Top level Indian delegation arrives for talks

A top level Indian delegation arrived in Sri Lanka today for talks with the Sri Lankan officials on post-war developments and bilateral matters.

The delegation arrived in the island on a special flight that landed at Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport around 12 noon.

During their two-day visit Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, National Security Advisor Shiva Shankar Menon and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and other leaders.

The discussions with the Indian delegation will focus on the northeast development, resettlement of the remaining displaced persons, power devolution based on the 13th Amendment and the fishermen issue among other things, according to a government official.

The Indian delegation’s visit to the island comes in the wake of the Tamil Nadu State Assembly passing a resolution to impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka.

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly led by the new Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jeyaram unanimously moved a resolution on Wednesday demanding the Indian government to impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka until the Tamils are given equal rights and war crimes charges are brought against Sri Lankan leaders.

Meanwhile, Indian reports said that the Indian Defence Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jeyaram in Chennai today before he arrived in Sri Lanka.

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao later joined Menon in Chennai to arrive in Sri Lanka.

(www.colombopage.com)