India-Sri Lanka relations developing strongly - Mukherjee

President Mahinda Rajapaksa shaking hands with Indian External
Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, as Sri Lankan Disaster
Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe looks on -AP
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I had detailed, useful and productive discussions with H.E. President
Rajapaksa and am pleased with the comprehensive briefing by the Sri
Lankan side. We covered recent developments in Sri Lanka, the entire
gamut of India-Sri Lanka relations and regional issues of mutual
interest. India-Sri Lanka relations are developing strongly. It is
particularly important at this time of transition and change that we
should continue to strengthen our ties.
The President mentioned his hopes for future developments in Sri
Lanka. I stressed that military victories offer a political opportunity
to restore life to normalcy in the Northern Province and throughout Sri
Lanka, after twenty three years of conflict. The President assured me
that this was his intent.
We will work together with the Government of Sri Lanka to enable all
Sri Lankans, and particularly the Tamil community who have borne the
brunt of the effects of the conflict, to lead normal lives as soon as
possible. For our part, I expressed our readiness to participate in the
reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka so as to overcome the ravages of
war and also to lay the economic and political foundations of a strong
peace in which all communities feel comfortable.
We will be working together on a reconstruction plan for these areas
which will involve infrastructure and other support. I was happy to be
informed of progress towards the establishment of a 500 MW thermal power
project near Trincomalee by NTPC from India.
H.E. President Rajapaksa assured me that it was his intention to move
as quickly as possible to implement the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan
Constitution, which, you would recall, followed the India-Sri Lanka
agreement of 1987. In fact, he would explore the possibility of going
further and improving upon those devolution proposals.
We also reviewed the humanitarian situation as a result of the
conflict.
The Sri Lankan Government has reassured that they would respect the
safe zones and minimize the effects of conflict on Tamil civilians. As
you know, India has extended its relief supplies to civilians caught up
in the zone of conflict and intends to continue doing so.
After our conversation H.E. President Rajapaksa was good enough to
extend a personal invitation to an all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu
led by Chief Minister Karunanidhi and Ms. Jayalalitha to see for
themselves the situation on the ground and to persuade the LTTE to lay
down arms and join the democratic mainstream.
An early restoration of normal democratic life in the areas affected
by the conflict would be a major contribution to peace and stability.
India will do all that it can bring this about, working with all those
who work for this goal with us. |