Sri Lanka resumes diplomatic relations with Israel

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 May 2000, 08:18 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to resume diplomatic relations with the Government of Israel with immediate effect, said foreign ministry in a news release today.

Indian Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh briefs reporters outside Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's residence in New Delhi following a meeting on the cabinet committee on security 3 May 2000. Photo:AFP

Modalities of representations will be mutually discussed and decided upon by the two governments, the release said.

Sources said urgent resumption of relations with Israel comes in the wake of negotiations to resume military assistance for fighting the Liberation Tigers in the north.

The Indian Central Government declined yesterday to respond positively to the Sri Lankan Government's request for assistance to handle the military crisis in the north of the island.

"India will work to mitigate the hardship inflicted upon civilians by the conflict, taking such humanitarian measures as become necessary in consultation with Sri Lanka", said Indian Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh, in a statement made in New Delhi Wednesday evening.