9 December 2009 10:39 am
A three member delegation consisting of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga will travel to Indialater this month for talks, Mr. Weeratunga told Daily Mirror Online today.
Speaking to Daily Mirror Online Mr. Lalith Weeratunga stated that the purpose of the visit was to hold bilateral talks with top Indian officials but gave no specific date for the trip.
The visit comes on the backdrop of Indian External Affairs Minister S. M Krishna’s statements at the Indian Rajya Sabha on Monday where he called on the Sri Lankan political process in Sri Lanka to hasten in order to provide a lasting solution to the Tamil minority in the country.
The issue of IDP’s and Indian fisherman were also raised as a ‘main concern’ at the meeting.
Mr. Krishna stated that what has been done so far for the IDP’s by the Sri Lankan government is not enough and also mentioned that a proposal has been made to the Sri Lankan government with regard to the safety of Indian fishermen.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has in the past sent his two brothers on specific missions to India regarding diplomacy and defense. India in turn has come to Sri Lanka’s aid in terms of relief for IDP’s and financial assistance.
By Kshanika Argent