INDIA-LANKA 2LST

Kaur described the 10-member parliamentary delegation's
recent meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa as
"successful".
However, Thol Thirumavalavan, the leader of Viduthali
Chiruthaigal Katchi, belatedly took a different stand from the
rest of the delegation calling for sanctions.
"No one can tolerate the sufferings of Tamils in the
camps. I am at a loss to understand why countries, including
India, continue to be mere spectators to this tragedy," he
said.
Kaur, however, maintained that Colombo was sticking to
its promise that internally displaced Tamils would be
rehabilitated within 180 days, and this would be followed by a
initiating democratic process for the local governments.
"We are happy to note that that on the 16th itself (the
day she was in Sri Lanka) there were 2500 refugees were sent
back and within a week they were planning to send back
50,000.....I believe they are doing it," she said.
India had already given 500 crores for humanitarian
assistance to Sri Lanka, and set up a hospital in the town
Vavuniya, which is staffed with 60 persons that has performed
over 20,000 surgeries.
More aid is on the way, according to Kaur, who declared
that New Delhi will be committing another 500 crores. PTI