National NEWS
Rajapaksa Visit: Singh Presses for Settlement of Displaced Tamils
June 9, 2010 Visionmp.com news service
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today held discussions with visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the plight of displaced Tamils, apprising him of India’s concerns and pressing for a political settlement of the decade-old ethnic issue in the island country, said media reports.
According to reports, the discussions between the two leaders also included a host of bilateral and global issues, including an expansion of economic ties and increased cooperation in areas of development and counter-terrorism, reports said.
India and Sri Lanka has inked seven pacts and discussed devolution of powers to powers to the provinces and starting negotiations with Tamil groups, said media reports. The seven agreements include the pact on interconnection of electricity grids, railways, a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and MoU on transfer of settled prisoners. In addition, one MoU was signed on renewing on SDP schemes, two MoUs on renewing the cultural exchange programme.
Rajapaksa began his state visit to India with a ceremonial reception accorded to him at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace.
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna met Rajapaksa and discussed issues pertaining to rehabilitation of nearly 300,000 war displaced Tamils and political resettlement plan for Tamil and Muslim minorities in the island country.
Rajapaksa arrived in India on a four-day visit on Tuesday evening, his first trip to New Delhi since being re-elected Sri Lanka’s president in January this year.
(Based on internet reports)
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