Sri Lanka crisis: India calls all-party meet on Tuesday (19)

COLOMBO (News 1st); As Sri Lanka continues to reel under a political and economic crisis, the Indian government has decided to hold an all-party meeting Tuesday (19) to discuss the situation in the neighbouring country. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi Sunday said that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will, during the all-party meeting, brief leaders of various political parties on the Sri Lankan crisis. Meanwhile, at a meeting of various parties convened ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Tamil Nadu-based Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) demanded that India intervene in the crisis plaguing Sri Lanka. Both DMK and AIADMK raised the Sri Lankan issue, especially the condition of the country’s Tamil population. Speaking to the media following the meeting, DMK leader T R Baalu and AIADMK leader M Thambidurai reiterated the demand of their respective parties. Citing an office memorandum dated July 16, a senior government official said that the briefing by the finance and external affairs ministries has been scheduled for the evening of July 19, the second day of the monsoon session of Parliament, news agency PTI reported. The briefing will be attended by the floor leaders of various political parties, the official added. India has assured Sri Lanka that it will continue to support democracy, stability and economic recovery in the country, which is at a crucial juncture, amid the unprecedented political crisis and economic turmoil. The assurance was given to Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena by India’s High Commissioner Gopal Baglay when he called on the Sri Lankan leader on Saturday. The meeting took place a day after Speaker Abeywardena accepted the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.