Indian official continues tour in Sri Lanka's war-torn region

Visiting Foreign Secretary of India Nirupama Rao continued her tour in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka for a second day on Wednesday by traveling to Mullaitivu and Trincomalee.

Ms. Rao, who visited Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, and Jaffna Tuesday (August 31), has received a briefing from the Government Agent (GA) of Mullaitivu, N. Vethanayakam, on the status of efforts directed at resettling the displaced and rebuilding essential infrastructure in the region, a press statement issued by the Indian High commission in Colombo said.

The GA has informed her that the demining in the region is still a factor in the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Foreign Secretary has met with a group of IDPs at the District Secretariat Office and distributed roofing sheets and agricultural toolkits among them.

She has reiterated India's concern for the welfare of the people of this region and said that India would continue to work with the Government of Sri Lanka to help resettle the people and rebuild their lives.

India has pledged to build 50,000 houses in Northern and Eastern provinces for the displaced.

Ms. Rao has assured that India would be using the local expertise and resources wherever available for the construction of the houses so that employment could be generated locally.

During her visit to Trincomalee today, Foreign Secretary Rao has met the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan at his office and had discussions on projects that receive India's assistance in the Province and others that were in the pipeline. Foreign Secretary also has invited the Chief Minister to visit India at his convenience.

She has also called on the Governor of the Eastern Province, 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.

While in Trincomalee, Foreign Secretary has 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.

On her return to Colombo, Foreign Secretary has called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at Temple Trees and 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, the statement said.

Ms. Rao has also met with leaders of major political parties, including UNP Leader and Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremasinghe, as well as leaders of the Tamil National Alliance and the Ceylon Workers' Congress.

On Thursday, the last day of her visit Ms. Rao will be hosted for breakfast by the Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Prof. G.L. Peiris. She will hold further meetings with delegations of other political parties as well before departing for India later in the afternoon, the statement said.