Colombo/New Delh: India on Friday pressed for an immediate end to hostilities in Sri Lanka as its two special envoys met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and conveyed its concerns over the conflict, amidst worries over its political fallout in Tamil Nadu.
National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, who went to Colombo on the directions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, conveyed India's concerns over the prevailing situation and expressed hopes of a "positive outcome".
Narayanan and Menon were with Rajapaksa for about 90 minutes during which they discussed issues related to the conflict between advancing Sri Lankan army and LTTE in the island nation's north, entrapping thousands of ethnic Tamil civilians.
"We conveyed concerns of Government of India on evolving situation in northern Sri Lanka especially of the casualties caused among Tamil civilians as a result of the ongoing operation," Narayanan said in a statement which he read out on his return to Delhi along with Menon.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday night called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and apprised him of the talks held Narayanan and Menon with Rajapaksa on ending hostilities in the island nation.
Emerging out of the meeting held at Karunanidhi's residence, Chidambaram said India had told the Sri Lankan President that there should be immediate cessation of hostilities and innocent civilians caught in the crossfire should be saved.
"We are no more requesting Sri Lankan Government on a ceasefire, but are insisting on it," he said.
"I am keeping my fingers crossed," Chidambaram said on the situation in Sri Lanka.
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