Sri Lanka Vows Political Resolution After Military Action

Sri Lanka: has committed to moving on to a political resolution process after the military campaign. This formed the core of
discussions between foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa during Menon's two-day visit to Colombo.

India has been holding Rajapaksa to his word that the government would implement the 13th amendment for further devolution of powers to the provinces.

Sri Lanka will also be the next venue for a meeting of Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers during the forthcoming SAARC foreign ministers' meeting in early February. India is expected to pile on a lot of diplomatic pressure on Pakistan — this time with the help of other SAARC members — to Pakistan to act against terrorists.

Sources said the post Mumbai developments were discussed at length with the Sri Lankan leadership.

The MEA spokesperson said, "The foreign secretary urged early movement towards a peacefully negotiated political settlement in the island, including in the North. He reiterated the importance of a political understanding within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, wherein all communities, including the Tamil community, live in peace and dignity."

Menon met the entire spectrum of leaders including the foreign secretary Palitha Kohona, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and senior adviser Basil Rajapaksa all family members of the president.

The MEA said, Menon "conveyed India's concerns at the humanitarian situation in the northern part of Sri Lanka and the need to ensure the safety and security of the internally displaced civilian population."

India has already announced civilian supplies to the displaced civilians in the north. The first consignment of approximately 1700 tonnes comprising 80,000 ready-to-use family packs containing food, clothing and personal hygiene items arrived in Sri Lanka within three weeks and has already been distributed.

Menon handed over a second installment amounting to approximately SLR 40 million.

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