India steps up assistance for former wartorn northern Sri Lanka

Jan 18, 2012, 14:30 GMT

Colombo - The Indian government Wednesday stepped up assistance to formerly rebel-held areas in northern Sri Lanka, while pressing for a political settlement regarding minority Tamils.

Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna visited the former rebel-held Kilinochchi area, 320 kilometers north of the capital, to donate medical equipment to the main hospital, damaged during the rebellion.

He also planned to provide assistance to 79 schools damaged during the conflict.

'India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people in the north to gain a political settlement and reconciliation,' Krishna said while addressing a public event.

Krishna also handed over 48 of some 50,000 houses being constructed with Indian financial assistance in the northern Jaffna district for those affected by the 26-year-long conflict, which ended in May 2009 with a defeat of the Tamil rebels.

'India remains fully committed towards the rehabilitation, resettlement and well-being of displaced persons in the Northern Province. We stand ready to do more,' Krishna said.

Other Indian projects in the region include removing wrecks from a key harbour to stimulate marine trade and the creation of an industrial zone to boost employment.

'Sri Lanka has emerged from three decades of armed conflict. Now peace has dawned. It is our sincere hope that the vision and leadership that resulted in an end to the armed conflict will now be employed in the quest for a genuine political settlement based on devolution of power resulting in national reconciliation among all the communities of Sri Lanka', Krishna said.

The visiting minister met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday and was given an assurance that the government was committed to devolving powers to the formerly rebel-held areas.

Since the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Tamil parties have been demanding a political solution to what they claim is discrimination by the government on a range of issues, from language to social policy.

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