Rao says India will stand by Sri Lanka in resettlement of IDPs

During an interaction with local officials in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, today at the start of a visit to that country, Ms Rao referred, in particular, to the challenge posed by housing and noted that India had pledged to build 50,000 houses in teh Northern and Eastern Provinces.

She said Jaffna would be assisted through signature projects such as the Jaffna Cultural Centre, the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and the Duraiappah Stadium.

Ms Rao said it was a time to look to the future for the sake of the coming generations and underlined that India had always accorded high priority to the welfare of the people of Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Secretary started the day with a visit to Vavuniya and Kilinochchi. She was accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K Kantha, the Governor of the Northern Province, Maj Gen (Rtd) G A Chandrasiri and senior officials of the two countries.

In Vavuniya, she received a briefing on the resettlement situation from Maj Gen Kamal Gunaratne, the Security Forces Commander of the Wanni. She then visited Menik Farm, where she met with a number of IDPs and their families who are still awaiting resettlement. She also visited their homes and witnessed their conditions of stay.

In a public meeting at the Urban Council Hall in Vavuniya, Ms Rao met with another group of IDPs. She assured the IDPs of the Government of India’s continued commitment to assist them in the task of rebuilding their lives. India’s announcement to build 50,000 houses was widely welcomed.

The Foreign Secretary underlined that these houses would be built with local participation and would give a fillip to local employment.

She also met with the Government Agent (GA) of Vavuniya, Mrs. P S M Charles and discussed other possible areas where India could assist in the process of resettlement.

Ms Rao then visited Mahilankulam near Omanthai, a site where the Horizon (Ex-servicemen) Group of India is conducting demining operations in a heavily mined area that constituted the no-man’s land between the former Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) of the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE.

The Government of India is funding three Horizon demining teams, in addition to four teams from Sarvatra, another Indian demining group working in Sri Lanka. The work of the demining teams has come in for considerable praise. Before leaving Vavuniya, Ms Rao also distributed another consignment of Indian assistance consisting of agricultural toolkits, roofing sheets and cement bags among recently resettled IDPs at the Agrarian Services Centre in Omanthai.

In Kilinochchi, she met with local army and civil officials who briefed her on the progress of resettlement. They expressed their happiness that Government of India was readily coming forward to assist in the process of resettlement. She also met with recently resettled families in the Kilinochchi area and distributed toolkits, cement bags and roofing sheets to them.

In Jaffna, Ms Rao met with local officials who briefed her on the situation in the Jaffna Peninsula and the resettlement priorities of the district. She was accorded a warm public reception at the Jaffna Public Library where the Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, Mr. Douglas Devananda, and the Mayor of Jaffna were also present. At the library, she also met with a broad spectrum of civil society leaders and heard from them about the recent developments following the end of armed conflict. They underscored the need for India to be involved in the political process to ensure a permanent settlement.

According to an official statement issued here, Ms Rao also visited the site of the Cultural Centre that will be constructed with Indian assistance.

Tomorrow, Ms Rao will visit Mullaitivu and Trincomalee, before returning to Colombo for further meetings with Sri Lankan dignitaries. She will also call on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa before flying back to India.

NNN