India today called for early political settlement and national reconciliation through the meaningful devolution of power in Sri Lanka and asked it to adhere to the commitments made to the international community, including Indian government.
This was conveyed by National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon during his meetings with the Lankan leadership, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"India wishes to ensure that all citizens of Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, would lead a life marked by equality, justice, dignity and self-respect," a Indian High Commission statement said here.
"In this context, he (Menon) also emphasised the need for adhering to the commitments made by the Sri Lankan government to India and the international community on a political settlement in Sri Lanka that would go beyond the 13th Amendment", the statement said.
As per the 13th amendment that followed the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987, Sri Lankan government had agreed to devolve some authority to the provinces.
India has repeatedly emphasised to Sri Lanka on the need to fully implement the constitutional provision dealing with devolution of powers to provinces without dilution and to go beyond it to ensure meaningful development there.
Commenting on the elections in the north, Menon has also expressed the hope that elections would be held in a free, fair and credible manner.
Menon, who has served in Colombo as the Indian High Commissioner in the past, is visiting Sri Lanka with a six-member delegation at the invitation its foreign ministry.
Menon called on the Sri Lankan President and also held bilateral meetings with Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
