India on Thursday said it was ready to assist Sri Lanka in finding a negotiated political settlement to its ethnic problem as an all-party delegation from the island nation arrived in New Delhi to study India's model of republic.
The 15-member delegation of All Party Representatives Committee will be here for four days during which the members will be apprised about the basic structure of the Indian Constitution, centre-state relations and grassroot level institutions like panchayats.
"The visit is evidence of our willingness to assist Sri Lanka in finding a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic problem, which would satisfy all sections of Sri Lankan society," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.
The delegation, led by Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitarana and comprising representatives of all major political parties of Sri Lanka, will interact with officials of the ministries of home affairs and law as well as those of other relevant departments.
They are also expected to meet Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.
The members will also interact with constitutional experts.
The delegation will also travel to Karnataka and Kerala to study the functioning of grassroot institutions.
The APRC was set up by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to find the basis for a lasting political settlement to the ethnic problem in the country.
With this in mind, the APRC is looking at various models of devolution.
The delegation is visiting India to have a better understanding of the devolution process, Vitarana, who represents Sama Samaja Party, said.
The group also includes representatives from Rajapakse's Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Janata Vimukti Parishad, Sri Lanak Muslim Congress and Eelam People's Democratic Party.
The study is to help the Sri Lankan government evolve a mechanism which would satisfy all sections of the society and form the base for talks with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on devolution of powers.
The delegation's visit to India assumes significance as it comes at a time when the government and LTTE will meet in Geneva for talks.
