A delegation of senior journalists from Sri Lanka and Maldives visited Observer Research Foundation and held interaction with its faculty on July 5, 2011. The interaction, chaired by Mr. H.H.S. Viswanathan, Distinguished Fellow, ORF and a former ambassador.
A delegation of senior journalists from Sri Lanka and Maldives visited Observer Research Foundation and held interaction with its faculty on July 5, 2011. The interaction, chaired by Mr. H.H.S. Viswanathan, Distinguished Fellow, ORF and a former ambassador, covered a range of issues of mutual interest.
The Maldivian journalists highlighted the teething troubles in their island-nation’s path towards democracy. They believed the opposition parties were unduly harsh on the government which, they felt, was committed to bring progress and stability to the country.
The Sri Lankan journalists were keen on finding out why India was not overtly supportive of the Rajapaksa government’s policies. Some of them expected India to support Sri Lankan government’s efforts to refute the allegations of human rights violations leveled against it and the security forces by the UN.
ORF faculty members reassured the delegation that India was committed to a stable and peaceful Sri Lanka and was keen on seeing the reconciliation process between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils in the island nation reach a conclusion. India would like the Tamils to feel secure about their life and future as Sri Lankan citizens.
The Sri Lankan journalists also raised the issue of fishermen’s problem. They said while their government let off Indian fishermen caught by their Navy very quickly, in India the process took inordinately long time, leaving many of fishermen, caught by Indian Navy or Coast guard, to languish in Indian jails.
Admitting that there is a real problem, ORF faculty pointed out that there are some technical issues involved in this and so, ORF is organizing a two-day international conference on fisheries issues later this month.
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