Rajapaksa visit: focus on Lankan Tamils

In a lengthy India-Sri Lanka joint declaration on Wednesday,India offered financial and infrastructure support directed towards the Lankan Tamils

In a lengthy India-Sri Lanka joint declaration on Wednesday,India offered financial and infrastructure support directed towards the Lankan Tamils inhabiting the northern parts of the island country. Seven pacts were signed to boost bilateral cooperation across a range of areas,including security,power,railways and cultural exchange.

Stressing that the recent electoral victories of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the cessation of hostilities in Sri Lanka have opened up a historic opportunity,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that a meaningful devolution package,building upon the 13th Amendment,would create the necessary conditions for a lasting political settlement.

To this,Rajapaksa reiterated his determination to evolve a political settlement acceptable to all communities that would act as a catalyst to create the necessary conditions in which all the people of Sri Lanka could lead their lives in an atmosphere of peace,justice and dignity,consistent with democracy,pluralism,equal opportunity and respect for human rights.

Towards this end,the Sri Lankan President expressed his resolve to continue to implement in particular the relevant provisions of the Constitution designed to strengthen national amity and reconciliation through empowerment. He shared his ideas on conducting a broader dialogue with all parties involved. The Prime Minister of India expressed Indias constructive support for efforts to build peace and reconciliation among all communities in Sri Lanka, a joint declaration between the two leaders said here on Wednesday.

In particular,the Prime Minister emphasised the need for urgent steps to resettle the remaining IDPs internally displaced persons and urged Sri Lanka to undertake speedy rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said. A major initiative to undertake a programme of construction of 50,000 houses for IDPs in the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be carried out with Indian assistance. The Foreign Secretary said India would also establish Consulates in Jaffna and Hambantota.

India will also be taking up several reconstruction projects in the North and the East,including rebuilding of railway infrastructure,rehabilitation of the Kankesanthurai harbour and Palaly Airport,construction of a cultural centre in Jaffna and several vocational training centres,renovation of the Duraiappah stadium and rehabilitation of war widows. India will be extending a line of credit of 200 million,to assist setting up of the NTPC-CEB Joint Venture of 500 MW Thermal Power Plant at Trincomalee in Eastern Sri Lanka.

The two sides agreed to resume the discussions under the Joint Working Group on Fishing and promote contacts between the fishermens association on both sides. India will support the University of Colombo to establish a Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies under the India-Sri Lanka Knowledge Initiative.