UNP says Mr. Mukherjee's visit is not intended to help the LTTE

The Sri Lankan government has earlier extended an invitation to Indian External affairs minister, Pranab Mukherjee, to visit Sri Lanka.

The invitation was made after continuous protests in Tamil Nadu against the ongoing military offensives in northern Sri Lanka.

Basil's Indian visit

Leader of the opposition and the United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickramasinghe, told journalists in Colombo that Sri Lanka could not solve the ethnic issue without the help of India.

He stressed that it is essential that Mr. Mukherjee visits Sri Lanka to discuss the current situation.

	Mr. Rajapaksa visited India after continuing protests in Tamil Nadu

"Mr. Mukherjee is not coming to help the LTTE. LTTE is banned in India and Mr. Mukherjee has already said that India has no intention to remove the ban," he said.

The UNP leader added that everybody have agreed to respect the Indo-Lanka agreement signed in 1987.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's special envoy, Basil Rajapaksa, MP, has discussed the issue of displaced people and establishing special security zones with Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, the UNP leader said.

Basil Rajapaksa visited India on 26 August.

"After that unfortunately the issue was once again raised in Tamil Nadu as a result of army commander's comments," he added.

Fonseka's remarks

Protesters in Tamil Nadu (TN) called on President Rajapaksa to personally apologise after Lt Gen Fonseka has described TN politicians as 'jokers'.

	TN politicians protested Gen Fonseka's remarks

Ranil Wickramasinghe said that Sri Lankan government has apologised to India for Gen Fonseka's remarks to state run Sunday Observer.

As Minister Mukherjee was invited by the government, Mr. Wickramasigne said, the political parties in the coalition cannot oppose the government decision.

He was speaking at a function in the UNP headquarters to mark former minister Karu Jayasuriya officially taking over as the deputy leader of the party.