Addressing the gathering, Krishna said that Sri Lanka needed to continue with a meaningful peace and development process in the North and East through the 13th Amendment.
He said that Sri Lanka has come through its most difficult period in its history.
He noted that while the conflict that ended had impacted on all sections of the population, it did so disproportionately on the civilian population of the Northern Province.
"India has tried to contribute whatever it can to alleviate to miseries and difficulties the people in Northern Province underwent��.We are now looking at the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Northern Province and supplement the efforts of the Sri Lankan Government," Krishna said.
"We will stay engaged to revive the livelihood of those in the Northern Province and help people rebuild their lives," he promised.
The visiting Minister assured that India will remain committed to the longer term reconstruction of the North.
Later today the Minister is scheduled to launch an Indian government-funded pilot project to build 50,000 houses in the North and East.
He will also inaugurate the work to be carried out by an Indian company, IRCON, on the reconstruction of the Northern Railway from Medawachchiya to Madhu. Work will also begin simultaneously on the Madhu-Talaimannar and Omanthai-Pallai railway lines.
Recalling the times when there were direct flight from Palaly to Trichy and a ferry service from Thalaimannar to Rameswaram, Krishna said it is time to revive those links.
In view of reviving old ties and linkages of connectivity that existed between the two countries, India has recently completed negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding on resuming ferry services, both from Colombo to Tuticorin and Thalaimannar to Rameswaram, Minister Krishna said.
The old pier at Thalaimannar, will be rebuilt with the Indian assistance, he said adding that India has already started a project to rehabilitate and reconstruct the Kankasanthurai harbor and restore it as the hub of Jaffna's commercial lifeline.
Krishna also assured to revive the cultural heights of Jaffna. The newly opened Consulate General of India will assist in setting up the Jaffna Cultural Centre and restore the Durayappah Stadium.
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