New Delhi calls for resettlement following pressure from Tamil Nadu

India is pressing Sri Lanka for a for quick rehabilitation and resettlement of the 300,000 Tamils held in barbed wired camps, according to Colombo media.

New Delhi’s concerns were conveyed through two different channels to the Government, according to the Sunday Times newspaper.

Whilst, India’ High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Alok Prasad met President Mahinda Rajapakse to convey a message from Indian premier Manmohan Singh requesting for immediate measures be taken to expedite the resettlement of IDPs in their homes, India’s National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan wrote to Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Sri Lankan President expressing Indias concerns.

Quoting a diplomatic source, the Sunday Times newspaper reported, Mr. Narayanan expressed fears that continued presence of IDPs in camps could endanger the stability of the region.

Meanwhile, Indian media quoted Manmohan Singh India is committed to working on a 'priority basis' for the relief and rehabilitation of internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka and New Delhi has conveyed its concerns on the issue to the island government in "no uncertain terms."

New Delhi’s sudden concern for the plight of Tamils in internemtn camps follows a request from Tamil Nadu politicians, for India to pressure Sri Lanka on the issue.

"We fully share your concern for the welfare and well-being of the displaced Tamil population in Sri Lanka," Singh said in his reply to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi who wrote to him last month voicing concern about the welfare of Tamils lodged in various camps in the island nation after the end of the war against the LTTE.

Singh said, "We have conveyed these concerns in no uncertain terms to Sri Lanka on various occasions, stressing the need for them to focus on resettling and rehabilitating the displaced Tamil population at the earliest.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna also raised the issue of resettlement with his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

'The two ministers exchanged views on the situation in northern Sri Lanka, particularly the efforts of the Sri Lankan government in rehabilitating and resettling IDPs from camps to their original homes, as well as measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields,' India's external affairs ministry said in a statement.