Manmohan raises Sri Lankan Tamils' plight with Rajapaksa

21 September 2012 03:48 am - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday raised the issue of devolution of power in Sri Lanka with visiting President Mahinda Rajapaksa in order to allow the Tamil population "to look forward to a future where they can live with dignity and respect". The meeting saw Rajapaksa and Singh having their first detailed discussion on all substantive issues since June, 2010.

Official sources said that Rajapaksa noted during the discussion over the Tamil issue that provincial elections were held in three provinces and that administrative and other steps are underway so as to hold polls in Northern Province too next year. Talks between the Lankan government and Tamil National Alliance have remained suspended since January, with Rajapaksa insisting that Tamil parties join a Parliament Select Committee to take the dialogue process forward.

Rajapaksa was initially scheduled to come to India only on a private visit at the invitation of the Madhya Pradesh government for laying the foundation stone of a Buddhist university at Sanchi. The two sides later agreed that it could be utilized to arrange an official meeting between Rajapaksa and Singh. While Rajapaksa has publicly voiced his displeasure with India's decision to vote in favour of a US sponsored UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa assured Singh that his government was not going to be bogged down by the past in carrying the relationship forward.

"Singh also emphasized on the need to treat fishermen humanely in cases where they may stray across maritime boundary. Both agreed that it would be best for fishermen associations to meet and discuss these issues further," said a government source.

He added that both the leaders also took note of the momentum of economic ties and assessed the growth of commercial relations positively. Rajapaksa also thanked Singh for allowing the sacred Kapilavastu relics to travel to Lanka. He said that more than three million Lankans were able to pay their respects and that it signified the strong cultural ties between the two nations. Before his meeting with Singh, Rajapaksa also called on President Pranab Mukherjee. (Times of India)

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Comments - 30

English Teacher Friday, 21 September 2012 07:26 AM

Calistus read the full article before commenting. Looks like you are a relic yourself. Please focus on being fossilized now.

mudaliar Friday, 21 September 2012 09:14 PM

Lanka should be left to its native people i.e. EELAM TAMILS and their close austro veddos, remaining all singlese 10 million are to be packed up to their origin place called ORRISA or KALINGA or ODDISA , originally they belong to jungles of orrisa and not Lanka.

dot Friday, 21 September 2012 08:32 PM

Why is India making a selective jappeal regarding who should live with dignity and respect . All people of Sri LANKA should live in respect and dignity and this should be at all levels .The problems of home invasions , iThuggery and bullying to push people out are common to all under privledged i and laws should be to protect all not selective of ethnic groups .

Dammika Ranagoda Friday, 21 September 2012 06:23 PM

You maust remember that India is 60 times bigger than Sri Lanka. Please take back the Tamils brought to SL and their descent to tamil nadu and let Sri Lanka look afetr its own afairs. I think the present Indian ambassador of India is doing all the damage to bilateral relations.

Dammika ranagoda

Guest. Friday, 21 September 2012 05:21 PM

At present the righteousness of judgement is rare with politicians and the promises were disloyal too. The president of SL is head of all nations in the country and the people of SL has given their determination to end the longsanding ethnic dispute, but the attitude is not genuine.

peeda mossa Friday, 21 September 2012 04:14 PM

You seem to have taken a leaf out of Obama's book, Premier. Leave all domestic problems in the back burner and poke your bloody finger in your neighbour;s affairs. You may be able to fool some voters, but you can't fool all the people all the time.

peeda mossa Friday, 21 September 2012 04:08 PM

You are wrong, Sanath. The point raised is very relevant. As a matter of fact, each Indian state is several times bigger than Sri Lanka.

sanath Jinathilaka Friday, 21 September 2012 12:44 PM

Your comment makes no sense and no at all relevant to this point!!!!

mail_guy Friday, 21 September 2012 11:17 AM

Tamils lands are taken by Sinhalese in north and east which does not happen in south. More amount of army stays in north and east which does not happens in south. Very less political powers to Tamils.

SL Friday, 21 September 2012 10:56 AM

What rights Tamils don't enjoy and Sinhalese Do? First tell that! TNA raises unfair demands, which the majority is against. Sri Lanka for all Sri Lankans, and no ethnic ghettos in north or in south.

Lobo Friday, 21 September 2012 09:27 AM

mano, have you just woken up? These are the very two countries that did not want the war ended for their own selfish agendas. Time you faced reality.

Nirmal Friday, 21 September 2012 08:02 AM

Is it? Read history Mano! India may be wanted to see the defeat of LTTE just to save Tamil Nadu in the latter stage to prevent the rise of great Eeelam but the USA never wanted LTTE to die down completely. If you say so that USA helped Sri Lankans to defeat LTTE you are welcome to give such details. After all the LTTE was defeated by ground soldiers not the Indian or the USA or anyone else and it was only possible because the Soldiers of the Sri Lankan Army was so professional and Human during the war..

Hal Friday, 21 September 2012 04:22 AM

Our man talks of relics at these important meeting. A real moron.

mail_guy Friday, 21 September 2012 07:22 AM

What will happen if Sinhalese share the rights with Tamils..! It is unfair what we do to Tamils now.

Lobo Friday, 21 September 2012 06:41 AM

MS....Look after the tamils in your own country before concerning yourself about tamils here who surely already enjoy a better life than those in India..

English Teacher Friday, 21 September 2012 06:29 AM

Calistus, just because you seem to support some opposition party, don;t make silly comments like this, which are so typical of you.
Do not take relics for a joke and MR has mentioned that only as an aside, after discussing many serious issues.

mano Friday, 21 September 2012 06:29 AM

because of india and usa you escaped from ltte you have to thankedfull

Calistus Jayatilleke Friday, 21 September 2012 05:57 AM

We dont have any other important thing to discuss except relics, because that's all what we will be left with at the end of the day!

M.V.R.Perera Friday, 21 September 2012 05:44 AM

Nirmal had stated the desire of what most Sri Lankan wishes for

Thomas Ranger Friday, 21 September 2012 05:43 AM

Devolution of power - discussed how many times in the past and with how many people. Our man's reply as given many times in the past remains thus - we are even at present involved in relocation of displaced persons and families and will be able to complete before and until the next such meeting. What a liar.

suny Friday, 21 September 2012 05:39 AM

Sing has to talk about tamil to keep his government

Nirmal Friday, 21 September 2012 05:09 AM

Every Sri Lankan look forward to a future where they can live with dignity and respect and this could only happen if India, USA and other such Nations stop putting their fingers into our own affairs with the intentions of meeting their own political or economic agendas for their best advantages.

wasanthi Friday, 21 September 2012 04:54 AM

please Don't insult Our nation leader... perhaps today you are in one piece is thanks to him. when he give the leadership to end the bloody war people like you use the same name to call him.

Nalaka Friday, 21 September 2012 04:50 AM

you are such a disrespectful IDIOT

SL Friday, 21 September 2012 04:38 AM

We can see who is the real moron from your comment. read the full article before commenting!

M.Khanth Friday, 21 September 2012 04:38 AM

Mr.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh first you thing raised the issue of devolution of power in Indian states

shavantha Friday, 21 September 2012 04:27 AM

we look forward to India to share Kashmir to Pakistan and share power with Maoist. please take the lead India and show us you can do them

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Manmohan raises Sri Lankan Tamils' plight with Rajapaksa

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