Nirupama Rao holds wide-ranging talks with Lankan leaders on rehabilitation of IDPs

Indian Foreign Secretary Smt Nirupama Rao on her final day of her visit to Sri Lanka is scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs G.L.Peiris. She will hold further meetings with delegations of other political parties as well before departing for India later in the afternoon.
Last evening Ms Rao called on the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees in Colombo. She apprised him of her visit to the Northern and Eastern provinces and the assistance projects being undertaken by India for the benefit of the IDPs. President Rajapaksa welcomed India’s assistance.
The Indian Foreign Secretary also met with leaders of major political parties, including UNP Leader and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, as well as leaders of the Tamil National Alliance and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress.
During the last two days she traveled extensively to the war ravaged Northern Province to have a first hand assessment of the resettlement process of the Internally Dispalced civilians.
She also visited Trincomalee in the Eastern Province , where she met the Chief Minister Pillyan and the Governor Rear Admiral (Rtd) Mohan Wijewickrema, who briefed her on the development work undertaken in a number of sectors in the Province following the restoration of peace in mid-2007. He also outlined future investment opportunities in the Province, especially in the area of tourism.
In her meeting with the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, Mr. Sivanesathurai Sandirakanthan Pillyan at the Eastern Provincial Council office , she discussed with him various projects with which India was assisting in the Eastern Province and others that were in the pipeline. She noted in particular the project on housing, a project to assist war widows in Batticaloa by the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and another to build a vocational training centre in Eastern Province. Foreign Secretary also invited the Chief Minister to visit India at his convenience.
While in Trincomalee, Foreign Secretary visited the Koneswaram Temple and handed over to the temple management the keys of a bus gifted to the temple by the Government of India.
AIR correspondent Kanchan Prasad reports from colombo that before departing for India later in the afternoon, Ms Nirupama Rao besides meeting the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs G.L.Peiris, she will hold further meetings with delegations of other political parties .
Last evening Ms Rao had called on the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. She apprised him of her visit to the Northern and Eastern provinces and the assistance projects being undertaken by India for the benefit of the IDPs. President Rajapaksa welcomed India’s assistance.
The Indian Foreign Secretary also met with leaders of major political parties, including UNP Leader and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, as well as leaders of the Tamil National Alliance and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress.
During the last two days she travelled extensively to the war ravaged Northern Province to have a first hand assessment of the resettlement process of the Internally Displaced civilians. She also assured the civilians of all possible assistance from the Government of India in their rehabilitation.

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