President thanks Manmohan Singh

Tuesday, 8 April 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has thanked Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over India’s decision to abstain from voting in favor of the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council. The Times of India reported that the President had thanked the Indian Premier through “a warm thank you letter” sent to him. The media report further added that India’s abstention has reopened relations with Sri Lanka and Indian officials have said it gives them greater flexibility to pressure Colombo on political devolution to the minority Tamils. This week, India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha said in Colombo, “India considers early progress on devolution and a political settlement as being crucial to Sri Lanka to tackle mounting international pressure.” Sri Lanka, in a goodwill gesture over India’s stand in Geneva, freed all the Indian fishermen held for crossing over into Sri Lankan waters. (Colombo Gazette)