Trade ties on agenda, Natwar for Lanka visit

Soon after the detailed interaction at the highest level, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh will leave on a three-day visit to Colombo tomorrow to further strengthen the institutional framework of India-Sri Lanka relations with special focus on increasing economic cooperation.

Singh will lead the Indian delegation for the sixth meeting of the Joint Commission with the Sri Lankan side, headed by his counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga was in the Capital recently and held broad discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior officials.

The visit comes at a time when both sides are locked in negotiations to firm up a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement as well as far-reaching defence cooperation agreement.

Also, both countries have been concerned over the acquisition of air capability by LTTE. New Delhi is open to offer military assistance for Colombo to revamp its air defence network.