President Mahinda Rajapaksa is reported to have told the Cabinet meeting that his discussions with US Secretary of State John Kerry had made him realize that the US had softened its stance on Sri Lanka.

According to Government sources the President had said the meetings he had with Mr. Kerry and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York were fruitful.

Describing the meetings as highly successful, he said India would not act in a manner that was unfavorable to Sri Lanka.

The President said Mr. Modi’s only request was that the Sri Lankan Government should talk to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and explained why he rejected the TNA’s request to appoint a special envoy to Sri Lanka.

Mr. Modi is expected to visit Sri Lanka early next year preceded with a visit by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to review bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.

The President also met the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Iyad Madani and extended an invitiation to visit Sri Lanka.
Mr. Madani is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka shortly with his office keeping in touch with the External Affairs Ministry to work out his itinerary. (Kelum Bandara)