Karunanidhi calls on Centre to press for political solution in Lanka

( May 16, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday said ensuring peace in Sri Lanka should be India's priority and asked the Centre to initiate immediate steps to bring about a political solution to end the ethnic strife there.

In an early morning appeal to the Centre, he said that after his April 27 fast, Sri Lankan Government, due to the efforts of the Indian Government, announced the "stoppage of hostilities".

However, instead of a complete ceasefire, minor skirmishes and military actions were said to be continuing.

"Though information that relief and rehabilitation is being provided to the affected innocent Tamils is being received, at the same time information of fierece fighting between the two sides (Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE) is also being received," he said.

"In the wake of world countries, including United States and UK, trying for a peaceful solution to the conflict and as continously insisted by India, I fervently request the Government of India to initiate immediate action for a political solution to the Sri Lankan crisis," he said.

AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa had on Friday sought immediate steps to air dropping of food packets to help the Sri Lankan Tamils lodged in relief camps in the war-torn north of the island.

-Sri Lanka Guardian