J’lalithaa withdraws MP from parliamentary delegation’s visit to SL

Criticising the joint parliamentary delegation’s proposed visit to Sri Lanka as a tourist visit conducted by the Sri Lankan government to help form a favourable opinion for itself, AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced on Wednesday that her party would not be represented in the team as initially agreed.

A 15-member all-party delegation of MPs from both Houses of Parliament led by Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj are to visit the island nation from April 16-21 to see for itself the condition of the Sri Lankan Tamils. The AIADMK had initially agreed to send Rajya Sabha member A William Rabi Bernard as its representative.

When it was first proposed, Jayalalithaa said in a statement on Wednesday, the party was under the impression that the MPs will be able to interact with the Lankan Tamils now held within the camps for IDPs (internally displaced persons) and learn about their situation directly.

“However, the communication from the Ministry of External Affairs said there was no opportunity to speak to the affected Tamils to learn the problems faced by them. From the itinerary, it seems importance was given only to the meetings with Lankan government representatives and official feasts,” she said. “This tourist visit...seems to be tailored to form an opinion in favour of the Lankan government,” she charged.

Also, she added, there were no journalists, human rights activists or independent monitors in the team, which added to the suspicions. (IndianExpress)