External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh Thursday left for Sri Lanka on a three-day visit aimed at intensifying political and economic relations between the two countries and expanding India's participation in the tsunami reconstruction projects.  

He will co-chair, along with his Lankan counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar, the sixth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission.

"He will also take this opportunity to interact with the Sri Lankan leadership, including the president and the prime minister of Sri Lanka and leaders of other political parties," said the external affairs ministry here on the eve of his departure.  

India-Sri Lanka relations have seen a steady upswing since the last meeting of the Joint Commission in 2003. "Political relations are close, trade and investments have increased, infrastructural linkages are expanding, defence cooperation is under discussion and there is a general, broad-based improvement across all sectors of bilateral cooperation," said the statement.  

Natwar Singh is going to Sri Lanka at a time when the island nation is grappling with a debate on the controversial joint tsunami deal to share millions of dollars in tsunami relief with the Tiger guerrillas. 

The Janatha Vimukhti Peramuna (JVP), a key ally of the ruling coalition led by Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, is opposed to the joint mechanism and has even threatened to quit the coalition over the contentious issue.

During Kumaratunga's visit to India last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed India's support and understanding for her efforts to establish a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) for coordinating relief and reconstruction in areas affected by the tsunami.

India had also expressed concern over ceasefire violations by the LTTE and the illegal acquisition of air capability by the guerrillas. New Delhi has some reservations on the tsunami deal as it believes that such an arrangement will strengthen the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"Natwar Singh is expected to convey India's support for a national consensus in Sri Lanka on the tsunami mechanism for joint delivery of relief," an official source said.

"We want not just the Tamils but all communities on board for the tsunami deal," the source said.

He will also discuss with Sri Lanka's leadership various ways to push the peace process forward within the framework of Sri Lanka's territorial unity and integrity. 
 
"Both countries agree on the need for urgent reform of the UN system to meet global challenges, including the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council," said a statement by MEA. Sri Lanka has endorsed India's candidature for the permanent membership of the UNSC.

India and Sri Lanka are committed to wrapping up negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2005. Bilateral trade touched $1.8 billion in 2004. India was the largest investor in Sri Lanka in 2002 and 2003.

India pledged $22.7 million for the composite tsunami relief package for Sri Lanka and its assistance in Sri Lanka's "Rebuilding the Nation Programme" is continuing.