Only Basil Rajapaksa leaves for India

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 August 2010, 06:32 GMT]
Basil Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister and a brother of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave Tuesday to India to have talks with the Indian government leaders. Earlier the government said a three member delegation comprising Basil Rajapaksa, Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunge would be visiting New Delhi.

“Only Minister Basil Rajapakse will leave for India. The Defence Secretary and I will not be going,” Mr. Weeratunga told the Daily Mirror online Monday.

The media further said Lalith Weeratunge refused to reveal the reason behind the decision of pruning down the delegation from three to one.

The delegation was earlier expected to leave on August 15 but had to re-schedule for August 24 after India’s request to delay the visit.

According to Foreign Ministry sources, Minister Rajapakse will leave for India Tuesday and return on August 26, Colombo media further reported.