India welcomes relaxed restrictions on IDPs
India has welcomed the initial steps taken by the Sri Lankan
Government to relax movement and travel restriction on IDPs. It also
expressed the hope that the IDPs would resume their livelihood and
return to a life of normality. This observation was contained in a joint
press statement on the visit of a high level Sri Lankan delegation to
India on December 9 and 10.
Following is the full text of the joint statement:
Basil
Rajapaksa |
Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa |
Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP, Secretary to the
President Lalith Weeratunga and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
visited New Delhi on December 9 and 10 and met with National Security
Adviser M. K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence
Secretary Pradeep Kumar. They also called on External Affairs Minister
S. M. Krishna.
Both sides reviewed the ongoing relief, rehabilitation and
resettlement efforts in Northern Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan side
mentioned that more than 158,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
have since left the camps and around 115,000 remained. The Sri Lankan
side detailed to the Indian side the steps initiated to resettle the
IDPs in their original places of habitation.
They indicated their resolve to resettle the IDPs before end-January
2010. Welcoming the initial steps taken by the Government of Sri Lanka
to relax movement and travel restrictions on IDPs, the Indian side
expressed the hope that the IDPs would resume their livelihood and
return to a life of normalcy.
The Sri Lankan side thanked India for the substantial assistance
being provided by India for the rehabilitation of the Internally
Displaced Persons. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the commendable
work done by the 60-member Indian Field Hospital at Menik Farm, Vavuniya,
where more than 50,000 patients were treated.
The contribution of 2.5-lakh family packs sent by the Government of
Tamil Nadu to the IDPs was appreciated.
The Indian side emphasized that, with a view to ensure the return of
the IDPs to their homes and resumption of their livelihood, it had
enhanced the number of Indian de-mining teams in the area, provided
additional quantity of shelter material and agricultural starter packs
and was now in the process of providing cement bags for reconstruction
of damaged houses of IDPs. These gestures were welcomed by the Sri
Lankan side.
Both sides recognized the importance of sustaining peace and moving
towards a political solution in Sri Lanka. The Indian side welcomed the
holding of local elections in Jaffna and Vavuniya. Both sides agreed on
the need for political arrangements which would serve the legitimate
interests and meet the aspirations of all Sri Lankan citizens. The Sri
Lankan side reiterated the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to
a political process that would lead to lasting peace and reconciliation.
Both sides agreed on the need for restoration of infrastructure and
services in the North and East Sri Lanka and welcomed the participation
of Indian companies in these projects.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the visit of a delegation of
Tamil Parliamentarians to Sri Lanka and the access given to them by Sri
Lanka to visit IDP camps in Vavuniya. The delegation had also visited
Jaffna and the Up-country areas. They called on President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
Noting the salutary effect, which the October 2008 Joint Statement on
Fishing Arrangements has had on issues relating to fishing, the two
sides agreed to continue to adhere to these arrangements and also agreed
to convene the Joint Working Group on Fishing Cooperation to continue
discussions on the draft MOU to put in place an institutional
arrangement.
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