India, Lanka sign seven pacts, discuss resettlement of Tamils

New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) India and Sri Lanka Wednesday
inked seven pacts, ranging from security to development, and
discussed steps being taken to rehabilitate displaced Tamils,
a process which New Delhi wants to be expedited.
During wide-ranging talks here, Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapaksa briefed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
about his government's efforts to resettle nearly three lakh
Tamils displaced due to the war with LTTE.
Singh is understood to have emphasised on speeding up
the process of resettlement and devolution of political powers
to ethnic Tamils.
The two leaders also discussed a host of bilateral and
international issues, including an expansion of economic ties,
energy security and increased cooperation in areas of
development and counter-terrorism.
After the meeting, seven pacts were signed to boost
bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including
security, power, railways and cultural exchange.
Two MoUs were inked on the transfer of sentenced persons
and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters that aim at
enhancing security cooperation between the two countries.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on interconnecting
electricity grids of the two countries could mean supply of
1,000 MW of power that will go a long way in improving the
situation in Sri Lanka which continues to suffer due to
war-ravaged electricity infrastructure.
A pact on laying Talaimannar-Madhu rail link was also
signed. Increased development cooperation was reflected across
other pacts that included an MoU on special projects and
setting up of a women's trade facilitation and community
learning centre by SEWA, an Ahmadabad-based NGO.
Rajapaksa arrived in India on a four-day visit on
Tuesday evening, his first trip after his sweeping electoral
victories in January this year.
An estimated 70,000 displaced Tamils still continue to
live in relief camps even after a year of Sri Lankan army
crushing the insurgency led by LTTE.
Although it had promised to resettle all 300,000 war
displaced within six months of defeating the LTTE, the
deadline for closure of relief camps housing the refugees has
been extended to August by the Rajapaksa government. PTI