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India ready to broker peace, Jaswant tells Lankans

External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on Monday held extensive talks with Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and leaders of moderate Tamil parties. He is believed to have conveyed India's readiness to play an honest broker to solve the ethnic problem plaguing the island nation for the past two decades.

Singh, who arrived in Colombo on Sunday on a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Lankan government, also had bilateral discussions with his counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar. Both agreed to further strengthen co-operation between the two countries in various fields.

The second round of talks between Singh and Kumaratunga began on Monday morning. Leela Ponnappa, joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shanker Menon assisted Singh, while Kadirgamar and other officials of his ministry assisted Kumaratunga.

Singh is understood to have said that India favoured an early solution to the problem, within the territorial integrity and unity of Sri Lanka. He is believed to have conveyed India's offer of humanitarian assistance and readiness to play an honest peace broker along with Norway.

The Tamil parties have reportedly told Singh to use India's influence to effect an immediate cease-fire between government forces and the LTTE as civilians in Jaffna were badly affected by the fighting.

Representatives of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress also met Singh.

Singh is returning to New Delhi in the evening.

UNI

EARLIER STORY
India, Sri Lanka talks underway amid Jaffna fighting: AFP

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