Colombo, March 14 (newin.asia): The Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay held a series of meetings with leaders of various political parties in Jaffna and Trincomalee on 13 March 2021, the third day of his visit to the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
In the first of these meetings, the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) MP Kulasingam Dhileeban thanked India for its consistent position on the implementation of 13th Amendment, and requested more Indian assistance projects in Wanni electoral district.
A 15-member TNA delegation led by the President of ITAK Mavai Senathiraja, Selvam Adaikalanathan (TELO), D. Sidhthathan (PLOTE), M.A. Sumanthiran, S. Sritharan, Charles Nirmalanathan and several young leaders from the Northern Province apprised the High Commissioner of the development requirements of the people of the Province. Several practical suggestions were made for deeper engagement in the fields of water supply, sanitation, education, skills development, health, agriculture, connectivity and fishing.
An 8-member delegation led by the Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootani chief, CV Wigneswaran, and comprising Suresh Premachandran (EPRLF), N.Srikantha, M.K. Shivajilingham (Tamil National Party), Mrs. Ananthi Sasitharan (ETSK), Venthan, Kathir (Jananayaga Poralikal) and Ainkaranesan (Pasumai Thayagam) briefed the High Commissioner on their current economic and political priorities. High Commissioner appreciated in particular the suggestions for cooperation in the fields of waste management and skills development.
Members of Parliament Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Selvakumar Kajendran of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) mentioned to the High Commissioner the priorities of TNPF for the North and the East.
Eastern Province
The High Commissioner interacted with political leaders of the TNA from the Eastern Province, including Member of Parliament R Shanakkiyan and President of Trincomalee district Kuhadasan in Trincomalee.
A number of practical suggestions were made to the High Commissioner for infrastructure development, skills development, water supply and irrigation, women’s empowerment and investment in energy and Information Technology. The High Commissioner assured India’s continued engagement in the development of the Eastern Province.
In all these meetings, Tamil leaders sought further assistance for infrastructural development, more economic investment and additional projects under grant assistance for development cooperation from India. The High Commissioner assured his interlocutors of continued cooperation from India in these spheres.
He highlighted India’s long-standing cooperation and commitment to the development of the Northern and Eastern Provinces in accordance with the requirements of the people and priorities set by their elected representatives.
Devolution
He recalled commitments of the Government of Sri Lanka relating to the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil community for equality, justice, peace and dignity, and maintained that achieving them through meaningful devolution within a united Sri Lanka will contribute to peace, reconciliation, inclusive progress and strength of the country.
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