| by Janaka Alahapperuma
( September 21, 2012, New Delhi, Sri Lanka guardian) President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is in India on a three day state visit primarily
to lay foundation stone for
the International University of Buddhist Studies in the historically important
city of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh held comprehensive deliberations with Prime
Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday evening.
It
was the first meeting between the two parties after India voted in favour of U.S.
backed resolution on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC) Geneva sessions in March.
Prime Minister Singh raised the issue of devolution of powers so that Tamil
citizens of Sri Lanka can look forward to a future where they can live with
dignity and respect. In his response, President Rajapaksa noted that elections
had been held in three provinces and administrative and other steps were
underway to hold elections in the Northern Province near future. The President talked about various successful steps
taken by the government to rehabilitate and resettle displaced people as also
in dealing with the ethnic issue. Prime Minister Singh requested to fast-track
the rehabilitation of war-displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka and also asked to speed
up finding a lasting solution to the ethnic issue.
In the backdrop of arrest and alleged harassment of Indian fishermen by Sri
Lanka Navy, PM emphasised on the need to treat fishermen humanely in cases
where they may stray across maritime boundary on both sides. Two leaders agreed
it would be best for fishermen's associations to meet and discuss these issues
further.
President Rajapaksa said that the relationship between the two countries
that goes back to centauries should not be tarnished by petty incidents. The
President also thanked PM for the Kapilavasthu relics expositions in Sri Lanka
where more than 3 million people paid their respects. During the meeting both
sides discussed key bilateral issues and reviewed all matters of mutual interest,
the Government Information Department reported.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also hosted a private dinner, which was attended by a
select number of guests, for the visiting dignitary.
Meanwhile pro
Tamil Tiger elements in Tamil Nadu infuriated by the vanquishing of Tiger
terrorism have planned
protests and black flag demonstrations against the President's visit. Certain politicians and political parties
strongly supportive to LTTE terrorism in Tamil Nadu are also demanding for the
cancellation of the visit. An Indian has already self immolated and died in
protest against President Rajapaksa’s Indian visit.
The pro-LTTE
Tamil party Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko and his
convoy of buses carrying hundreds of supporters had left Tamil Nadu. They have
been stopped at Pandhurna on Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border in Chhindwara
district by the police when they tried to enter the Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday
morning. LTTE ardent supporter Vaiko vowed to stage a black flag protest in
Sanchi to show opposition to President's visit. He attacked the central government
and the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government for inviting the Sri Lankan
President.However Nearly half a dozen
MDMK supporters were already detained at Salamatpur near Sanchi as a
precautionary measure. The Indian
government said that it would not allow baseless protests by Vaiko and his
followers in Sanchi.
Indian
Janatha Party leader Dr. Subramanian Swami said that the arrival of President
Mahinda Rajapaksa is an honor to India. Expressing his views to the media he
said that protests by certain groups were baseless and Indians would welcome
the Sri Lankan president as a hero. Dr. Swami further said that he hope that
one day India's highest honour, "Braratha Rathna" would be bestowed
on the President Rajapaksa. India also suffered immensely due to LTTE
terrorism. Defeating of the LTTE would be instrumental in bringing peace not
only to Sri Lanka but also to the Asian region. Dr. Swami pointed out that Asia
should be grateful to the Sri Lankan President who pioneered to bring peace to
the region.
Sri Lankan High
Commissioner in India Prasad Kariyawasam pointed out that the tour shows the
warm relations and friendship between the two countries and the Asian region.
He added that India and Sri Lanka have a historic relationship and no external
forces could break such a strong relationship.
However, the
Indian government has provided full security to President Rajapaksa’s state
visit. External
Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Parliamentarian Sajin Vass Gunawardena, Secretary
to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Ministry of External
Affairs Karunathilaka Amunugama were present at the occasion.
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