5 February 2021 12:00 am
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said fulfilling the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice and peace within a united Sri Lanka will be in own interest of the island nation.
In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Mr. Jaishankar said he reiterated India’s support for the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka during his discussions with its top leaders in Colombo last month, the PTI reported.
“It is in Sri Lanka’s own interest that the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace and dignity within a united Sri Lanka are fulfilled,” he said. “That applies equally to the commitments made by the Sri Lankan government on meaningful devolution, including the 13th Amendment to the Constitution,” the Minister said.
The 13th amendment provides for devolution of power to the Tamil community. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th amendment which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987.
Mr. Jaishankar held discussions with Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during his visit to Colombo from January 5-7.
“During my discussions, I reiterated that India’s support for the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka is longstanding, as indeed for an inclusive political outlook that encourages ethnic harmony,” he said in his written response.
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I reiterated that India’s support for the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka is longstanding, as indeed for an inclusive political outlook that encourages ethnic harmony