http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2013/06/09/new46.asp

Indian delegation pleased with Northern development

The visiting six member Indian delegation led by Deputy Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shankar Prasad will update 'relevant parties and people' in India of Sri Lanka's progress.

The delegation met President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on an unofficial note and expressed satisfaction over the vast infrastructure development taking place in the Northern Province after the end of the war on terrorism. They inquired about the ongoing reconciliation process and future devolution plans.

The Presidential Spokesman said the Indian delegation has promised to update the relevant parties of the progress they witnessed in Sri Lanka.

The team included Suresh Prabhu (Shiv Sena), Ram Madhav (RSS), journalist and political commentator Swapan Dasgupta, former IFS officer Vivek Katju and human rights activist Monika Arora.

Arriving in Colombo on Tuesday on a five day visit, the delegation visited Jaffna on Wednesday, on a fact finding mission and they met Tamil political and civil society leaders. The delegation met the TNA leaders in Colombo.

The President during the meeting with them, explained the efforts the government has taken to devolve powers to the peripheries, stressing that the national solution cannot be an exclusive 'Rajapaksa-Sampanthan agreement'. The visit was arranged by the New Delhi based India Foundation and Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. The team left for India today.Meanwhile, the External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris left the country on a seven-day official visit covering Austria, Germany and Romania on Friday evening. He is expected to hold bi-lateral discussions with the leaders of the three countries.