LTTE ultimatum in hand, Lanka looks to India

Samaraweera will be here for a day and is slated to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the new government’s ideas to take the peace process forward.

A more concrete picture, however, will emerge after Rajapakse’s visit.

The new Lankan government has promised a consultative and transparent approach to the peace process and has indicated willingness to engage all the parties involved.

The biggest concern is to ensure the continuance of the ceasefire in the light of LTTE chief V Prabhakaran’s statement that the LTTE will intensify struggle next year unless the government takes some concrete steps to give more ‘‘political powers’’ to the Tamils.

Also in focus is the approach the Rajapakse government takes towards the Norwegian-led peace efforts.

Samaraweera’s visit to Delhi will be followed by that of Norway’s chief negotiator in the Lankan peace process, Eric Solheim, who is expected to meet Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on December 2.

While Rajapakse has been critical of former President Ranil Wickremasinghe for dealing only with Norwegian negotiators, he took a more accommodating view in his speech to the diplomatic community in Colombo on Monday.

‘‘My deep commitment to pursuing the process through broad-based consultations and with the assistance of all those friendly countries, which have helped us in the past, needs no reiteration…. I have directed the foreign minister and the Peace Secretariat to initiate consultations with the co-chairs Japan, USA, the EU and Norway.’’

While the LTTE is looking for more political powers, the breakway faction led by Col. Karuna said on Sunday that India and Britain should play a more pivotal role in working towards a settlement of the problem. He went on to add that these were only two countries, India in particular, that his group would welcome.

India, on its part, has favoured a peaceful settlement and encourgaed negotiations including the Norwegian effort.

It has, however, been concerned by LTTE’s endeavours to strengthen its military capability even when the ceasefire is being observed. The most recent worry being evidence about LTTE acquiring the ability to strike by air.

In this context, New Delhi and Colombo have been discussing a wide-ranging defence cooperation agreement and the government has indicated its willingness to help Sri Lanka strengthen its air defence capabilties.

With the change in government in Colombo and increasing calls for Indian involvement, it is clear that New Delhi will have to indulge in some careful diplomacy in the coming days as Rajapakse firms up his peace strategy and garners the necessary support for it.