India for every possible help to Lankan Tamils

Having announced a Rs 500-crore aid package for Sri Lanka in the Budget,India on Thursday said it was willing to do more and would provide...

Having announced a Rs 500-crore aid package for Sri Lanka in the Budget,India on Thursday said it was willing to do more and would provide every possible assistance in the task of rehabilitation,resettlement and reconstruction. New Delhi also said the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution,which deals with devolution of powers to the Tamil areas,is an article of faith to India.

India will provide every possible assistance in the task of rehabilitation,resettlement and reconstruction8230; The government has earmarked Rs 500 crore for this purpose and we are willing to do more, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told Parliament.

Responding to a suggestion that he himself visit some of the refugee camps for Tamils in Sri Lanka,he said: Our High Commissioner has visited some of these camps. He has sent us his impressions from his visits and the Government of India will be guided by those.

Amendment 13 is an article of faith for us. In fact,Sri Lanka has promised to go beyond this,some are calling it 13, the minister said,referring to the Sri Lankan governments reference to 13th Amendment-plus.

Krishna termed the death of several LTTE leaders,including that of Velupillai Prabhakaran,a significant conclusion to the military conflict in northern Sri Lanka.

Maintaining that the end of military operations in northern and eastern Sri Lanka was an opportunity to rebuild the country after the ravages of conflict,he said Lanka had assured that most of the three lakh internally displaced would be resettled in 180 days.

We are convinced that a closure to the cycle of violence and terrorism that has plagued Sri Lanka requires an inclusive political process of dialogue and devolution. Such a process must address the legitimate aspirations of the minorities,including the Tamil community,within the democratic framework of a united Sri Lanka, Krishna said. We will remain engaged with them through this process.

Our relations with Nepal are unique: Krishna

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NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of reports that China was making inroads into Nepal,India on Thursday said it did not view its fraternal relations with Nepal through the prism of its ties with another country. However,New Delhi lamented the lack of progress in the peace process in Nepal,which is critical to the democratic transition of the Himalayan nation.

Making a suo motu statement in Parliament,External Affairs minister S M Krishna said,Our relations with Nepal are unique,and will continue to be a matter of highest priority for India. We do not view our fraternal ties with Nepal through the prism of its relations with any other country.