By K.M.Ravindran, AIR Special Correspondent, Colombo

'The crucial importance of strengthening and sustaining this country's friendly ties with India - particularly in the context of efforts to resolve our conflict peacefully - has been freshly underlined by the current goodwill visit to India by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera'.

This was how, 'Daily News', the state run, mass circulated newspaper opened their editorial on Friday, the day after Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister Mr.Mangala concluded his two day visit to India.

The visit, from 30th November to 1st December has been hailed quite significant and opportune as it took place within a fortnight after the swearing in of Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse as Sri Lanka's new Executive President.

While spelling out his foreign policy Mr.Samaraweera had clarified that he would follow the policies of the former Foreign Minister Laxman Kadirgamar who fell to snipers' bullets on at his private residence on 12th of August this year. The new Foreign Minister's assertion to carry on the legacy of Kadirgamar perhaps has a wider intend. Kadirgamar, the most prominent Tamil in the erstwhile Chandrika Kumaratunga Government was the secular mascot of the Government. At the same time he led many a crusades world over to get the LTTE banned as a terrorist outfit. And all the more, the slain Foreign Minster believed that India has an important role in tackling the decades long ethnic crisis.

President Rajapakse conveyed similar thoughts when he said at his inauguration on 19th of last month that Sri Lanka look forward to support from India and other international community including friendly Asian Countries in its efforts to achieve 'honourable peace' in the island nation.

Hence it was no surprise Mr.Samaraweera took his flight to New Delhi for his first overseas visit within a week soon after taking over the Foreign Ministry at the Republic Building inside the historic Colombo Fort overlooking the Indian ocean.

The warmth of reception accorded to Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister by the Indian leaders was more than enough to stave off the wintry chill in the Indian capital. Mr.Samaraweera held extensive talks with the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh and the Minister of state for External Affairs Mr.E.Ahmed. While briefing on the bilateral talks, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman termed the relations between the two countries excellent. 'It is marked by frequent interaction and good understanding at the political level; rapidly growing trade and investments; expanding infrastructural linkages and increasing people-to-people contacts' the spokesman added.

The 'good understanding' and 'expanding linkages' were evident during Mr.Samaraweera's talks with the Indian leaders. The joint statement after the meeting said that Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister apprised the Indian side of the policy that President Mahinda Rajapaksa seeks to follow with regard to the peace process in the island nation. Mr.Samaraweera used the opportunity to convey his Government's continued commitment to the Ceasefire Agreement signed with the LTTE in February 2002. He also conveyed to the Indian leaders Colombo's desire for a review of the operation of the Ceasefire Agreement for making it more effective.

Before the November 17 Presidential poll there were misgivings in some quarters in Sri Lanka that Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse is likely to embark upon a hard-line course, dictated by the majority Sinhalese, to resolve the ethnic issue. But Mr.Samaraweera, who was the indefatigable campaigner for Rajapakse's Presidency, articulated his leader's view of 'the greatest possible degree of openness, transparency and Inclusiveness' in the peace process. The joint statement adds that 'Mr.Samaraweera spelt out the approaches that President Rajapakse and his administration would adopt towards this end of arriving at a broad national consensus'.

Appreciating the approach of President Rajapakse and his administration towards the peace process the joint statement said that New Delhi 'believes that an enduring solution can only emerge essentially through internal political processes'. Reiterating India's unambiguous stand on Sri Lanka's ethnic crisis, the joint statement added that 'India supports the process of seeking a negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, and consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights'. India also used the opportunity to convey to Sri Lanka New Delhi's 'abiding interest' in the security of Sri Lanka and continued commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its southern neighbour. The joint statement added that India supports the process of seeking a negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of the society within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Lanka.

During the talks Mr. Samaraweera had affirmed that the Sri Lankan Government would continue to appraise India in regard to the ways and means by which the peace process could be made more effective.

Besides the peace process, several other matters of mutual interest, including further strengthening of economic and commercial cooperation, were addressed during the talks. In the context of Free trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries both sides underlined the need to wrap up, at the earliest, he Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA for which the talks are at an advanced stage.

FTA, a major milestone in the bilateral cooperation, has now entered its Sixth year. The last five years had witnessed the bilateral trade registering almost 300% growth. The total value of trade which was about US $ 658 million in 2002 touched 1732 million last year. An encouraging fact, in the perspective of Sri Lanka is that the trade balance in favour of India has declined over a period from 15.7: 1 in 1998 to 3.5: 1 in 2004, demonstrating the vitality of Sri Lanka's economy to look at India as an opportunity.

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ms.Nirupama Rao who was in New Delhi during Mr.Samaraweera's New Delhi visit told Prasar Bharati in Colombo the that the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister's engagements in the Indian capital , the first high level one after the Presidential election, was 'quite significant, useful and productive'. Both the sides discussed 'wide ranging matters and agreed to be in regular touch for furthering mutually beneficial the relationship' she added.

Underscoring India's 'predominant position' the 'Daily News' in its editorial said, '...nothing could be left to chance or taken for granted and constant rapport between Sri Lanka and India on issues that matter is the best approach for sustaining India's goodwill and moral backing in our peace-building exercise'.

And it is certain that Mr.Mangala Samaraweera's visit to New Delhi is a reiteration of this goodwill and Colombo's resolve not to leave anything to chance.