Lankan Foreign Minister arriving here tonight

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera is arriving here tonight to apprise the Indian Government of the deteriorating situation in the island nation in view of the escalation of violence by the LTTE.

Mr Samaraweera is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow afternoon to apprise him of the latest situation.

Official sources said India was concerend at the situaton in Sri Lanka and felt Colombo should avoid an all out war.

Mr Samarweera was in Delhi in May during which he had held extensive consultations with the Indian leaders.

Concerned over the situation in the neighbouring country, the Prime Minister had asked National Security Advisor M K Narayanan to hold discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the Sri Lankan issue. Mr Narayanan will meet the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister very soon.

Earlier, Mr Karunanidhi had a telephonic conversation with the Prime Minister, who had assured him that steps would be taken to restore peace in Sri Lanka.

UNI PMD VD HS1507