India will get a first-hand understanding of the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka from the island nation's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who is scheduled to arrive here on June 22. Highly placed government sources said on Tuesday that India was concerned at the situation in Sri Lanka. Government circles were, however, well aware that the problem had to be tackled by Colombo.

Stressing that there was no divergence of opinion between New Delhi and Chennai on the Sri Lanka issue, the sources said an assessment would be conveyed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi after talks with Mr. Samaraweera.

The Manmohan Singh Government felt that the Sri Lankan Government should avoid an all-out war, the sources said.

At all times, Sri Lanka has kept India posted with the latest developments. Mr. Samaraweera, in fact, was in New Delhi in the second week of May to brief the Government about the latest developments.

Centre's emissary to meet Karunanidhi

Chennai Special Correspondent writes:

Mr. Karunanidhi said National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan was being sent as the Centre's emissary to discuss the Sri Lankan issue with him.

Mr. Karunanidhi said he spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over phone on Tuesday morning to apprise him of the situation in the island nation. The Prime Minister told him that he had read the resolution of the DMK and its allied parties on the issue.

Dr. Singh further told him that he was sending an emissary to discuss the issues highlighted in the resolution, according to a press note.

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