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Visit of Foreign Secretary to Sri
Lanka
31/08/2010
Foreign Secretary Smt Nirupama Rao began her visit to Sri Lanka on
31st August with a visit to Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Jaffna. She
was accompanied during the visit by the High Commissioner of India
Shri. Ashok K. Kantha, Governor of the Northern Province, Maj Gen (Rtd)
G.A.Chandrasiri and senior officials of the Governments of India and
Sri Lanka.
2. In Vavuniya, Foreign Secretary received a briefing on the
resettlement situation from Maj Gen Kamal Gunaratne, the Security
Forces Commander of the Wanni. She then visited Menik Farm, where
she met with a number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and
their families who still await resettlement. She also visited their
homes and witnessed their conditions of stay. In a public meeting at
the Urban Council Hall in Vavuniya, Foreign Secretary met with
another group of IDPs. She assured the IDPs of the Government of
India’s continued commitment to assist them in the task of
rebuilding their lives. India’s announcement to build 50,000 houses
was widely welcomed. Foreign Secretary underlined that these houses
will be built with local participation and will give a fillip to
local employment. Foreign Secretary also met with the Government
Agent (GA) of Vavuniya, Mrs. PSM Charles and discussed other
possible areas where India could assist in the process of
resettlement.
3. Foreign Secretary next visited Mahilankulam near Omanthai, a site
where the Horizon (ex-servicemen)Group of India is conducting
demining operations in a heavily mined area that constituted the
no-man’s land between the former Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) of the
Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE. The Government of India is funding
three Horizon demining teams, in addition to four teams from
Sarvatra, another Indian demining group working in Sri Lanka. The
work of the demining teams has come in for considerable praise.
Before leaving Vavuniya, Smt Nirupama Rao also distributed another
consignment of Indian assistance consisting of agricultural
toolkits, roofing sheets and cement bags among recently resettled
IDPs, at the Agrarian Services Centre in Omanthai.
4. Foreign Secretary visited Kilinochchi, where she met with local
army and civil officials who briefed her on the progress of
resettlement. They expressed their happiness that Government of
India was readily coming forward to assist in the process of
resettlement. She also met with recently resettled families in the
Kilinochchi area and distributed toolkits, cement bags and roofing
sheets to them.
5. In Jaffna, Foreign Secretary met with local officials who briefed
her on the situation in the Jaffna Peninsula and the resettlement
priorities of the district. Foreign Secretary was accorded a warm
public reception at the Jaffna Public Library where the Minister of
Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, Mr. Douglas
Devananda and the Mayor of Jaffna were also present. At the Library,
she also met with a broad spectrum of civil society leaders and
heard from them about the recent developments following the end of
armed conflict. They underscored the need for India to be involved
in the political process to ensure a permanent settlement.
6. During her interaction in Jaffna, Foreign Secretary underlined
that India stood with Sri Lanka in responding to the challenges
posed by the task of resettlement and rehabilitation of the large
number of IDPs resulting from the end of armed conflict in 2009. In
particular, she referred to the challenge posed by housing and noted
that India had pledged to build 50,000 houses in the Northern and
Eastern Provinces, and that Jaffna would be assisted through
signature projects such as the Jaffna Cultural Center, Jaffna
Teaching Hospital and the Duraiappah Stadium. She emphasized that it
was time to look to the future for the sake of the coming
generations and underlined that India had always accorded high
priority to the welfare of the people of Northern and Eastern Sri
Lanka.
7. Foreign Secretary also visited the site of the Cultural Centre
that will be constructed with Indian assistance. She also
distributed Indian assistance to a group of recently resettled IDPs.
8. On 1st September, Foreign Secretary will continue her visit to
Sri Lanka by visiting Mullaitivu and Trincomalee, before returning
to Colombo for further meetings with Sri Lankan dignitaries. She
will also call on the President of Sri Lanka before her departure to
India.
Colombo
August 31, 2010 |
