MR kicks off Indian tour amidst tensions

Thursday, 20 September 2012 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa kicked off a visit to India yesterday amidst mixed relations with Tamil Nadu, as a business delegation arrives for talks.

A trade delegation from Tamil Nadu will arrive in Sri Lanka on today for a four-day visit, according to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC).

The 45-member trade delegation consisting of the Executive members of the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TNCCI) in Madurai will be in the island to explore ways to improve trade relations between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu, the statement issued by the CCC added.

The TNCCI delegation will arrive in Colombo on board the first international flight of the budget carrier Spice Jet that will start services between Madurai and Colombo on 20 September.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has said that the visit is aimed at enhancing the bilateral trade relations between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday (20) to discuss relations between the two countries, according to a statement released by the President’s Office.

This will be the first meeting between the two parties after India voted in favour of a US-backed resolution on Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in March.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris earlier told reporters that the visit would be to start a Buddhist university in the historically important city of Sanchi in Madya Pradesh.

However the visit came under a cloud after 184 pilgrims were attacked in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu two weeks ago and had to return on a special plane chartered by Rajapaksa.

In response, the Sri Lankan Government issued a travel advisory on Tamil Nadu, which is still in force but insisted that their cooperation with the Indian Central Government would continue.

According to Indian reports, politicians against the Sri Lankan Government have planned protests and black flag demonstrations during Rajapaksa’s visit.

On Tuesday a man who attempted self-immolation to protest Rajapaksa’s visit died in Tamil Nadu.