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INDIA AND SRI LANKA ESTABLISHES A JOINT COMMITTEE ON DEFENSE HAILED AS A NEW IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT

By Walter Jayawardhana

In a new development widely considered as an important factor in Indo-Lanka relations a joint committee of defense consisting of high officials has been established.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Rajapakse's two brothers,Gotabhaya and Basil are members of the Sri Lankan side while India is represented by the powerful officals related to defense relations in Sri Lanka, Defence Secretary Shri Vijay Singh, External Affairs Secretary Shivshankar Menon and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan .
The Rajapaksa brothers Gotabhaya and Basil are Secretary of Defense and Senior Advisor to the President.

The Sri Lankan officials visited New Delhi early this week to discuss the developing military situation in Sri Lanka.

According to reliable sources, Development of the Eastern Province and the government's planned military operations in the north against Tamil Tiger rebels were issues discussed.

The defense Committee is a big turn around since the Indira Gandhi government trained and armed Tamil Tigers, the arrival of the Indian Peace keeping Forces and the return of the IPKF to India in the turbulent relations between the two countries, analysts said.

A Sri lankan delegation led by the Secretary of the President, Lalith Weeratunga and the two Rajapaksa brothers met their Indian counterparts in New Delhi on September 3 - 4.

The Ministry of Defense website describing the meeting said: “The present situation in Sri Lanka, development of the Eastern Province, and current humanitarian operations in the North were among the issues discussed. A fruitful discussion was also held on combating terrorism and devolving power as a means of finding a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. During the discussions the Indian side reiterated India's commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and expressed their hope that a solution would be soon found to the just grievances of the Sri Lankan Tamils through devolution of power. The Sri Lankan side explained the steps taken by the Government to expedite the work of the All Party Representative Conference so as to find a lasting solution to the conflict.”

The Sri Lankan officials described the meeting as cordial and friendly.

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