Indian ruling party leaders discuss Tamil issue with Sri Lankan President

Tuesday, 23 September 2014 01:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Two senior leaders of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) today met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential House in Colombo to discuss a host of issues that are of interest to both nations. The Sri Lankan President and the BJP leaders, P. Muralidhar Rao, the National BJP General Secretary and Vijay Jolly, the Global Convener of BJP Overseas Affairs, in a meeting that lasted nearly 45 minutes, discussed a wide range of issues, particularly relating to ethnic Tamils of Sri Lanka in a free and fair manner, BJP said in a statement.

Rao has stressed at the meeting that dialog with major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance should be restarted immediately as it is vital for lasting peace in Sri Lanka. BJP leaders told the President that the settlement of the pending Tamil issues needs to be resolved within the frame work of Sri Lanka Constitution. The senior BJP leaders in their friendly advice to the Sri Lanka government on the vexed Tamil question have stressed the role and stance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the concept of ‘Sabka Sath-Sabka Vikas’ (together with all, development for all). On the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen, the BJP leaders, while appreciating the recent move of the government to release the arrested Indian fishermen, demanded the release of trawlers seized in the operations. They stressed the need for a new Maritime Indo-Lankan policy to solve the recurrent problem of Indian and Lankan fishermen to the satisfaction of all. It is in the interests of fishermen of both the nations, they pointed out. Rao told the Sri Lankan President that the issue related to the fishermen should be seen as an issue of livelihood and the Sri Lankan government while dealing with this problem should be sensitive and show more flexibility. Promoting Religious and Cultural Tourism between India and Sri Lanka evoked consensus on both sides, the BJP statement said. Buddhist Circuit trail in India and Hindu Circuit trail in Sri Lanka shall promote rich cultural-heritage of both the nations, the BJP leaders told President Rajapaksa. It shall help people to people interaction and strengthen goodwill and friendship among the citizens of both the countries, they said. The two BJP leaders are currently participating in the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) being held in Colombo from 18-21 September. Despite the ICAPP general assembly ending on 21 September, the BJP leaders will extend their visit to Sri Lanka for another two days to meet the leaders of various social and political organisations of Tamils in Sri Lanka, the BJP said.