New Delhi: India on Friday said it would work with
Sri Lankan government to ensure resettlement of 3,00,000
people displaced in the northern region which has been freed
from the LTTE and was keen to see revival of the political
process there.
"We continue to work with the Sri Lankan government to
ensure the resettlement of all Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs)," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said in a
statement in the Rajya Sabha.
In a suo motu statement on recent developments in northern
Sri Lanka, he said it was crucial that nearly 3,00,000 IDPs
were given immediate humanitarian attention and that urgent
steps were taken to resettle them in their original places of
habitation.
He informed the House that after India conveyed its
concern over the issue, Sri Lanka government had "agreed that
bulk of the IDPs" would be resettled within 180 days.
The minister said India is keen to see the revival of the
political process in Sri Lanka that will meet the legitimate
interests and aspirations of all communities including Tamils
and Muslims, within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.
Revival of such a political process and an inclusive
dialogue would help bring the minority communities into the
political mainstream, he noted.
"We have continued to emphasise to the Sri Lankan
government to put forward a meaningful devolution package...
We will remain engaged with them through this process of
transition and reform," he said.
PTI
