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President
to visit India before JM During this first formal official visit to New Delhi after the Congress-led government came to office last year, she is expected to brief the Indian Premier on a number of issues including the ongoing Norwegian-brokered peace process with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Of particular importance, Government sources said yesterday, would be the briefing she would give him on the proposed joint post tsunami disaster management structure with the LTTE to share aid for tsunami recovery. Her previous visit to India where she met Premier Manmohan Singh was last year. This, however, was during a visit to New Delhi to take part in an event sponsored by the Hindustan Times newspaper. The Sunday Times learns that President Kumaratunga has decided to give her Government's consent to the Norwegian brokered joint tsunami management structure. The LTTE has already accepted the scope and content of the structure but fuller details still remain a secret. After her meeting with Prime Minister Singh, President Kumaratunga, upon her return to Colombo is expected to have another round of talks with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna over the Joint Management Structure. The JVP, which is strongly opposed to this joint mechanism, has, however, agreed to hold talks on condition that a copy of the document detailing out this mechanism is made available in advance. President Kumaratunga's meeting with the JVP, Government sources say, is a prelude to a formal announcement that her Government would accept the Joint Management Structure. A JVP opposition to the move will not deter the Government from going ahead, according to these sources. In view of her impending visit to New Delhi on Thursday, President Kumaratunga called off plans earlier to visit Atlanta, United States, to take part in the 25th anniversary ceremonies of CNN. Instead, she will now make a live keynote address via satellite on Wednesday. She is to be accompanied to New Delhi by a team of senior officials. However, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar leaves today for Atlanta to take part in a panel discussion on the tsunami catastrophe, part of CNN's 25th anniversary events. He will join former US President George H. Bush and many others. During this visit, Mr. Kadirgamar is also due to meet the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice in Washington DC on Thursday. Among the highlights of his talks with Ms. Rice will be a briefing on the ongoing Norwegian brokered peace process and the proposed Joint Management Structure. Mr. Kadirgamar will be back in Colombo for an official visit by Indian Foreign Minister Kanwar Natwar Singh. He is due in Colombo on June 9 for the meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission where over 20 key issues are being listed on the agenda for discussion. The Indian foreign minister will also visit places of interest during his three-day visit. He is to be hosted for lunch by Foreign Minister Kadirgamar and for dinner by President Kumaratunga. |
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