{"id":39523,"date":"2015-03-14T01:19:12","date_gmt":"2015-03-14T05:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=39523"},"modified":"2015-03-14T01:19:12","modified_gmt":"2015-03-14T05:19:12","slug":"narendra-modi-reiterates-indias-stand-for-united-sri-lanka-and-devolution-through-13th-amendment-implementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=39523","title":{"rendered":"Narendra Modi Reiterates India’s stand for United Sri Lanka and Devolution Through 13th Amendment Implementation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Suhasini Haidar<\/strong><\/p>\n

India stands for a \u201cunited Sri Lanka\u201d, but wants an \u201cearly and full implementation of the 13th Amendment\u201d that provides for devolution in the Tamil majority Northern and Eastern provinces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Colombo on Friday.<\/p>\n

Mr. Modi, who was speaking at the historic Presidential secretariat after talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena also referred to \u201cgoing beyond\u201d the 13th amendment, that would \u201ccontribute to the process\u201d of building a \u201cfuture that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister\u2019s comments came a day ahead of his visit to Jaffna and Talaimannar, the first Indian Prime Minister to make that journey. The strong statement is likely to be welcomed in Jaffna on Saturday when he visits. In an interview to The Hindu ahead of the visit, the Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Wigneswaran had called on India to remember its role as \u201cguarantor\u201d of Tamil rights, saying the 13th amendment \u201cinadequate\u201d, and wanting \u201csomething beyond it\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr. Modi began his heavily anticipated visit to Sri Lanka with a grand ceremonial ceremony, but a modest set of agreements being signed after his talks with President Maithripala Sirisena. Unlike his previous stops in the Seychelles and Mauritius, where Indian Ocean security cooperation and big ticket development commitments were made, in Colombo they announced four MoUs on visa exemptions for official passport holders, customs cooperation, youth exchanges and education, and the construction of a university auditorium.<\/p>\n

Mr. Modi also announced e-visa on arrival services for Sri Lankans, a $318 million Line of Credit to upgrade Sri Lanka\u2019s railways, and a promise to build Trincomalee as a \u201cpetroleum hub\u201d, while also seeking movement on the 500 MW Sampur power project, that has been delayed for years due to environmental concerns.<\/p>\n

Referring to the contentious issue of fishing rights that has led to tensions between the two countries, Mr. Modi said it must be handled as a \u201chumanitarian concern\u201d. \u201cIt is also important that fishermen’s associations of India and Sri Lanka meet at the earliest to find a mutually acceptable arrangement. It can then be taken forward by both governments,\u201d Mr. Modi suggested.<\/p>\n

President Sirisena, who released 86 fishermen as a good will gesture a day ahead of Mr. Modi\u2019s visit, did not refer to the issue, but said that Mr. Modi\u2019s visit to the North would be a \u201chistoric moment\u201d for India-Sri lanka ties. \u2028<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera defended Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe\u2019s controversial comments on the \u201cright to shoot\u201d fishermen trespassing into Sri Lankan waters, the first reaction by the Sri Lankan government to the outrage in India\u2019s parliament over the comments. \u201cPM Wickramasinghe merely reflected the frustration felt by many of the fishermen locally, nothing more,\u201d Mr. Samaraweera told The Hindu. <\/p>\n

Courtesy:The Hindu<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Suhasini Haidar India stands for a \u201cunited Sri Lanka\u201d, but wants an \u201cearly and full implementation of the 13th Amendment\u201d that provides for devolution in the Tamil majority Northern and Eastern provinces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Colombo on Friday. Mr. Modi, who was speaking at the historic Presidential secretariat after talks with …<\/p>\n

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