India for negotiated political settlement to Lanka conflict

T V Sriram
Colombo, Jan 18 (PTI) India has made it clear that Sri
Lanka needed to move expeditiously towards a peacefully
negotiated political settlement to the decades-old ethnic
conflict in the island nation to ensure that all communities,
including the Tamils, live in peace and with dignity.

India's Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, during the
discussions he had with the Sri Lankan leaders including
President Mahinda Rajapaksa as part of his two-day visit here,
welcomed the Island nation's commitment for a devolution
package in the embattled north.

Menon, who concluded his visit Saturday, "urged early
movement towards a peacefully negotiated political settlement
in the island, including in the north," an Indian High
Commission release said Sunday.

President Rajapaksa indicated his government's desire to
rapidly move on from military success against the LTTE to a
political solution of the Sri Lankan issues, it said.

During his meetings here, Menon emphasised the importance
of a political understanding within the framework of a united
Sri Lanka, wherein all communities including the Tamils live
in peace and with dignity, it said.

He welcomed the Sri Lankan government's commitment to
fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution on
devolution of powers to provinces, the mission release said.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama during
his talks with Menon said the issue was being deliberated.

"In this context, Bogollagama observed that the
government is currently in the process of exploring several
avenues of implementing the 13th Amendment to the
Constitution," a Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry statement said on
Friday.

Bogollagama highlighted his government's sincere
commitment to evolving a broadbased and an inclusive peace
process in order to achieve durable peace, acceptable to all
communities, the Sri Lankan statement had said.

During his visit, Menon also met Sri Lankan Foreign
Secretary Palitha Kohona and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa. Besides, he held discussions with Senior Adviser to
President, Basil Rajapaksa; Secretary to President, Lalith
Weeratunga; and Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

Menon's discussions covered bilateral relations, the
situation in Sri Lanka and developments in the region.

During his meetings, the Foreign Secretary also conveyed
India's concerns at the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka's
embattled north and the need to ensure the safety and security
of the internally displaced civilian population.

Menon underlined the importance of preventing civilian
casualties as a result of ongoing hostilities.

He also announced India's intention to provide further
assistance of relief material including medicines. As part of
this assistance, he has already handed over the first
consignment of medicines to Basil Rajapaksa.

India had earlier provided 1680 tonnes of food and other
relief assistance through the International Committee of Red
Cross to the affected population in the Wanni.

Discussions between the two sides also touched upon the
present global economic situation and they decided to consider
ways to further deepen and strengthen bilateral relations and
cooperation for mutual benefit in this regard.

Menon, during his visit, also met the Leader of the
Opposition and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of
the United National Party (UNP) and prominent leaders from the
Tamil and Muslim communities in Sri Lanka. PTI