Attack on Lankan pilgrims:

Sri Lanka to talk with India

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The government will hold discussions with the Indian government to prevent any future attacks on Sri Lankan pilgrims who visit India. A large number of pilgrims from Sri Lanka visit India.

The discussions will be held at foreign ministry and diplomatic level. Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly cabinet press briefing at the government Information Department Auditorium yesterday Minister Rambukwella said that certain persons such as Vaiko have been acting violently displaying hostility towards Sri Lanka at all times since the past.

The Sri Lankan Government is dealing with the Central Government of India. The Government hope there would be a very positive response from the Indian Government in connection with the pilgrims’ issue.

Responding to a question posed by journalists Minister Rambukwella pointed out that reducing or increasing the number of seats (representation in the Parliament) will be done by the Election Commissioner according to the recommendations made by the Delimitation Commission formed by former President late J R Jayewardene in 1979/1980 and not according to anybody else’s wishes. No person or party can intervene in this decision.

But it is possible to consider appeals coming from political parties.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed a Parliament Select Committee to find a solution to the ethnic issue because the APRC was not successful because it was not an APRC due to non participation of some political parties. President Rajapaksa did not use his executive powers and handed the issue over to the Parliament which is the supreme institution of the country. Political parties have not taken a final decision yet on their participation in the proposed Parliament Select Committee, Minister Rambukwella added.