Tells Minister Basil:

BJP HEAD: LET INDIA KNOW OF NORTH’S PROGRESS

* Calls for stronger Indo-Lanka economic, cultural relationship

* Maximum effort to erase certain misconceptions

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad of the Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) of India told Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa he witnessed the mega development that is taking place in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, adding he will make the government and the people of India aware of ‘the high level of development being carried out without racial prejudice.’

Minister Basil Rajapaksa

Ravi Shankar Prasad

He further stated that his team will make the maximum effort to erase the misconception created among certain sections of Indians ‘as a result of certain misrepresentations made on Sri Lanka.’

Prasad was of the opinion that it is imperative that stronger and uninterrupted economic co-operation is maintained between Sri Lanka and India.

These sentiments were expressed by Prasad when a team of representatives from the BJP headed by him, met Minister Rajapaksa during a recent visit to Sri Lanka.

The delegation comprised Suresh Prabhu, Swapan Dasguptha, Vivek Katju, Monica Arora and Madhav Varanasi.

The BJP officials were of the opinion that governments alone could not do away with these misrepresentations of facts, but it has to be a combined effort by the people and the social groups of both the countries.

The BJP representatives expressed the view that people of both countries have to make a combined effort to ensure that economic, political and cultural relations between the two countries which have been in existence from ancient times are continued without hindrance. There is no ambiguity with regard to the development efforts taking place in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Certain movements against Sri Lanka launched in India are carried out by a small section of the Indians in which the whole of India has no hand, the group emphasized.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa recalled the co-operation extended by India at all times in the process of development efforts implemented by the government of Sri Lanka after the cessation of hostilities. He stated that India was instrumental in implementing a number of projects covering De-mining, Agriculture, Irrigation, Housing, school buildings and Railways.

Minister Rajapaksa further said a host of development projects were implemented by the Sri Lankan government for the benefit of the people of the North and all measures have been taken to ensure that everybody is treated equally. Parallel to the development efforts, action has also been taken to hold elections at every level in the Northern Region.

The government of Sri Lanka will ensure a free and fair Provincial election in the North and special legal provision has been made enabling all of them to exercise their franchise without hindrance.

Minister Rajapaksa pointed out that several Tamil media organizations including several Tamil Newspapers and TV Channels are in operation in the North and the East since the cessation of hostilities which amply demonstrates the government’s intention of affording the Tamil Community with access to information.

He added that the majority of Investors engaged in Investment Projects in Sri Lanka are Indians and the majority of tourists is also from India. He regretted the efforts of certain interested sections to make misrepresentations, disregarding the positive relationship existing between the two countries.