President can win peace - Indian PM
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had won the war against the LTTE and its
terrorism, and can now win the peace. His enormous talent should help
solve the long drawn out issue in Sri Lanka permanently, said Indian
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh told the Sri Lankan President
yesterday.
These sentiments were expressed when the two national leaders of
India and Sri Lanka met for bi-lateral discussions shortly after the
conclusion of the 15th Non Aligned Summit at Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, on
Thursday.
President Rajapaksa |
The Indian Prime Minister said he had the highest confidence in
President Rajapaksa’s capability in resolving the tasks presented in the
post-conflict situation in Sri Lanka, as he had a clear vision of what
had to be done in the current situation.
The discussions between the two leaders covered a wide range of
issues of mutual interest such as the IDPS in the North, proposals for
devolution of power and a political solution in Sri Lanka, the issue of
fishermen in the waters north of Sri Lanka, the current development in
the North and East, and continued cooperation between India and Sri
Lanka.
President Rajapaksa assured the Indian Prime Minister that the
Government was taking all steps to keep to its target of re-settling the
IDPs in 180 days, which program was first announced to the high level
Indian officials who visited Sri Lanka for exchange of views shortly
after the defeat of the LTTE.
Dr. Manmohan Singh |
The Government was keen to expedite the process of resettlement and
rehabilitation, but had to also be conscious of the need to ensure the
safety of these citizens, especially from land mines and other dangers,
as well as provide them with infra-structure facilities and new
livelihood opportunities.
He also explained the priority being given by the Government to
development activities in the North and East, with special impetus on
development of the North, in the context of the enormous losses suffered
by the people of the North under terrorism, and the lack of any progress
in development activity in areas that were once held by the LTTE.
Sri Lanka saw both the North and East as new areas for economic
development, with the many opportunities available for investment, now
that they had been cleared of the grip of terrorism.
The possibility of Indian investment in these areas, mutually
beneficial to the two countries, was discussed with the objective of
further exploring the opportunities that are now being worked out.
Both leaders were agreed on the need to prevent conflict involving
the fishermen of the two countries in the waters North of Sri Lanka, and
the need for humanitarian approaches in dealing with this matter.
On the issue of a political solution to the current issued in Sri
Lanka, President Rajapaksa restated in Lanka’s policy of moving ahead
with implementing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which had
not been fully implemented so far, mainly due to the obstacles placed by
the LTTE, although it had at first agreed to its provisions. The
government was looking forward, with a great degree of confidence, to
obtaining consensus among all sections on the proposals envisaged in
this regard.
In discussing the need for reconciliation among the communities in
Sri Lanka, after the separatist terrorist war that lasted thirty years,
President Rajapaksa said moves had already been initiated in this regard
with his calling an All Party Committee on Development and
Reconciliation.
He expressed satisfaction that this committee had a very large
representation, including that of the Tamil National Alliance, whose
representatives had said they are now prepared to be partners in the
progress of Sri Lanka.
The process of reconciliation was being actively pursued on many
fronts, with the need for inclusive policies for political an economic
development.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that India would continue to give
all support to ensure the early resettlement and rehabilitation of the
IDPs in the North.
President Rajapaksa thanked India for the understanding it had shown
in the need to defeat the terrorism of the LTTE, the assistance it had
already given in bringing relief to the IDPs, the offer of continued
support in this regard, and for the strong support extended to Sri Lanka
in the Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
It was also agreed that both countries continue with the periodic
contacts at a high level to ensure good understanding between the two
countries on matters of mutual interest.
The Indian Prime Minister invited President Rajapaksa to visit New
Delhi at the earliest opportunity for the further strengthening of good
relations between the two countries, which invitation was reciprocated
by President Rajapaksa to Dr. Manmohan Singh.
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