New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today virtually confirmed that he would not visit Colombo next month on the occasion of Sri Lanka's Independence Day on February four.

"I have not made up my mind", he told reporters here when asked whether he would be travelling to the island nation next month. Singh was talking to journalists on the sidelines of a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Reports from Colombo had suggested recently that he could visit that country to attend the diamond jubilee celebrations of Sri Lanka's Independence Day on February 4.

A Sri Lankan foreign ministry official, however, said yesterday that Singh would not be coming next month due to scheduling problems expressed by the Indian authorities.

Alternative dates are being worked out, the official said. Singh had been extended an invitation to visit Sri Lanka for the Independence Day celebrations next month as the Chief Guest.

Source : PTI