GL flies to Pakistan tomorrow

20 August 2013 10:41 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In the aftermath of a meeting with Indian leaders, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris will undertake a visit to Pakistan tomorrow to discuss matters related to bilateral relations ahead of the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Prof. Peiris said he would meet Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharrif and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during his visit to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Pakistan has been a key political ally of Sri Lanka. During the sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Pakistan played a role in rallying the support of like-minded countries for Sri Lanka.

Besides, in reference to his interaction with the Indian media in New Delhi, he said journalists, raised questions on the Katchchativu issue among others.
The minister said yesterday there was no ambiguity of the stand of the central government of India in this regard.

India, in agreements signed in 1974 and 1976 recognized that Katchchativu is part of Sri Lanka’s territory.

A few years ago, an official statement was made in Lok Sabha saying that Katchchativu was an issue settled with Sri Lanka.

Minister Peiris, upon return to the country after meeting India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External affairs Minister Salman Kurshid, said the media directed questions at him on the Katchchativu issue in New Delhi.

“It is not a question of handing over one country’s island to another. It is a matter for the demarcation or International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL),” he said.

According to a document tabled in Sri Lanka Parliament, the 1974 Agreement regarding historic waters between Sri Lanka and India in the Palk Straits and the Palk Bay formally confirmed Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over the Island.

Article 4 of the Agreement stipulates that each State shall have sovereignty and exclusive jurisdiction and control over the waters, the Islands, the Continental Shelf and the sub soil on its side of the Maritime boundary in the Palk Strait and Palk Bay and Kachchativu Island was determined as falling within Sri Lankan waters.

Article 5, of the 1976 Agreement stipulates that; Each Party shall have sovereignty over the historic waters and the territorial sea, as well as the islands falling on its side of the aforesaid boundary.

Also, it says each Party shall have sovereign rights and exclusive jurisdiction over the Continental Shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as over their resources, whether living or non-living, falling on its side of the aforesaid boundary.

“Each Party shall respect rights of navigation through its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone in accordance with its laws and regulations and the rules of international law,” it says.

With regard to the 1987 Indo-Lanka accord that introduced the provincial council system in Sri Lanka, he said it was high time that the government looked into this agreement signed a quarter of century ago. In this case, he said the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) was the most appropriate forum to discuss it.

He said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was always welcome to participate in it. (Kelum Bandara)

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Comments - 9

Naveed Wednesday, 21 August 2013 12:00 AM

Hina Rabbani Khar is ex foreign minister

Goofy Wednesday, 21 August 2013 03:26 AM

Hope he takes his interpreter who will translate is English to English.

Goofy Wednesday, 21 August 2013 03:57 AM

Sorry that should read "Hope he takes his interpreter who will translate his English to English."

Doliya Wednesday, 21 August 2013 04:08 AM

Aiyo salli !!!! No need of worring, Paks will come even without invitations

Vaz Wednesday, 21 August 2013 05:38 AM

Is he begging ?

Rahmathullah Wednesday, 21 August 2013 05:52 AM

Give him a Delivery Man position in Postal Department and Hopefully he will do it better.

Saskia Wednesday, 21 August 2013 07:43 AM

Katchadivu island is neither belong to India nor Srilanka. It is belong to Tamil Eelam.

sakkiliya Wednesday, 21 August 2013 08:33 AM

Hey sakkiliya, BTW there are few LTTE terrorists posting on web sites whom the brave army missed to wipe out. Are you One of them ?

james bond Thursday, 22 August 2013 06:11 AM

THERE ARE 3 FORIEGN MINISTERS IN SRI LANKA,GL,BASIL AND VASU.NO ONE CAN DO OR ALLOW TO DO THE JOB FOR GL.

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GL flies to Pakistan tomorrow

Comments - 9

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