The Hindu : National : Rajapakse explores new areas of ties

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Monday, Jul 19, 2004

National

National

Rajapakse explores new areas of ties

By Our Special Correspondent

FOR CLOSER TIES: The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajpakse, with the Finance Minister, P.C. Chidambaram, in New Delhi on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sudershan.

NEW DELHI, JULY 18. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, explored new areas of cooperation with India during separate meetings with three members of the Union Council of Ministers here today.

On his first overseas visit after assuming office in April this year, Mr. Rajapakse met the Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, the Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, and the Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Oscar Fernandes.

Mr. Rajapakse, who arrived in the Capital last night on an official visit, began his day with a meeting with Mr. Chidambaram.

Though the LTTE issue figured in their talks — with Mr. Chidambaram saying that an early resolution of the strife in the island nation was in India's interest — matters of economic cooperation preoccupied their attention.

While exploring new areas for enhancing economic cooperation with Sri Lanka, Mr. Chidambaram informed the Sri Lankan Prime Minister that India was willing to review the Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty with Colombo.

Later, Mr. Pawar called on Mr. Rajapakse and Mr. Fernandes met him in the afternoon.

Though the Union Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Minister, T.R. Baalu, was scheduled to call on Mr. Rajapakse, the meeting did not take place.

Mr. Rajapakse is slated to meet the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on Monday. Also scheduled are meetings with the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, the National Security Adviser, J.N. Dixit, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani.

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