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13.11.2008
ImageIndian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh told President
Mahinda Rajapaksa that discussions held a few weeks ago
with the Preisdent's Special Envoy, his Senior Advisor and
Member of Parliament, Mr. Basil Rajapaksa had been most
constructive and that he valued the facilitatory arrangements
expeditiously put in place by the Government of Sri Lanka,
for the distribution of relief to the civilian population
in the affected Districts of the Northern Province.
The two leaders were holding bilateral discussion on the
sidelines of the Second BIMSTEC Summit in New Delhi.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa while reiterating the Government's
commitment to a political solution to the conflict in Sri
Lanka's North and East, said that there will be no talks
with the LTTE unless the terrorist outfit lays down arms.
President
Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
were assisted in these bilateral discussion by their respective
Foreign Ministers, Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama and Mr. Pranab
Mukherjee.
Having
taken note of the Resolution adopted by the Tamil Nadu State
Assembly on 12th November 2008 calling for a ceasefire in
Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasized that he
and his administration have always been for a political
solution.
However,
it is the LTTE that repeatedly violated its obligations
and embarked on a path of conflict and terror. Moreover,
it
is necessary to be mindful of the LTTE's past track record
of using a ceasefire in order to re-group and re-arm, with
no intention of a political solution.
Accordingly,
the Government will engage in discussions only if the LTTE
lays down its arms first, thereby preventing the resumption
of a another round of terrorism, as has always happened
in the past, he said.
President
Rajapaksa emphasized that the Tamil people are very much
a part of his responsibilities as the Head of State and
Government and that he would take all measures for their
safety, security and welfare. He pointed out in this regard
that he had invited all opposition political parties to
meet with him for a discussion on the situation. All had
responded, with the exception of the TNA.
President
Rajapaksa used the opportunity to brief his Indian counterpart
on the current positive developments in the Eastern Province
and the progressive empowerment of the provincial administration.
He added that similarly democracy would be revitalized in
the North as well through the electoral process, once that
area is liberated from the terror of the LTTE. Even at the
present consultations were going ahead with the Commissioner
of Elections on holding Municipal Council elections in Jaffna.
The
two Leaders also had an useful discussion on the bilateral
cooperationcurrently underway between India and Sri Lanka,
including in the field of energy and power generation and
in particular the progress being made in setting up of the
NTPC - CEB Power Plant in Sampur in the Eastern Province.
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