Displaced Vanni civilians:

India mulls IR 5,000 million aid package

India is considering an Indian Rupees 5,000 million aid package for civilians displaced by the conflict between the Armed Forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to a front page story in The Hindu yesterday. The news report further said: "We have assured the Sri Lankan authorities that we will provide the necessary support. Already our Prime Minister has committed IR 1,000 million relief support to the internally displaced people and the Tamil Nadu government has announced a package of IR. 250 million. I understand that IR 450 million has already been spent," pointed out Mukherjee.

"The announcement about the humanitarian relief came a few hours after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "Mukherjee emphasised the need for a political solution while maintaining the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. "There should be a political solution and the political solution includes devolution of power, participation in the election and [people of Tamil origin] have the full rights as citizens of Sri Lanka. Of course maintaining the territorial integrity of that country and within the framework of Sri Lankan Constitution is of paramount importance," he said.

"The details of the aid package would be finalised by the time India sent its special envoys to Sri Lanka. Mukherjee did not identify the envoys.

The steps desired by New Delhi and assured by Colombo include a sincere devolution of powers in northern and eastern Sri Lanka along with other measures that assure a life of security and dignity for the Tamil-origin people.

"Government sources here said while the Sri Lankan government's action against the LTTE was not challengeable, the question of assistance became imperative after thousands of civilians were killed and lakhs displaced due to the conflict. Hence the priority is now to deal quickly with the situation so that national reconciliation can take place in an effective manner."