Sri Lankan president kicks off Indian tour amidst tensions

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa will kick off a visit to India on Wednesday, the President's office said here, amidst strained relations with Tamil Nadu. Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday to discuss relations between the two countries, according to a statement released by the President's Office. This will be the first meeting between the two parties after India voted in favor of a U.S. backed resolution on Sri Lanka's reconciliation process at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in March. External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris earlier told reporters that Rajapaksa would inaugurate a Buddhist university in the historically important city of Sanchi in Madya Pradesh. However the visit came under a cloud after 184 pilgrims were attacked in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu two weeks ago and had to return on a special plane chartered by Rajapaksa. In response, the Sri Lankan government issued a travel advisory on Tamil Nadu which is still in force but insisted that their cooperation with the Indian central government would continue. According to Indian reports, politicians against the Sri Lankan government have planned protests and black flag demonstrations during Rajapaksa's visit. On Tuesday a man who attempted self-immolation to protest Rajapaksa's visit died in Tamil Nadu.