The Hindu : Front Page : Saran to hold talks in Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 03, 2006

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Saran to hold talks in Sri Lanka

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Likely to discuss India's role

COLOMBO: Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran is expected to be here in the next few days for consultations with the Mahinda Rajapakse Government on the latest situation in the country in the face of an undeclared war between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan military.

Both sides are tight-lipped about the impending visit and it appears to be a conscious decision. "We want to avoid premature and unnecessary publicity given the sensitive issues involved," a senior Sri Lankan Government official privy to the visit told The Hindu .

New Delhi is concerned about the surge in violence and targeted assassinations of high-profile figures in the Sri Lanka establishment. The countries are in close touch on the developments and measures required to ensure that the tensions do not escalate.

The Rajapakse Government has time and again talked about the need for a greater role to India in assisting Colombo to tackle the threat posed by the Tigers as well in its endeavour towards resolving the ethnic conflict. However, for a variety of reasons, the Sri Lankan Government has been shy of spelling out the exact nature of the role it desires from India.

Besides the ground situation, what role India could play in the current situation is expected to be an important item on the agenda of the Foreign Secretary.

Asked about the nature of help Sri Lanka expected from India, a senior Minister told The Hindu , "We have been engaged in intense but quiet consultations. Indications are that the President would, in the next few days, unveil a package on the political issues related to the conflict and aspirations of the various sections within the country."

India's expectations

India has articulated its expectations as recently as June 22 when Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraveera made a one-day visit to New Delhi to apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the latest developments.

Dr. Singh conveyed to Mr. Samaraveera India's abiding commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, while emphasising the need to address expeditiously the legitimate aspirations of all sections of Sri Lankan society.

A statement on the meeting by the External Affairs Ministry quoted the Prime Minister as saying that he emphasised the need to make all possible efforts to strengthen the ceasefire between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Mr. Samaraveera told Dr. Singh that for his Government war was not an option and that it remained committed to a political solution.

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