President calls on President Abdul Kalam  

[November 06, 2004]

India's President Abdul Kalam this morning received President Chandrika Kumaratunga at Rashtrapathi Bawan. A wide range of issues came up for discussions during the hour long meeting. The Indian President was keen to know the recent developments in the peace initiatives between the Government and the LTTE.

Peace initiatives:

President Kumaratunga said much has been achieved and that she believed the process is moving forward despite several contentious issues. The three year ceasefire the longest ever during the 20-year conflict has brought about an overall sense of relaxation in the country she said. However she said while the ceasefire is holding, there are violations by the LTTE, such as incidents of child conscription and the serial of killings of Tamil political party leaders or activists. She told the Indian President that the LTTE has said they are committed to a negotiated settlement and that they will not go back to war. For the first time the LTTE has said they are willing to explore a federal solution in place of a separate state which they kept demanding for 20 long years. The President said her Government has been very flexible and is hopeful direct talks with the militants would begin soon. Indo-Lanka Defence Pact.

President Kumaratunga said she and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar have had extensive discussions with India's Ministers of External Affairs and Defense and the Security Advisor J N Dixit and most of the issues have been resolved and that it would be signed soon.

North East Development:

President Kalam listened with interest to the development efforts that are now in place in the war ravaged North and East. President Kumaratunga explained the coordinated work of the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation which is under her purview. She said via the North East Provincial Councils much is being done to bring back normalcy to these areas. The priority areas are infrastructure development, social welfare, education and power sector.

Indian fishermen:

President Kalam then raised the contentious issue of Indian fishermen frequently arrested by Sri Lankan authorities. Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar assured President Kalam that this will be resolved in a 'humane manner' and that issue is made complex because the security forces are tasked with monitoring the sea movements of the Northern militants as well. President Kumaratunga assured her Indian counterpart that the Foreign Minister, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General will give this issue priority to speed up the legal issues that delay the release of Indian fishermen apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities. Tourism .

Ways and means of promoting tourism, particularly pilgrims to the sacred Buddhist sites in the two countries were discussed. A Twin City concept for Buddha Gaya and Anuradhapura are to be explored. The President said the Minster of Buddha Sasana Rantansiri Wickremanayake would soon visit India to work on the modalities to further this concept.

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Last Updated Date: November 06, 2004