Lankan Foreign Minister to meet Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, May 8: Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera arrived here today to hold discussions with Indian leaders on the fragile peace process in the island nation.

Mr Samaraweera's meetings this evening with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, described as part of the high-level engagement between the two countries, will provide an opportunity to the Indian leadership to get first-hand knowledge of the situation in the troubled neighbouring nation.

''The visit and discussions with high ranking Indian leadership are politically important and come at a time when the peace process is delicately poised. It is an opportunity for Indian leaders to get first-hand assessment of the situation in Sri Lanka,'' an official said.

Mr Samaraweera will also meet Commerce and Industries Minister Kamal Nath and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh today.

Tomorrow, he will have meetings with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed will host a lunch in honour of the Sri Lankan minister.

Mr Samaraweera is accompanied by Foreign Secretary, Finance Secretary and other senior officials.

UNI

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