India delays visa for SL’s envoy to Chennai
By Our Diplomatic Editor-Sunday, April 07, 2013
A six-member delegation of Indian parliamentarians will visit Sri Lanka [Images ] from April 8 to 12. The multi-party delegation visiting Colombo and Jaffna will not, however, include MPs from Tamil Nadu.
A Correspondent in New Delhi
External Affairs Ministry officials say never before has it taken such a long time�
By Our Diplomatic Editor-Sunday, April 07, 2013
Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Deputy High Commissioner to India has not been able to assume duties in the south Indian Tamil Nadu state capital of Chennai for the past three months. �The new Deputy High Commissioner A. Sabrullah Khan’s application for a diplomatic visa to take over duties at the mission was made in December last year.
The reason – the Government of India is yet to grant concurrence for the new Sri Lankan envoy’s appointment. �Indian High Commission spokesperson Birendar Singh Yadav declined comment saying only that “approval has to come from New Delhi.” He said he could not say anything more.
However, External Affairs Ministry sources in Colombo yesterday said this was the first time their counterparts in New Delhi were taking “a long time” to process a nomination. “Surprisingly we have not been told yes or no. Never before has there been such a delay,” one official said.
The refusal by New Delhi to expedite matters comes in the wake of escalating agitation in Tamil Nadu against the Government of Sri Lanka over allegations of discrimination of Sri Lankan Tamils compounded with violent attacks on Sri Lankans visiting the state and Sri Lankan establishments in Chennai.
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama confirmed that New Delhi had not granted Mr. Khan a visa so far. “We are still awaiting approval,” he told the Sunday Times.�Mr. Khan is currently a Director General in the Economic Affairs Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Ministry wants to replace the present Deputy High Commissioner Ameer Ajwad, who was on a temporary posting in Chennai
In the wake of the on-going anti-Sri Lanka campaign in Tamil Nadu, the Government last week was exploring whether to shift the Chennai mission to Trivandrum in Kerala.
In the wake of the on-going anti-Sri Lanka campaign in Tamil Nadu, the Government last week was exploring whether to shift the Chennai mission to Trivandrum in Kerala.
Tamil MPs not part of delegation visiting Sri Lanka
Tamil MPs not part of delegation visiting Sri Lanka
April 07, 2013 12:54 IST
A six-member delegation of Indian parliamentarians will visit Sri Lanka [Images ] from April 8 to 12. The multi-party delegation visiting Colombo and Jaffna will not, however, include MPs from Tamil Nadu.
Jyoti Malhotra, a journalist and coordinator of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, foreign cell -- which is organising the visit -- said that the delegation will include Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress [ Images ], Sandeep Dikshit of the Congress, Anurag Thakur of the Bharatiya Janata Party [ Images ], Dhananjay Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Madu Goud Yaskhi of the Congress from the Lok Sabha, and BJP’s Prakash Javadekar from the Rajya Sabha.
The Indian parliamentarians will meet Sri Lankan MPs, senior ministers and other political leaders.
The Indian MPs will visit Jaffna to check on projects supported by the Indian government, particularly the owner-driven housing initiative, the High Commission said on Friday.
The Indian parliamentarians will meet Sri Lankan MPs, senior ministers and other political leaders.
The Indian MPs will visit Jaffna to check on projects supported by the Indian government, particularly the owner-driven housing initiative, the High Commission said on Friday.
India [ Images ] is funding the construction of 50,000 dwelling units to help rehabilitate the internally displaced Tamils in the ethnic strife in the island’s northeast. They will be accompanied by two FICCI representatives.
Malhotra, who will be accompanying the MPs, said that FICCI has been working to constitute a ‘track two political dialogue’ between Indian parliamentarians and their Sri Lankan counterparts for greater political interaction and understanding.
The visit beginning on Monday is part of a larger programme that seeks to institutionalise political partnerships. Similar interactions have earlier been held between Indian MPs and their counterparts from Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Malhotra, who will be accompanying the MPs, said that FICCI has been working to constitute a ‘track two political dialogue’ between Indian parliamentarians and their Sri Lankan counterparts for greater political interaction and understanding.
The visit beginning on Monday is part of a larger programme that seeks to institutionalise political partnerships. Similar interactions have earlier been held between Indian MPs and their counterparts from Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Malhotra in a statement said: "We intend to pursue these political tracks within South Asia because we believe that talking to each other can be the only way forward out of any crisis, whether political or economic. We greatly look forward to our visit to Sri Lanka to take forward our very dynamic relationship."
This year’s visit comes at a time when political parties, students and social activists in Tamil Nadu have been protesting against the Sri Lankan government for the atrocities committed by its security forces in the northeast during the last phase of Eelam War IV and the continuing harassment of minority Tamils even four years after the civil war ended.
This year’s visit comes at a time when political parties, students and social activists in Tamil Nadu have been protesting against the Sri Lankan government for the atrocities committed by its security forces in the northeast during the last phase of Eelam War IV and the continuing harassment of minority Tamils even four years after the civil war ended.
