BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao met Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at Colombo yesterday and discussed several issues including those pertaining to the Lankan Tamils and fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Indian media reported.

A press release said that a wide range of topics on India-Sri Lanka relations during the meeting was discussed. Issues related to fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Asian political parties' meet in Colombo were discussed.

Peiris expressed confidence that the new government in India will give due attention and address with utmost priority the issues related to Sri Lanka, the release added.

Rao, who is BJP in-charge of Tamil Nadu state unit and Vijay Jolly (Global Convener of BJP's Overseas Affairs) are in Sri Lanka to attend the 8th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), representing the Bharatiya Janata Party at Colombo.

The BJP was earlier criticized by Vaiko, the MDMK leader, for sending a delegation to ICAPP and charged that the BJP was ‘belittling’ Tamil people.