India's External Affairs Minister meets Wickremesinghe

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 October 2004, 02:47 GMT]
India's Minister of External Affairs Mr.Natwar SIngh and Sri Lanka's Leader of the Opposition United National Front (UNF) and former Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, Wickramesinghe met during the latter's visit to India and held wide ranging discussions, said a press release issued by the UNF. office of the UNF said today.

Full text of the press release issued by the Opposition Leader's office follows; -

"India's desire to see a speedy solution to the ethnic conflict of its closet neighbour, Srilanka was expressed by the Indian minister of External Affairs Mr. Natwar Singh, at a wide ranging discussion held with the srilankan opposition leader, Mr. Ranil Wickramesinghe. Mr.Singh demonstrated a keen interest to learn the current situation of the peace process. Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe described the consistence stance taken by the United National party with regard to the peace process and the peace talks. The opposition leader emphasized that either in power or out of it his party is committed to a negotiated political solution for the conflict.

In addition to the peace process, strengthening of Indo- Srilanka relations was also discussed at length during the meeting Mr. Singh was of the view that both countries should strive more to expand relations in all aspects, as this would be mutually beneficial and make great contribution in the sphere of development. Mr. Wicramasinghe said that he is fully aware of this fact and his government while in power took various steps to expand and strengthen trade, cultural and other relations ships between the two neighbours."