Greater Indian assistance for NP

by Manjula FERNANDO

Visiting External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna allotted the entire day yesterday for programs in the Northern Province, inspecting and inaugurating Indian-funded projects in the region.

On Saturday morning, the six member Indian delegation led by Foreign Minister took off in a Sri Lanka Air Force lightweight aircraft to Palali and then to the Duraiappah Stadium in a helicopter from where he distributed tractors to IDPs as a livelihood support.

He was accompanied by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Minister Douglas Devananda.Minister Krishna opened the consular office in Jaffna at 11.30 a.m. before travelling to Ariyalai to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the inauguration of the pilot project of the mega 50,000 housing project for IDPs and plantation workers.

Later he was hosted to a lunch at the Hotel Green Grass in Jaffna by the Northern Province Governor G. A. Chandrasiri. The inauguration of the Railway project at Medawachchiya was scheduled in the evening.

Krishna said as normalcy has returned to Jaffna, the priority of India and Sri Lanka is to resume the old ties and linkages of connectivity that existed between the two neighbours.

Krishna also announced that the Consulate General of India here would assist in setting up the Jaffna Cultural Centre and the restoration of a stadium. He said India is also undertaking reconstruction of a big temple in Mannar.

The minister said that any mention of India's relations with Sri Lanka would be incomplete without highlighting the special ties between people of the Northern Province, particularly the Jaffna peninsula, and those from southern India.

He said while the armed conflict in the North that ended in May last year affected all sections of Sri Lanka, the civilian population of the North was hit disproportionately.

Krishna said India has tried to contribute whatever it can to alleviate the sufferings of the people of northern Sri Lanka. He said beside providing cement sheds, they are also providing agricultural support.

Krishna said that India was now looking at the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Northern province to help the Sri Lankan government in its efforts. Krishna who spoke in Tamil said that the people of the region should focus on education.

His departure had to be postponed by one day since the opening of the Hambantota consulate which was initially scheduled for Friday soon after the inauguration of the Joint Commission meeting was put off for Sunday due to bad weather.

Although the Indian delegation was willing to undertake the flight to Hambantota despite the turbulent weather conditions, the Sri Lankan Government expressed reservations and the trip was postponed.

The Indian delegation was held up till 3.00 p.m. for the weather to settle down.

Earlier on Friday the visiting minister met the President at Janadhipathi Mandiraya where a credit Agreement for USD 416 million for the construction of the Northern Railway line was signed.