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Rajapaksa promises political solution to end Tamil grievances
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday promised to work for a political solution to address the grievances of ethnic Tamils who share close ties with India.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday promised to work for a political solution to address the grievances of ethnic Tamils who share close ties with India.
Congratulating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his re-election he hoped it will strengthen bilateral ties and said, "I look forward to working closely with you."
"Having come to know you closely, I am indeed happy that our association will be strengthened in the years to come as a result of your re-election," Rajapaksa said in a message to the Indian Prime Minister.
Rajapaksa reiterated his promise that he will work towards a political solution to address the grievances of the island's ethnic Tamil minority who share close links with the Tamils in South India.
Rajapaksa praised Singh's leadership said the Indian election results were a "clear endorsement of the policies of the government under your stewardship."
"India's role in successfully and resolutely confronting the scourge of terrorism, one of the greatest challenges of our contemporary era, has been a source of strength to us," said Rajapaksa.
Indian envoys, M K Narayanan and Shiv Shankar Menon had on Thursday met Rajapaksa and sought political solution of the conflict after military destruction of the LTTE.
He said Singh's second term coincided with a decisive moment in Sri Lanka when the island had overcome the "long and dark night cast by terrorism over the nation."
"Sri Lanka's recovery from the destruction wrought by terrorism will, I am confident, open up even more avenues for our two countries to further deepen and strengthen their bilateral cooperation."
