Formulate political solution of Tamil issue: India tells Lanka

New Delhi: Keen to see the decades-old ethnic crisis resolved, India Tuesday told Sri Lanka that the ‘most important’ issue before it was to come out with a political solution that fulfills the aspirations of the minority Tamils.
The position of India, which has been pitching for devolution of powers to Tamil-dominated areas, was articulated by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during his meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Colombo this morning.
During a 90-minute breakfast meeting, Krishna and Rajapaksa discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations that also included the political solution to end the ethnic crisis in the country.
The discussions focussed primarily on the resettlement of Tamil civilians displaced due to the three-decade-old war that ended in May 2009 with the killing of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in a military operation.
Krishna told Rajapaksa that political settlement of Tamils and a solution that answers the aspirations of the Tamil community was the ‘most important’ issue that stands to be resolved.
Krishna, who met Rajapaksa on his arrival yesterday at a Thaipongal reception, also discussed other issues of mutual concern.
The two leaders also reviewed the process of relief and rehabilitation of Tamil civilians displaced due to the war.
Meanwhile, Lanka assured India that it was committed to pursuing the 13th Amendment plus approach that envisages devolution of powers to Tamil-dominated provinces to end the ethnic conflict, even as New Delhi hoped for an ‘expeditious’ and ‘constructive’ approach to the dialogue between the government and Tamil National Alliance.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the assurance to visiting External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during a 90-minute breakfast meeting during which they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties and the progress in the relief and rehabilitation of war-displaced Tamil civilians.
‘I discussed this matter with His Excellency the President this morning. The President assured me that he stands by his commitment to pursuing the 13th Amendment plus approach,’ Krishna told a joint media interaction after a one-on-one with his counterpart G L Peiris and delegation-level talks, pti reported.
The 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution envisages devolution of powers to the Tamil-dominated Northern Province, which India feels will meet the ‘genuine aspirations’ of the ethnic Tamils.
Krishna and Peiris also signed an MoU for construction of 49,000 houses for relocated Tamils in the northern region at a cost of USD 260 million.
Krishna would hand over nearly 100 houses constructed under a pilot project to beneficiaries in Kilinochchi tomorrow.
Krishna will also meet Prime Minister D M Jayaratne and hold discussions with his counterpart Peiris later in the day during which he will also sign a MoU for construction of 49,000 houses for resettled Tamils in northern Lanka.
During the talks, Krishna is expected to press for an early political solution to the Tamil problem and review the developmental projects being implemented by India with regard to relief and rehabilitation of the Tamils displaced due to the three-decade war that ended in 2009. (KMW News)