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by M.P. Muttiah

Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao at a meeting with the leaders of Ceylon Worker's Alliance at `India House' in Colombo on Jan 25, assured that India would extend its fullest cooperation for development programs undertaken in the plantation areas. She said great attention was paid to the development projects of plantation areas during the recent visit of President Mahinda Rajapakse to New Delhi.

CWA President P. P. Devaraj said that during the cordial discussion, the Indian High Commissioner had stated that Indian High Commission would not give preference to anyone and is prepared to consider constructive proposals and would treat all plantation organisations on an equal footing.

`Sri Lanka and India would soon sign an agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership. With that India's contribution to the development of other sectors, such as health, culture and education, too would increase. There would be no discrimination in providing this assistance. However, special affirmative action is needed in the plantation sector, as it was long neglected", the Indian envoy pointed out.

Nirupama Rao said that India would like to see that Sri Lanka enjoys peace and stability. She requested all concerned to submit proposals for cultural development in the plantation areas for consideration of the High Commission. Sri Lankan government has always welcomed any assistance to this sector and extended cooperation, she said.

Rao said that India had already started constructing a hospital in Dickoya and handed over school books to children. She promised that cultural centres too would be established. `Steps would be taken to open vocational training centres with the objective of providing employment to plantation youth". she said.

Former Parliamentarians T.V. Sennan, S. Sathasivam, CWA Vice President Kanapathy Kanagaraj and several others participated at the discussion.

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