Indian PM hosts lunch for Sri Lanka President

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will be hosting a lunch at his residence today for Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation.


President Rajapaksa arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to participate in the closing ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games as the chief guest along with Britain's Prince Edward.


Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris who accompanied President Rajapaksa on his visit to New Delhi, held talks with his Indian counterpart S. M. Krishna yesterday. He has reportedly apprised the Indian External Affairs Minister on the steps taken by the Sri Lankan government to expedite the resettlement of the remaining displaced Tamil civilians and the development activities in the former war-torn region.
Krishna is scheduled to arrive in Colombo in the last week of October on an official visit. During his visit he is expected to tour the North to observe the progress of the resettlement of displaced Tamil people and hold discussions on the utilization of Indian grants.
On Friday Prof. Peiris is scheduled to deliver the Foundation Day Address of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi on "Growth, Equity, and Security: Constitutional Imperatives for South Asia".
President Rajapaksa's delegation includes Prof. Peiris, Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe, Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunge, parliamentarian Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Delhi Prasad Kariyawasam.