Indian Prime Minister underlined the importance for the Tamil people to lead a life of dignity and as equal citizens

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh underlined the great importance attach in India for the Tamil people to lead a life of dignity and as equal citizens of Sri Lanka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have stressed that the relations between the two countries continued since time immemorial will never be weakened.

The two leaders made these observations during a bilateral meeting on 21 June in Rio de Janeiro in sideline to United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio + 20.

Both leaders discussed the historic relation and the need to be in constant vigil over the strengthening of relation. During crucial times the two states should explore the possibility of arriving at solutions through negotiations.

According to the briefing Shri Ranjan Mathai India’s Foreign Secretary Prime Minister had bilateral meetings with President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the fourth Plenary Session of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 21, 2012.

With President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, Indian PM started first with a one-on-one discussion and then in delegation-level meeting. They covered all bilateral relations.

On security related issues, they noted that our dialogue would be taken forward on the 29th June when the National Security Advisor Mr. Menon would be visiting Colombo.

There was a substantial discussion on our economic relations, and the Power Minister of Sri Lanka gave an update on Sampur Power Project which is one of the very big projects being undertaken in Sri Lanka as a joint venture between the Ceylon Power Board and the NTPC.

In terms of the overall relationship, both felt that the scope for progress was very great and we must now concentrate on dealing with those areas where we can make good progress.

The President also referred to the situation within Sri Lanka and mentioned the continuing discussions on the issue of devolution. But the large focus was on what is being done for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced People. He quoted the figure of about 3,000 who now continue to remain in the camps compared to 300,000 when the war ended.

He also noted that the resettlement process was under way, and electrification of the Northern Region, the Power Minister being present mentioned, was also making very good progress. They said that as much as 95 per cent electrification had been restored in Jaffna, and in the other areas in the Northern Province it was between 50 and 70 per cent.

Prime Minister once again underlined the great importance we attach in India to the ability of the Tamil people to lead a life of dignity and as equal citizens of that country. We expressed our intention to continue our assistance programmes. The housing project which India is undertaking will start actually disbursing funds to the beneficiaries for the houses in Sri Lanka by sometime next month because …(inaudible)… And we also reiterated our intention to continue all our bilateral assistance programmes in the economic field.

- Asian Tribune –

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