Top-level Indo-Lanka talks on UN report soon
May 9, 2011 06:59 am
Top-level delegations from India and Sri Lanka are to meet “soon” to discuss the contents of the UN’s advisory panel on alleged war crimes in Lanka, an Indian diplomatic source told Express Buzz.
He, however, denied a report in local media that the Indian delegation was coming to Colombo on May 13 for this purpose.
“All we can say is that the two delegations would be meeting soon. We are not certain about the date and the venue, which could either be Colombo or New Delhi,” he said.
Ranjith Uyangoda, Additional Secretary in charge of South Asia in the Lankan Ministry of External Affairs said that he was “not aware” of any such visit.
But what is confirmed is that the Lankan External Affairs Minister, G.L.Peiris, is going to New Delhi on May 16 to meet his counterpart, S.M.Krishna, and brief him on Lanka’s stand on the UN panel’s report.
Lanka needs India’s help because the European Parliament is to discuss the report and a hostile resolution could come up at the UN Human Rights Commission also.
Lanka had given New Delhi a copy of the panel’s report and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had said that it would study it and engage Colombo on its contents.
Two troikas
During the 2006-2009 Eelam War IV, India and Sri Lanka had each formed a high level three-man team to keep in touch with each other on a regular basis and meet regularly.
The Lankan team has been headed by the President’s brother and chief political advisor cum Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa; and has included his other brother and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and the President’s Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga. The Indian team has comprised the National Security Advisor and the Defense and Foreign Secretaries. Express Buzz reports.