Cancelling MPS visit counter-productive;Centre advises FICCI

: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry today said it was advised by the Central government that ongoing tour by Indian parliamentarians to Sri Lanka was not a "Government to Government initiative" and it might be "counter-productive" if the visit was cancelled.
FICCI President Naina Lal Kidwai had contacted the External Affairs Ministry and expressed desire to cancel the visit to Sri Lanka, but was advised against it.
FICCI said in a statement the government had advised "since it is not a government to government initiative, but an initiative of an Association to set up the parliamentary forum, at this late stage it might be counter-productive to cancel the visit taking into account the feelings of all party parliamentary members."

FICCI said the mandate of the Parliamentary delegation was to ascertain the ground realities and the conditions of the Sri Lankan Tamils and present a first hand report to the Centre for taking further action towards impressing upon the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government for overall prosperity of Sri Lankan Tamils.
After making the visit, the delegation is expected to return to India on April 12, the release said.
Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan had opposed the visit stating that it would deeply hurt the cause of Lankan Tamils and had asked FICCI to cancel it in expression of solidarity with them.