Former Indian FM expresses support for APRC proposals

Former Foreign and Finance Minister of India, Yaswant Sinha expressed his support for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution by the Government, in line with the recommendation of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC).

He made this observation when he paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

Minister Bogollagama welcoming Sinha, recalled the latter's visit to Sri Lanka in 2002. The Foreign Minister gave a detailed briefing to Sinha on current developments in Sri Lanka, particularly relating to the restoration of civil administration and the democratic process in the Eastern Province, following the clearing of the Province of the LTTE last year.

He highlighted the fact that all major national political parties, including the main opposition United National Party (UNP) are contesting the Provincial Council elections to on May 10.

Responding to Sinha's suggestion that for a political settlement to be durable, there should be bipartisan consensus, Minister Bogollagama highlighted the fact that the Government itself is composed of several parties of different ideologies, including a significant number of UNP members. Sinha noted that the LTTE demand for a separate State was completely unacceptable.

The Foreign Minister endorsed Sinha's view that the successful implementation of the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement has paved the way for the current negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, which upon conclusion, would further strengthen bilateral relations.