SRI LANKA UNITY NON-NEGOTIABLE SAYS RAJYA SABHA DEPUTY OPPN. LEADER

MR says solution cannot be Rajapaksa-sampanthan agreement

Deputy opposition leader of the Indian Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shanker Prasad yesterday said ‘Sri Lanka’s Unity is Not Negotiable,’ when he called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees, the President’s Office said in a statement.

The Indian delegation

Congratulating President Rajapaksa for eradicating terrorism told the President that ‘Sri Lanka’s unity and integrity are not negotiable

comprising several members of India’s main Opposition Bharatiya Jana- tha Party (BJP) headed by the deputy leader of the opposition of the

Rajya Sabha, Mr. Prasad, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees last afternoon.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa commenting on the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee said: “All parties must get together for an all-inclusive political solution. We cannot import a solution, and it cannot be a Rajapaksa-Sampanthan agreement.”

During the talks with President Rajapaksa, Prasad while congratulating President Rajapaksa for eradicating terrorism told the President that ‘Sri Lanka’s unity and integrity are not negotiable,’ And added what they saw during their visit to Jaffna “was an eyeopener,” noting the development work

Deputy opposition leader of the Indian Rajya Sabha Ravi Shanker Prasad yesterday said ‘Sri Lanka’s Unity is Not Negotiable,’ when he called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees, the President’s Office said in a statement.

that has taken place.

He said the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report “was a bold step and is brilliantly written.”

The delegation also spoke about the nature of the relationship between India and Sri Lanka and said local issues in Sri Lanka sometimes impact India as well.

“Sri Lanka is a friend of India beyond politics, beyond government. It’s a relationship of the heart,” Prasad said.

The discussion also focused on several other areas of mutual interest, including the challenges faced by fishermen and the Parliamentary Select Committee to find a political solution in the north and east.

The Indian delegation asked the President about northern elections to which President Rajapaksa reaffirmed his commitment to holding the elections in September this year.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Karunatilaka Amunugama and Advisor to the President Dr. Sunimal Fernando were also present for the discussions.