Mahinda Rajapakse leaves to India

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 November 2006, 15:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse left Saturday afternoon to India on a four day visit. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is scheduled to inaugurate the Asian Mayors Conference in Dehra Dun in Uttaranchal State in North India Sunday. Tamil mayors from Chennnai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Saleem, Tiruchi and Coimbatore in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu will be boycotting the Asian Mayor's meeting, media reports in Tamil Nadu said.

Politicians in Tamil Nadu have voiced against any military support to Sri Lanka, including training by New Delhi amid assurances from the Indian Premier that no lethal military hardware that could be used against Tamil civilians would be provided to Sri Lanka.

Mahinda Rajapakse is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to hold bi-lateral talks, mainly on the increasing violence in Sri Lanka, deteriorating human right situation and both the leaders are expected to discuss the peace process, informed sources in Colombo said.

Mr.Shiv Shankar Menon, Indian Foreign Secretary who spent two days in Colombo and held discussion with Sri Lankan leaders is reported to have briefed the Indian political leadership about the outcome of his visit to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Administration, Janaka Bandara Tennnekone and several officials are accompanying Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, on his second official visit to India after he assumed Presidency in November last year.

Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) is scheduled to leave Colombo to India on a week-long tour which included discussions with Indian political leadership regarding Sri Lankan situation. He is scheduled to return on December 9 to Colombo.

Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, holding a UNESCO portfolio as senior consultant for education in Asia, is also visiting India.