COLOMBO, 15 March, 2021 (TON): India’s High Commissioner to Sri-Lanka, Gopal Baglay held talks with the senior Tamil leaders on his three-day visit to the Northern and Eastern Provinces, emphasizing achieving legitimate aspirations of the Tamil community through devolution within Sri-Lanka will enhance peace.

The Indian official also highlighted India and Sri-Lanka’s long-standing commitment to cooperate and develop the Northern and Eastern provinces.

While meeting the Tamil party leading, he recalled the commitments of the Sri-Lankan government on the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil community for prosperity, peace, stability, and justice.

During his meetings, the Tamil leaders sought further assistance for infrastructural development, more economic investment, and additional projects under grant assistance for development cooperation from India in the Province.

Continued cooperation from India in these spheres was assured by Mr. Baglay.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also had a telephonic conversation on Saturday during which they reviewed topical developments as well as ongoing cooperation between the two countries in bilateral and multilateral forums.

However, in the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s resolution to be moved at the UNHRC next week the visit came.

The resolution accuses Sri Lanka of war crimes with threats to take those responsible to the International Courts and impose targeted sanctions against officials allegedly responsible for human rights violations during the country’s three-decade-long civil war.