The Hindu : Private Indian airlines to be allowed to fly to Colombo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003

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Private Indian airlines to be allowed to fly to Colombo

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI OCT. 21. A joint statement issued at the end of a visit by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, here today envisaged that private Indian airlines would be allowed to fly to Colombo.

In line with the recent offer to Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, India today said it would permit "daily air services" between Colombo and Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata, apart from additional flights. Unlimited flights would also be permitted to 18 tourist destinations in India.

Sidestepping objections from the Tamil Nadu Government on a possible Colombo-Tuticorin ferry service, Mr. Wickremesinghe proposed the introduction of a Colombo-Kochi ferry service.

On the defence front, the Indian and Sri Lankan Prime Ministers discussed the ongoing cooperation in training and supply of equipment to the Sri Lankan defence forces and agreed that the two sides will "commence discussions" with a view to concluding a defence cooperation agreement at the earliest. [The sources said that as a follow-up to the discussions between the Prime Ministers, the Indian and Sri Lankan Defence Secretaries would meet shortly].

India, the joint statement said, believed that an enduring solution to the Sri Lankan ethnic issue had to "emerge purely through internal political processes". New Delhi also promised to "maintain its abiding interest" in the security of Sri Lanka and remained committed to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"India would welcome a resolution of the current impasse in the peace process and an early resumption of negotiations. Any interim arrangement should be an integral part of the final settlement and should be in the framework of the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka," it stressed.

New Delhi, the statement said, also supported the process of seeking a negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society within the framework of a united Sri Lanka and consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for individual rights.

According to the joint statement, the two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction that existing understandings on dealing sympathetically with fishermen who strayed into each other's maritime zones were working well.

"It was noted that a number of Indian fishermen had been released by the Sri Lankan side and several Sri Lankan vessels detained at Nagapattinam had been released for repair and escorted back to Sri Lanka. It was agreed that while it was important that the fishermen should be released early, the boats might be held till the judicial processes in the two countries are completed."

"The Prime Ministers agreed on the need to undertake enhanced surveillance to minimise incursions, institutionalise assistance for salvage operations of released vessels, pay attention to ecological and conservation aspects and consider licensed fishing within a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries," the statement said.

Expressing satisfaction that the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries had enabled bilateral trade to cross the $1 billion mark in 2002-03, the Prime Ministers "directed" that negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement be concluded by March 31, 2004.

"This would enable the two countries to reap the early benefits of freer trade in goods and services and enhanced investment and economic cooperation," the joint statement said. The Prime Ministers also agreed that further Lines of Credit for infrastructure projects could be discussed between the two countries.

Taking note of the continuing acts of terrorism worldwide and in the region, the two leaders emphasised the need for concerted opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "They agreed that there can be no justification for terrorism, be it political, religious or ideological."

The Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, also called on the Sri Lankan Prime Minister today. Mr. Wickremsinghe, Congress sources said, briefed Ms. Gandhi on the state of the peace process.

While Mr. Wickremesinghe was hopeful of a solution to the ethnic crisis, he refrained from providing any time frame by which the peace process might conclude, the sources added.

Editorial on Page 10

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