New Delhi and Colombo discussed the situation of Tamils in Sri Lanka at a high level meet and India subsequently decided to send around 800 tonness of relief material to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has assured he would not precipitate a crisis for UPA government over Sri Lankan Tamils issue as the Centre apprised him of steps being taken by the island nation’s governments to ensure safety of Tamil civilans in that country.
“The Chief Minister assured me that he will not precipitate any crisis for the UPA government,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after emerging from a meeting with Karunanidhi in Chennai.
The assurance by Karunanidhi to Mukherjee after UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi spoke to the Chief Minister, assumed significance as DMK and some other Tamil Nadu parties had issued an ultimatum that all MPs from the state would resign if the Centre did not take steps to ensure a ceasefire in Sri Lanka’s embattled north by 29th October.
DMK and some of its allies have 24 members in Lok Sabha out of a total of 39 members from the state to the House.
He also said that he pointed out to the Chief Minister that a military solution will not resolve the problems of the ethnic minority in Sri Lanka.
Mukherjee said India will send around 800 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka for the affected civilians in the north of the island.
“The Sri Lankan government has assured India that it will provide humanitarian aid to the displaced people in the country through International Red Cross, government of India and UN agencies,” he said.
Tamil Nadu government will also mobilise relief material to affected Tamil civilians in the northern part of the island.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and myself have repeatedly told Sri Lanka that ethnic crisis can be solved only politically, said Mukherjee.
Mukherjee further said that Sri Lankan special envoy to India Basil Rajapakse has assured India that Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapakse will himself take charge of the political package to solve ethnic crisis ‘politically’.
India and Sri Lanka held high-level discussions on the situation of Tamils in the island nation, particularly concerning their well-being.
Basil Rajapaksa, Special Adviser of the Sri Lankan President met the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee this morning and spelt out the measures being taken by Colombo to ensure safety of civilians while undertaking the military campaign against the LTTE.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee later apprised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the condition of ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Mukerjee announced in Chennai that as a gesture of goodwill, India has decided to send around 800 tonness of relief material to Sri Lanka for the affected civilians in the North. The Government of Sri Lanka will facilitate the delivery.
Mukherjee also said that India-Srilanka agreed to further nurture the democratic process in the Eastern Province.
With regard to issues relating to fishermen, in view of the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions involved, he said both sides agreed to put in place practical arrangements to deal with the issue
Earlier in the day, Basil Rajapaksa, Special Advsior of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and apprised him of the steps being taken by the government to ensure that the rights of Tamils are not compromised during the ongoing military offensive against the LTTE.
Assuring India that it will ensure the safety and security of ethnic Tamils, Sri Lanka has expressed readiness to allow Indian medical aid to the affected people in the island country’s embattled north.
Basil also held talks with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon on Sunday morning.
“Every assurance we have given (to) look after the human behaviour needs and whichever way we can,” Basil, the brother of President Rajapakasa, told reporters after the meeting.
Asked about the medical aid from India, the President’s advisor said “yes, that issue was brought up and we will take a positive look on it.”
“Yes,” he said when asked whether the Sri Lankan Government will allow Indian medical aid to Sri Lanka.
Asked whether Mukherjee will visit Colombo on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Basil said “he has not discusses it so”.
