'Highest level of cooperation between Lanka-India'

Pramod de Silva in New York

US: Sri Lanka and India are seeing the highest level of cooperation and friendship, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee assured President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday.

Mukherjee is leading the Indian delegation to the UN General Assembly Sessions. This was President Rajpaksa's first in a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders and heads of UN organisations.

Developments in Sri Lanka in the context of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) deliberations was one of the highlights of the closed-door discussion at the Ritz-Carlton, Foreign Minster Rohitha Bogollagama told the Daily News.

"Mukherjee was keen to know about the efforts towards a political solution and President Rajapaksa stressed that the APRC proposals would be forthcoming before year end," Bogollagama said, noting that this response was highly appreciated by the Indian delegation.

Mukherjee also said India was keenly following the development moves in the newly liberated East.

The President briefed him extensively on the Government's Eastern Resurgence Programme and the establishment of civilian administration.

It was also stressed that Eastern youth would be given an opportunity to join the Police, as more stations are being established in the East. Indian assistance for a power plant in the East was also discussed.

President Rajapaksa and Minister Mukherjee also focused their attention on the proposed resumption of the ferry service between the two countries.

Mukherjee said India was eager to see the recommencement of the ferry service which would greatly benefit travellers in both countries who are unable to afford air travel.

The transformation of the current Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was another topic. "We are confident of inking this agreement next year," the Minister added.

India also sought Sri Lanka's assistance in securing the Commonwealth Secretary General's post and a seat in the UN Security council in 2010.

The Indian Minister was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Permanent Representative to the UN Nirupan Sen, both of whom had served in Sri Lanka as High Commissioners in Sri Lanka.

Minister Bogollagama, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Lanka's Ambassador to the UN Bernard Goonetilleke and Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam participated in the talks.