Indian delegation pleased with Northern development
The visiting six member Indian delegation led by Deputy Opposition
leader in the Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shankar Prasad will update 'relevant
parties and people' in India of Sri Lanka's progress.
The delegation met President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on an
unofficial note and expressed satisfaction over the vast infrastructure
development taking place in the Northern Province after the end of the
war on terrorism. They inquired about the ongoing reconciliation process
and future devolution plans.
The Presidential Spokesman said the Indian delegation has promised to
update the relevant parties of the progress they witnessed in Sri Lanka.
The team included Suresh Prabhu (Shiv Sena), Ram Madhav (RSS),
journalist and political commentator Swapan Dasgupta, former IFS officer
Vivek Katju and human rights activist Monika Arora.
Arriving in Colombo on Tuesday on a five day visit, the delegation
visited Jaffna on Wednesday, on a fact finding mission and they met
Tamil political and civil society leaders. The delegation met the TNA
leaders in Colombo.
The President during the meeting with them, explained the efforts the
government has taken to devolve powers to the peripheries, stressing
that the national solution cannot be an exclusive 'Rajapaksa-Sampanthan
agreement'. The visit was arranged by the New Delhi based India
Foundation and Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. The team
left for India today.Meanwhile, the External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.
Peiris left the country on a seven-day official visit covering Austria,
Germany and Romania on Friday evening. He is expected to hold bi-lateral
discussions with the leaders of the three countries.
- MF
|
