23 August 2010 01:45 pm
The government delegation which is to visit India for talks this week has been pruned down to one from the previously announced three members.
When contacted by Daily Mirror online, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga said that only Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse would be leaving for India tomorrow from the previously planned three member delegation which consisted of Minister Basil Rajapakse, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse and Mr. Lalith Weeratunga.
“Only Minister Basil Rajapakse will leave for India. The Defence Secretary and I will not be going,” Mr. Weeratunga said, refusing to divulge the reasons behind the two government members not attending the talks in India.
The pruning down of the delegation comes just days after India asked Sri Lanka to delay the visit to New Delhi for high level talks. The delegation was earlier expected to leave on August 15 but had to re-schedule for August 24 after India’s request was made.
According to Foreign Ministry sources, Minister Rajapakse will leave for India tomorrow and return back on August 26. (Daily Mirror online)