National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon to visit Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon is scheduled to visit Colombo next week to hold talks on a tri-lateral maritime security treaty among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, officials said here today.

Menon's visit to Lanka comes close on the heels of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's younger bother Basil Rajapaksa's visit to India.

Basil, the Minister of Economic Development, met External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid yesterday in New Delhi and expressed his appreciation for the vast number of projects that are being undertaken by India in Lanka especially in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

During the meeting, Khurshid conveyed India's concerns on the 13th amendment and urged Basil not to do anything to dilute its provisions.

As per the 13th amendment that followed the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987, Sri Lankan government had agreed to devolve some authority to the provinces.

Apart from Khurshid, Basil held meetings with Menon and the Foreign Secretary.

Menon, who has served in Colombo as the Indian High Commissioner in the past, will visit Lanka at the invitation External Affairs Ministry and will feature several top level engagements, Lankan officials said.