President leaves for Delhi

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga left for New Delhi last night (01) on a State visit to India. She is expected to have discussions with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Party Leader Sonia Gandhi in India today.

The discussions will touch on bilateral relations and regional issues mutually significant to both countries.

Sri Lanka's peace process is also expected to figure prominently at the discussions between the leaders of the of the two neighbouring states. In addition, both leaders will exchange views on the issue of the proposed Tsunami Relief Council at these discussions .

Earlier this week, Dr. Singh expressed the view that India had a "very vital stake" in the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka and expressed the hope that the ethnic problem would be resolved peacefully.