President to meet Indian PM on Wednesday
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for India yesterday to
participate in the Asian Mayors' Conference at Dehra Dun. He will also
hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
Wednesday.
The President is expected to deliver a special lecture on the
challenges of urban development in Asian countries like Sri Lanka.
Minister of Local Government and
Provincial Councils Janaka Bandara Tennakoon too will participate at
the conference and deliver a lecture.
Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa will hold top level discussions with
several Indian leaders, including the President, Prime Minister,
Congress Party leaders and senior Ministers during his four-day visit.
Reports from India state the closure of the A-9 highway,
transportation of commodities to the Jaffna peninsula and the future of
peace process as the core issues that would be taken up at the bilateral
talks. Developing Indo-Lanka economic relationship and the Comprehensive
Economic Pact Agreement, due to be signed between the two countries next
year, too would be discussed.
Reports added that Sri Lanka would be seeking India's assistance to
patrol the two countries' maritime boundary in order to prevent
cross-border terrorism that could pose a threat to South Asia. Sri Lanka
will stress the importance of such a move not only to prevent arms and
drug smuggling, but also to ensure the safety of fishermen of both the
countries. |