singh’s visit.

Ethnic conflict

The visit assumes importance in view of India’s keen interest for a solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka acceptable to all stakeholders, the endeavours of the Rajapaksa government for a consensus within the country, the ongoing war in the north between the forces and the LTTE and Dr. Singh’s visit. A senior official in the Sri Lanka government told The Hindu: “It [the Indian team visit] is part of the regular exchange of contacts at the highest official level between the two countries. The latest Indian official visit can be termed as a return visit to a similar mission from Colombo to New Delhi in September last year.”

A three-member delegation from Sri Lanka comprising Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Gothabhaya Rajapaksa and Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa had visited India in September last year.

The Sri Lanka team had extensive discussions covering many aspects of India-Sri Lanka relations, including aspects of cooperation in combating terrorism and the search for a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka through devolution of power.

Immediately on their arrival at Katunayaka International Airport, the Indian team was flown to Colombo in a special helicopter. The delegation was engaged in discussions throughout the day with their Sri Lankan counterparts.

A senior official of the Sri Lanka government said the talks were ‘free, frank and fruitful’ and covered the whole gamut of India-Sri Lanka relations. “India is not just our immediate neighbour but a close friend and major player in the region. This spirit was reflected at today’s talks.”

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama was in India last week to extend the customary invitation to Dr. Singh for the SAARC summit. New Delhi hosted the SAARC summit in 2007 and Dr. Singh is due to hand over the chairmanship of the group to the Sri Lankan President at the Colombo summit.

SAARC comprises India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives and Nepal.