People's Democracy

THE leaders of the CPI(M) and the CPI had a meeting on December 29 with the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse who is on an official visit to India. Those who met the President were Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury from the CPI(M) and A B Bardhan and D Raja from the CPI.

The President informed the Left Parties that the Sri Lankan government is committed to reviving the peace process with the LTTE and has asked the Norwegian government to take necessary steps for this. The President expressed concern about the rousing attacks on the armed forces. He expressed the hope that India can play an active role in ensuring that the peace talks resume.

Prakash Karat stated that the Left Parties would like a solution to the ethnic problem by the provision of full autonomy for the Tamil-speaking people within the framework of united Sri Lanka. For this, he stressed the importance of reviving the peace process. Autonomy within a federal set-up would serve the interest of the Tamil people.

The President informed the delegation about the tsunami rehabilitation work in Sri Lanka. (INN)