India must push Sri Lanka on 13A - Sampanthan

The Indian government must continue pushing the Sri Lankan government towards the implementation of the 13th Amendment, Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan said.

Speaking exclusively to The Hindu on Friday, Sampanthan said he wished both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena well for “successful talks” in New Delhi.

President Sirisena is scheduled to leave for India on Sunday on his first State visit after assuming office on January 9, following a victory over Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In a phone call to President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (13), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he looks forward to the former visit to India from February 15-18.

The Sri Lankan President will arrive in India on February 15 on a four-day visit during which he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss key issues including peace and reconciliation process in the country.

All bilateral matters including economy, peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka apart from the perennial issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting between the two leaders.

Modi is scheduled to make a reciprocal trip in the second week of March, according to Sri Lankan government officials.