By IANS,
Chennai : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi that his government will do all that it can to enable the Sri Lankan Tamils to live with dignity.
In a letter to Karunanidhi dated July 3 and released to the media here Friday, the prime minister said: “My government will certainly do all that it can to enable the Tamils in Sri Lanka to live a life of dignity and self-respect.”
“We will use our influence and make efforts to help in the restoration of normal life in northern and eastern Sri Lanka through the rapid rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons,” he added.
Citing India’s financial commitment for rehabilitation of Tamils in Sri Lanka, the letter noted: “We have already committed Rs.500 crore for this purpose. Further, as you know, we are committed to assist in the construction of 50,000 houses for internally displaced persons and are also trying to restore normal economic activity in these areas by building infrastructure and promoting sustainable livelihood.”
Inviting Karunanidhi’s views on rehabilitation and achieving a permanent solution for the Sri Lankan Tamil problem, the prime minister said: “I also look forward to receiving your views and advice on ways forward towards the process of genuine reconciliation to resolve the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka once and for all through political agreement that we have consistently advocated.”