S M Krishna meets Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa

Last evening,Krishna had attended ‘Thaipongal’ reception hosted by the President.

The President,clad in a safari suit,warmly welcomed Krishna at his chamber who was accompanied by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Pieris.

Krishna and Rajapaksa are understood to have discussed the current political situation in Sri Lanka and the process of finding a political solution to the decades-old Tamil question.

Officials had yesterday said Krishna would hold “substantive” discussions with the President on a variety of issues that include the relief and rehabilitation process of the Tamil civilians displaced due to the civil war that ended in 2009.

Krishna had yesterday set the tone for his talks with the top Sri Lankan leadership today by saying that India was committed to ensuring political settlement,including devolution of powers,to resolve the problem.

The minister gave the assurance to a delegation from the Tamil National Alliance,an umbrella grouping of Tamil political parties in the country,and also told them that he would raise all issues that concern Tamil people during his meeting with the Sri Lankan leadership.