Dharisha Bastians reporting from New Delhi

Veering away from taking a committed position on a third US backed resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council next month India yesterday renewed its call for Sri Lanka to go beyond the provisions of the 13th Amendment and a resumption of talks between the Government and the Tamil National Alliance.

Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh told Sri Lankan journalists in New Delhi that the promise of 13 Plus was not India’s creation, but a commitment by the Sri Lankan political leadership.

Singh said it was important that everyone in Sri Lanka reached a mutual comfort level in living within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

“We are not there yet, and we are talking about what is needed to get there,” the Indian bureaucrat emphasised.

Singh was reticent in her remarks about India’s position on a third US sponsored resolution to be tabled at the UNHRC in Geneva next month, saying India could not formulate a position on the issue until the text of the resolution was made available.

“We can only take a position when there is a resolution to take a position on and that is not there yet,” she said.

In the backdrop of reports that Washington was in discussions with New Delhi regarding the UNHRC processes, the Indian Foreign Secretary maintained that New Delhi had its own views on the Sri Lankan issue that was not influenced by other countries.

The Indian Foreign Secretary said that in Geneva, the Indian Government was in touch with all parties concerned. “It is an issue certainly on our radar,” Singh said.

The official denied New Delhi was exerting pressure on Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment or pressing for further devolution for the Tamil people. “It is in Sri Lanka’s own interest to deal with this issue in a manner that addresses the concerns expressed,” Singh added.

She said that would also help to meet concerns by Sri Lanka itself about what was going to transpire in Geneva in a few weeks.

Fisheries an emotive issues says Singh

The Palk Bay fisheries conflict is a highly sensitive and emotive issue that the Indian Central Government remains engaged on with the Tamil Nadu state government, Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said in New Delhi yesterday.

“We are actively engaged with the Tamil Nadu State Government to sensitise them with regard to the concerns raised by Sri Lanka,” Singh told a delegation of visiting Sri Lankan journalists.

“It needs to be very sensitively handled, the official said, because it involves the livelihoods of very poor fishermen in both countries,” she said.

Singh said the Government was also working with fishermen to assist them to pursue their livelihood in a safe and sustainable manner.

Measures were being taken to allow Indian fishermen to go further afield by converting their boats in order to allow them to steer clear of the international maritime boundary line, the Indian official added.
COURTESY:DailyFT