Sri Lanka opposition leader says government taking steps to resolve ethnic issue

Sri Lanka's opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that the government was taking steps to resolve the ethnic issue in both the northern and eastern provinces and has expressed concern at the plight of the internally displaced Tamils and their rehabilitation, an Indian media report said.



Indian English daily The Hindu reported that Wickremasinghe responding to journalists in Chennai on Tuesday has said that the issue of the advisory panel appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon should be debated in parliament.
The opposition leader has told the reporters that opposition parties in Sri Lanka are recommending an Executive Prime Minister post over the Executive President.
When questioned about the alleged attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka Navy the opposition leader has said that there were mixed views in Sri Lanka on the issue as Indian fishermen are entering the Sri Lankan waters. The issue has to be resolved through dialogue, he has suggested.
Wickremasinghe left Sri Lanka Tuesday morning for a visit to India on an invitation from the Indian government. During his visit he is expected to hold discussions with several Indian senior government officials including the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.