Jayasuriya rules out rift between India-Lanka over CHOGM

Former cricketer and Sri Lankan Minister Sanath Jayasuriya today ruled out possibility of any rift in the relationship between India and his country in the wake of non-participation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the recent Commonwealth summit held in the island nation.
"India has always been a good friend of Lanka. The decision to send whom to an international meet is the individual choice of that particular nation. If my knowledge is correct, the Indian Prime Minister did not participate in the CHOGM held in Perth also," he told reporters here.
Singh skipped the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo earlier this month but deputed a delegation led by External Affairs Minister Salman Kurshid, amid calls from political parties in Tamil Nadu to boycott it in view of alleged rights violations by Lanka during last phase of Eelam war in 2009.

Jayasuriya, who holds the portfolio of Deputy Minister of Postal Services in the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, rejected Britain's demand for an independent inquiry into allegations of human rights violations in the island nation during the civil war period.
"As a sovereign, independent country, we have our own law and judicial system. We are acting according to that and there is no need of any international inquiry in the issue," Jayasuriya, elected to Sri Lankan parliament from Matara District in the southern province, said.
He showered praise on Rajapaksa saying he was the best president in the history of the island nation and his "tireless efforts" had helped the country to attain development and progress in all fields.

"Both the country and the government are going in the right direction. Without a war in the last four years, the country has achieved immense progress in all fronts," he said.
The absence of violence and war helped Lanka to be an attractive investment destination for countries like China and Pakistan, Jayasuriya, who was here in connection with a sport event, said.