More aid from India for resettlement

The Indian Government would give another Indian Rs. 500 crore to the Sri Lankan Government to rehabilitate the displaced after the country submitted the project report, said Indian Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram yesterday.

Talking to reporters after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi at his residence Chidambaram pointed out that India had given Indian Rs 500 crore for rehabilitation works.

"We announced that another Rs 500 crore would be released. But we are yet to get the project report from the Sri Lankan Government," he said. Stating that the Indian Government had discussed the report of the 10 member delegation that visited Sri Lanka, he said he explained everything to the Chief Minister. "The MPs delegation has listed the steps taken by the Sri Lankan Government. We discussed how to help Sri Lanka to fulfill its promise," he added.

"Resettlement has started in a slow manner. It has to be speeded up. We will take steps to ensure that all the people were sent to their homes," he said.

The Hindu