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Journalism of Courage
Using his visit to the war-torn Kilinochchi town,the first by an Indian leader,to assure the war-weary Tamils of unflinching Indian support and help,S M Krishna today nudged Sri Lanka to resolve the ethnic problem by implementing a 8220;meaningful8221; devolution package.
The External Affairs Minister distributed newly-built houses and renovated schools,constructed with Indian assistance,and said India was willing to provide more help for their development of the war-torn region.
Seeking to strike an emotional chord with the ethnic Tamils in Jaffna,Krishna also spoke in Tamil for a few minutes during which he expressed his happiness over agriculture flourishing in the war-torn areas and asserted that India 8220;stands ready8221; to do more for the relief and rehabilitation of the civilians.
8220;I am very happy to see the fields so green. It was not so when I last came here in November,2010. I am very happy to see you people again. There were no roads then and now you have almost everything,8221; Krishna,who was accompanied by his counterpart G L Pieris and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa,said in his speech that had a mix of Tamil and Kannada,his mother tongue.
8220;It is our sincere hope that the vision and leadership that resulted in an end to the armed conflict will now be employed in the quest for a genuine political settlement based on devolution of power resulting in national reconciliation among all the communities of Sri Lanka,8221; he said in Jaffna after distributing 10,000 cycles to resettled Tamils.
After he handed over 65 houses to beneficiaries in Ariviyal Nagar in Kilinochchi and Ariyali in Jaffna,the Tamil heartland of Sri Lanka,Krishna also visited the houses built by Hindustan Prefab Limited,an Indian public sector undertaking,and spoke with the beneficiaries.
Noting that he laid the foundation stone for the pilot project during his previous visit to this peninsula in November,2010,Krishna said India and Sri Lanka had yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for construction of 49,000 houses for resettled civilians in northern Lanka at a cost of USD 270 million.
8220;This is truly the flagship project of India8217;s development assistance to Sri Lanka and,one of the largest grant assistance project undertaken by the Government of India in any part of the world,8221; Krishna said,adding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were interested in their welfare.
He also said it is India8217;s hope that the dialogue process will lead to a 8220;meaningful devolution package,building upon the 13th Amendment,which would create the necessary conditions for a lasting political settlement8221;.
8220;India will do everything possible to assist in this process,8221; he said and adding that the country has noted the 8220;constructive recommendations8221; contained in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission LLRC and look forward to their implementation.
He also made use of the occasion to announce the completion of wreck removal work at the KKS Harbour at a cost of USD 19 million which is expected to facilitate marine trade in Jaffna peninsula and revive economic activity in Northern Province.
8220;We stand ready to provide further grant assistance for the next phase of the project.
8220;We are undertaking rehabilitation of Achuvely Industrial Zone to create employment opportunities in Northern Province and to provide a platform for industrial development of Jaffna,8221; Krishna said.
The Minister also reiterated that India will stand shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka and the people of the Northern Province and provide all possible assistance in their reconstruction efforts.
Krishna also hoped that Sri Lanka will develop Palaly as a civilian airport and restore its connectivity with India and within Sri Lanka that would give tremendous fillip to the local economies in both countries.
India will also undertake renovation of Duraiyappah Stadium and intends to build the Jaffna Cultural Centre next to the Public Library,he said.
Noting that this Tamil heartland,which was under the occupation of the LTTE for nearly two decades,has undergone transformation since the end of the war,Krishna said since India is an emerging economy it feels that it is its duty to help the people of its 8220;less-fortunate8221; of neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka.
Amuthavalli,who is a beneficiary,said the houses constructed by India has been built in accordance with the latest design and that they were 8220;thankful8221; to the people of India and the government for this 8220;needful8221; help.
8220;We are happy now. We can now boast of owning a house. The house has all facilities. Thanks to the Indian government,we are living in a peaceful environment now,8221; she said.
External Affairs Ministry sources said the Indian government would seek the help of UN agencies to identify the beneficiaries and the amount of money needed to repair or construct houses.
8220;The money will then be transferred directly to the beneficiaries to their bank accounts. They will be asked to open a bank account,8221; the sources said.
Lankan Foreign Minister Peiris thanked India for its assistance for developmental projects being implemented for the resettlement and rehabilitation of Tamil civilians displaced due to the war.
On the schools,Krishna said he was happy to note that as a result of this intervention families will be able to send their children to schools,and students will have a decent learning environment offering them a better future.
