Indian Joint Parliamentary delegation arrives in Sri Lanka
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- Published on Tuesday, 17 April 2012 10:02
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The delegation led by leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj arrived Colombo early this morning and will visit northern and eastern Sri Lanka, which bore the brunt of three decades of conflict, besides making a visit to central and southern parts of the island
A Joint Parliamentary delegation led by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Smt Sushma Swaraj, arrived Colombo early this morning. Sri Lanka from April 16 to 21, 2012. The delegation consists of Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha nominated by various political parties, including the BJD, BJP, CPI (M), INC, JD (U) and SP will be in Sri Lanka until 21st.
The delegation is expected to travel to different parts of Sri Lanka, including its Northern, Eastern, Central and Western Provinces. The primary focus of the delegation will, however, be in the areas recovering from thirty years conflict in the North and East of Sri Lanka where development assistance projects for the resettlement and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and reconstruction of areas affected by the conflict are being undertaken by the Government of India.
The delegation is expected to start its programme in Northern Sri Lanka with a visit to the IDP Camp at Menik Farm. They are scheduled to visit Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Kankesanthurai, Kalutara, Dickoya, Hatton and Batticaloa where Indian assistance projects, including those related to the development of rail and port infrastructure, connectivity and transportation, education, public health, housing, de-mining, vocational training and economic revival, are under implementation. They will also meet a wide cross-section of parliamentarians, Pradesiya Sabha members, civil society and community leaders in the Northern Province.
While in Colombo, the delegation is scheduled to call on the President of Sri Lanka and meet the Ministers of External Affairs and Economic Development. An interaction with the Leader of the House and Sri Lankan Parliamentarians has also been arranged. They will separately meet the Leader of the Opposition and representatives of the Tamil National Alliance, the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress, the Ceylon Workers Congress and other upcountry political parties.
