New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha will attend a two-day Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting in Colombo from October 14 and hold wide-ranging talks with the island nation's leadership on the government-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) peace process during his stay in Sri Lanka.

Sinha, who would be on his second visit to Colombo since assuming office a year back as Foreign Minister, would review the progress in the utilisation of the $ 100 million line of credit given by India and is expected to reach an understanding on release of the remaining tranche of $ 30 million.

Sinha, during his meetings with President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, would emphasise India's support for the peace process, its commitment to unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and its support for a peaceful, negotiated settlement that meets the just aspirations of all elements of the Sri Lankan society.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman on October 13 said the Minister would be leading a high-level delegation for the 5th Joint Commission meeting being held after a gap of five years.

The delegation would include senior officials from Ministries of External Affairs, Commerce, Ocean Development, Science and Technology and Culture and representative of Tamil Nadu government.

"The second visit within about a year (by Sinha) reiterates the importance attached by India to relations with the island country," the spokesman said.

PTI