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Monday, Nov 16, 2009
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Pranab, Rajapaksa discuss resettlement

B. Muralidhar Reddy

India offers additional help
Equal rights will be ensured for all, says Rajapaksa

- PHOTO: AFP

MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on Sunday. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and the issue of resettlement of the war displaced.

COLOMBO: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday paid a courtesy call on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest between Sri Lanka and India over breakfast.

“It was a cordial meeting. Since Mr. Mukherjee is the Indian Finance Minister and well versed with the intricacies of the global economic outlook, aspects of international economic issues figured at the interaction,” a senior aide of Mr. Rajapaksa told The Hindu.

Mr. Mukherjee raised issues related to the re-settlement of nearly 3 lakh war displaced, the reconstruction in the war ravaged north and east and the need for an early win-win political solution for all stakeholders in the ethnic conflict.

Mr. Rajapaksa reiterated the commitment of his government to sending back all the displaced to their homes at the earliest, ensuring equal rights and opportunities to all communities and working towards a permanent political solution.

Mr. Mukherjee repeated New Delhi’s offer for help, in addition to the assistance already given, to the island nation towards restoration of normality in the post-Prabakaran era.

The Minister, who was here primarily to deliver the fourth Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture, paid homage at the Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy before returning to New Delhi.

Though Mr. Mukherjee’s visit was planned some time ago, it acquired a special significance in the light of the fast-changing political landscape of the island nation after Mr. Rajapaksa on Thursday granted permission to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Sarath Fonseka, to retire with immediate effect, and the possibility of the General’s foray into politics.

On Friday, Mr. Rajapaksa agreed to the request of Gen. Fonseka, who led the war against the LTTE, and a copy of it was released on Sunday. It said the government had no option but to retire the CDS with immediate effect after he complained that the government had lost faith in him. A further communication setting out the position of the government to issues raised by Gen. Fonseka will follow.

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