‘Tamils high on India’s priority’

COLOMBO: The Indian Foreign Secretary and Special Envoy Nirupama Rao said in Jaffna on Tuesday that India “always gave high priority” to the Tamils of North and East Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a public reception at the Jaffna Public Library, Rao said that it was time for the Tamils to look at the future for the sake of the coming generations.

Earlier, Rao heard the representatives of the Tamil National Alliance  and other civil society leaders, who underscored the need for India to be involved in the political process to ensure a permanent settlement of the Tamil question.

Rao visited the Manik Farm refugee camp near Vavuniya, and assured the refugees that the 50,000 houses that India would be building for them would give a fillip to local employment.

She distributed cement bags, roofing kits and agricultural implements to the refugees at Omanthai as well as Kilinochchi, which she visited later in the day. She inspected de-mining operations carried out by an Indian NGO ‘Horizon’ in Mahilankulam, near Vavuniya.

In Jaffna, Rao met with the Northern Province Governor Maj Gen (Retd) G A Chandrasiri, the Jaffna district Government Agent, Imelda Sukumar, top officials, and representatives of NGOs.

Rao is to visit Trincomalee, the capital of the Eastern Province, on Wednesday, and meet the Government Adm Mohan Wijewickrema and Chief Minister S Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan.

INDIAN PROJECTS IN NORTH: India is building a rail line linking Omanthai with Palai in the mid-Wanni region, and another linking Madu with Talaimannar in West Wanni, at a cost of US$ 425 million.India will be building 50,000 houses for refugees in the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Jaffna. It is also involved in improving the Kankesanthurai harbour and the Palaly airport. India has a visa office in Jaffna and is to set up a Consulate soon.

INDIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN EAST: As on date, the only project India has in the Eastern Province is the proposed 500 MW coal-fired power plant in Sampur in Trincomalee district.

But, this has become controversial as a result of the displacement of about 300 Tamil families. The High Security Zone within which Sampur falls has displaced a total of 4,000 Tamil families.

Sources in the Eastern provincial government told Express that the Indian Foreign Secretary would be told about the need for Indian assistance to build houses in the war affected regions of Muthur East, Sampur and Ichchilampattu and Panichankerni.“We will request Indian assistance for the rehabilitation of the displaced Tamils of Sampur also,” an official said.