India, Lanka discuss rehabilitation of displaced Tamils

Ajay Kaul

Phuket (Thailand), July 22 (PTI) India and Sri Lanka
Wednesday discussed rehabilitation of three lakh Tamil
civilians displaced due to the war in the island's north, with
Colombo insisting that the process has made "significant
progress".

The issue was discussed in detail during a meeting
between India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his
Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama here amid India's
keenness to see early rehabilitation of the displaced people.

Krishna told Bogollagama that India was ready to help in
whatever way Sri Lanka wanted.

The External Affairs Minister told reporters that India
wants Sri Lanka to accord top priority to the resettlement of
nearly three lakh Tamil civilians displaced due to the
30-year-old civil war there and expressed readiness to help
Colombo in this regard. "We are in close touch with the Sri
Lankan Government," Krishna said.

Sri Lanka has assured that the resettlement would be
undertaken in 180 days after the end of war. "We hope Sri
Lanka will be able to do that," Krishna said.

He said India was ready to assist Sri Lanka in resettling
the displaced Tamil civilians. "They have promised us that
they will resettle the displaced civilians soon."

Bogollagama later told a select group of reporters that
he had given details of the rehabilitation programme which is
being accorded high priority by Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.

Bogollagama said the rehabilitation programme has made
"significant progress" and we are going to "realise" it.

"Early settlement of those people who are in IDP
(Internally Displaced Persons) camps will be the best in terms
of our own agenda and reconciliation and healing touch, both
combined," he said.

"We have asked persons of over 60 years of age to go back
to their homes. But still some of them will need further
assistance because they don't have the support and we have to
provide support," the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said.

Along with the rehabilitation, he said, setting up of the
infrastructure and clearing of landmines was also in progress.

On devolution of powers, he said it is in the
Constitution and its implementation is part of the process.

"That is why we have restructured APRC (all party
reconciliation council). We are sharing developments related
to the devolution process with entire polity of Sri Lanka so
that its realisation can take place soon," he said.

On discussions with Krishna, he said the Indian side said
if Sri Lanka wanted anything, they should let India know.

"We have unique relations. The same thing was stated by
the Indian Foreign Minister," he said. PTI