Aug 31, Colombo: The visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao today told the Tamil people in Northern Sri Lanka to look to the future when she and her Indian delegation began their tour in the war-battered region.

Rao, who is on a three-day visit to the island to observe the progress in resettlement of displaced Tamils, began her tour with a visit to Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, and Jaffna.

During the visit she was accompanied by the High Commissioner of India Ashok K. Kantha, Governor of the Northern Province, Major General (Rtd) G.A. Chandrasiri, and senior officials of the governments of India and Sri Lanka.

A press statement issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo said that in Vavuniya, Rao received a briefing on the resettlement situation from Major General Kamal Gunaratne, the Security Forces Commander of the Wanni.

She then visited Menik Farm, where she met with a number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their families who still await resettlement. She also visited their homes and witnessed their conditions of stay.

In a public meeting at the Urban Council Hall in Vavuniya, Foreign Secretary met with another group of IDPs. She assured the IDPs of the Indian goernment's continued commitment to assist them to rebuild their lives. IDPs welcomed India's announcement to build 50,000 houses. Foreign Secretary underlined that these houses will be built with local participation and will boost the local employment. Foreign Secretary also met with the Government Agent (GA) of Vavuniya, Mrs. PSM Charles and discussed other possible areas where India could assist in the process of resettlement.

Rao next visited Mahilankulam near Omanthai, a site where the Horizon (ex-servicemen) Group of India is conducting demining operations in a heavily mined area that constituted the no-man's land between the former Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) of the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE. India is funding three Horizon demining teams, in addition to four teams from Sarvatra, another Indian demining group working in Sri Lanka.

Before leaving Vavuniya, Ms.Nirupama Rao also distributed another consignment of Indian assistance consisting of agricultural toolkits, roofing sheets and cement bags among recently resettled IDPs, at the Agrarian Services Centre in Omanthai.

In Kilinochchi Foreign Secretary met with local army and civil officials who briefed her on the progress of resettlement. She also met with recently resettled families in the Kilinochchi area and distributed toolkits, cement bags and roofing sheets to them.

In Jaffna, Ms. Rao met with local officials who briefed her on the situation in the Jaffna Peninsula and the resettlement priorities of the district. Foreign Secretary was accorded a warm public reception at the Jaffna Public Library where the Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, Douglas Devananda and the Mayor of Jaffna were also present. At the Library, she also met with a broad spectrum of civil society leaders and heard from them about the recent developments following the end of armed conflict. They underscored the need for India to be involved in the political process to ensure a permanent settlement.

During her interaction in Jaffna, Foreign Secretary underlined that India stood with Sri Lanka in responding to the challenges posed by the task of resettlement and rehabilitation of the large number of IDPs resulting from the end of armed conflict in 2009. In particular, she referred to the challenge posed by housing and noted that India had pledged to build 50,000 houses in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and that Jaffna would be assisted through signature projects such as the Jaffna Cultural Center, Jaffna Teaching Hospital and the Duraiappah Stadium.

She emphasized that it was time to look to the future for the sake of the coming generations and underlined that India had always accorded high priority to the welfare of the people of Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka.

Foreign Secretary also visited the site of the Cultural Centre that will be constructed with Indian assistance. She also distributed Indian assistance to a group of recently resettled IDPs.

Ms. Rao will visit Mullaitivu and Trincomalee tomorrow (Sept 01) before returning to Colombo for further meetings with Sri Lankan dignitaries. She will also call on the President of Sri Lanka before her departure to India.