Leader of Tamil National Alliance and Chief Minister of Tamil-majority Northern Province in Sri Lanka, Mr C V Wigneswaran, today rejected the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to accompany his delegation to the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Narendra Modi, PM-designate of India.

In a strongly worded letter to President Rajapaksa , Mr Wigneswaran said that he was unable to accept the invitation as it would indicate that a cooperative spirit prevails between Sri Lankan government and Northern Provincial council government, which is not the case.

He added that the people of his province are engulfed in a climate of fear due to the continued presence of the Sri Lankan military.

Mr Wigneswaran however welcomed the victory of Mr Narendra Modi and said that he has already conveyed his best wishes to Mr Modi through the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.