South Asian Media.net
Friday, November 24,2006

COLOMBO: Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon on Thursday told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that India looked forward to an early "comprehensive political settlement" of the ethnic issue. It must take into account the aspirations of all sections, including Tamils, he said.

Mr. Menon, here on a two-day visit to share India's concerns at the situation in the island nation, had a packed schedule, which included meetings with Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and acting Foreign Secretary Geetha de Silva.

Humanitarian crisis

In a "free and frank exchange of views," Mr. Menon, at his meetings with the interlocutors, is reported to have articulated the Indian concerns, particularly over the death of innocent citizens and the humanitarian crisis caused by the continued fighting.

The visit assumed added importance after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 9 raising concerns over the plight of innocent citizens caught in the conflict. Dr. Singh replied to him last week, saying India would raise the issue with Sri Lanka.

Mr. Menon is scheduled to return to New Delhi via Chennai. Indications are he will apprise Mr. Karunanidhi of the outcome of his visit.

Mr. Menon told the Sri Lankan authorities that India was ready to provide humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced as well as people of Jaffna, affected by the closure of A 9 highway.

Despatch of essentials

In his letter to Mr. Karunanidhi, the Prime Minister said the Centre was despatching essential commodities to Sri Lanka taking into consideration the situation in the northern and eastern parts. He said 5,200 tonnes of rice, 1,500 tonnes of sugar and 300 tonnes of milk powder would be sent. India's interest in a solution to the ethnic problem that protected the Tamil citizens within the framework of a united and federal Sri Lanka was "deep and continuous."

At his meeting with Mr. Menon, Mr. Rajapaksa gave details of the work being done by the All Parties Conference and the multiethnic group of experts to provide a framework for resolution of the ethnic problem.

Subjects of discussions

A Sri Lanka Foreign Office statement said current developments relating to the peace process, the status of negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, proposed Indian investment in a coal power plant in Trincomalee and prospects for cooperation in the health and cultural spheres figured at the meeting.