Indian High Commissioner on pulse reading mission in Jaffna

 Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Alok Prasad, arrived at Palaali Military Airport Tuesday morning accompanied by his deputy and political wing head and held several meetings in Jaffna with the representatives of academic circles, political parties, interreligious associations and civil organizations in Jaffna peninsula in an effort to read the pulse of the people of the peninsula, sources in Jaffna said. “The Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka have faith only on China while the Tamils had absolute faith on India which had committed a historical blunder by betraying the Tamils in Sri Lanka,” one of the civil society representative participant said, commenting on Alok Prasad’s visit to Jaffna.

Alok Prasad with Jaffna Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam, President of Hindu Organizations Federation and the Chief Priest of Nallai Aatheenam, Srilasiri Somasunthara Paramachariya Suvamikal.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Jaffna Commander and key officials welcomed the visiting High Commissioner of India at Palaali Tuesday morning and held a meeting with the team before it left to Jaffna town.
Alok Prasad first visited Jaffna University accompanied by Jaffna Government Agent (GA), K. Ganesh where he met the VC, Faculty Deans and learnt of the needs of Jaffna University.
Jaffna Public Library was his next place of visit where he held individual talks with the political persons of EPRLF Varathar faction, EPDP and the chief contestant of Ilankai Thamizharasuk Kadchi, Remedius, before making a tour of Jaffna Public Library.
The talks with the political parties were held alternatively and the media was not admitted to cover these talks.
Alok Prasad and his team next visited Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) where he learnt of the needs of JTH and then proceeded to Jaffna Bishop’s House where he met with the representatives of Interreligious associations and civil society organizations.
Jaffna Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam, President of Hindu Organizations Federation and the Chief Priest of Nallai Aatheenam, Srilasiri Somasunthara Paramachariya Suvamikal, Bishop of Church of South India, Rt. Rev. Daniel Thiyagarajah, Rev. Fr. Jeyakumar, Director HUDEC, Rev. Fr. Jeyasekaram and Prof. Balasuntharampillai, former VC of Jaffna University were some of the dignitaries who participated in the meeting with the visiting Indian High Commissioner.

The above representatives requested the Indian High Commissioner in unison that the Indian Government should exert firm and continuous pressure on Sri Lanka government to resettle the displaced Vanni civilians in their original places and to find a political solution to the ethnic issue as it is the only way to solve the problem.
In responding to the request Alok Prasad said that India is continuing to exert pressure on Sri Lanka to resettle the displaced Vanni civilians in their own places and to arrive on a political solution to the ethnic issue.
India has allocated 500 crore rupees for the welfare of the Vanni civilians and four Indian demining teams are ready to engage in demining activities in Vanni apart from the medical assistance now being given to displaced people from Vanni, he added.
Meanwhile, a request to establish an engineering college in Jaffna and to renovate the Jaffna Municipal Council building destructed due to government forces’ offensives during the war was also placed before the visiting Indian emissary.
Alok Prasad in response said that he will take up the request with his higher authorities with positive recommendations.

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