End of conflict an opportunity for Sri Lanka – Pranab tells Ranil

The end of conflict is a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to ensure national reconciliation, President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday told visiting Sri Lankan Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe.

Wickremesinghe called on Mukherjee in New Delhi, a Rashtrapati Bhawan statement said.

“The President said India-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship is based on shared historical, cultural and ethnic ties as well as extensive people-to-people interaction. It has always been close and cordial. As a neighbour with thousands of years of close ties, India has a natural interest in Sri Lanka. People of India cannot remain untouched by developments in Sri Lanka.

“The President said India has always felt that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities. Sri Lanka must seize the opportunity for genuine national reconciliation and move ahead,” the statement quoted him as telling Wickremasighe.

Wickremesinghe warmly reciprocated the President’s words, the statement added, PTI reports.