Against the backdrop of the Tamil Nadu Assembly passing a resolution demanding imposition of economic sanctions against Colombo, national security adviser Shivhankar Menon on Friday held talks with Sri Lankan foreign minister G.L. Peiris on the entire gamut of bilateral ties.
Mr Menon, along with foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and defence secretary Pradeep Kumar, opened closed-door talks with Mr Peiris soon after arriving here, officials said.
The talks came ahead of the Indian officials’ meeting with President Mahinda Rajapakse on Saturday.
“There will be a breakfast meeting between the President and the Indian officials on Saturday before they return home,” a Sri Lankan official said.
Ahead of the visit, Mr Menon called on Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in Chennai and is understood to have apprised her on the Centre’s action on mitigating sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils.
During their visit, the Indian officials are expected to meet defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the President’s secretary Lalith Weeratunga.
Lankan officials said they had not arranged any press meet after Friday’s talks between the Indian officials and Mr Peiris. —PTI