by The Hindu/Meera Srinivasan
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Mr. Ramphosa called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday, and met TNA leaders on Tuesday. “We met his delegation this morning and discussed all matters in detail,” TNA leader R. Sampanthan told The Hindu on Tuesday. “The South Africans are prepared to help Sri Lanka in the reconciliation process. Our meeting today was positive. They have said they would keep India informed [of the developments],” he said.
TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran told reporters here that the discussions centred broadly on addressing the ethnic question and the post war environment.
Following the meeting with the TNA, Mr. Ramaphosa flew to Jaffna to hold discussions with Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.
Mr. Ramaphosa told him that South Africa’s initiatives were complementary to the Indian effort, and to the Geneva resolution and certain Western countries engaging with Sri Lanka on the issue of reconciliation, it is reliably learnt. “I pointed to the issue of militarisation, I told him 1,50,000 soldiers are still in the area of offensive after five years since the war ended. I pointed out to the fact of the Army being involved in all civilian life initiatives,” the Chief Minister told The Hindu about the meeting.
