Govt Monitoring Indian Aid to Displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka

by Press Trust of India, August 25, 2010

With members in Lok Sabha alleging that Indian aid was not reaching the displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka, government today said it was continuously monitoring the issue based on periodic assessment of the situation.

"Doubts have been expressed whether the beneficiaries are receiving the aid sent by India. We are heavily dependent on the International Red Cross the UN Commission on refugees (to send assistance) ... We are continuously monitoring the situation on the basis of periodic assessments," external affairs minister SM Krishna said in reply to a calling attention on the rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils.

He rejected a demand by members of the AIADMK, CPI, CPI(M) and MDMK for sending an all-party parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka to study the problems being faced by the Sri Lankan Tamils, saying, "I don't think the time is ripe for it now."

Replying to issues raised by members of these parties and the DMK, he said New Delhi has impressed upon Colombo to work towards a "just and fair settlement" of all outstanding issues involving Sri Lankan Tamils.

All participants in the discussion expressed serious concern over the plight of the IDPs and asked the government what it intended to do as the money and relief material sent by India was "not being spent properly" and "without any accountability". The MPs included TR Baalu (DMK) and M Thambidurai (AIADMK).

Maintaining that prime minister Manmohan Singh had raised the issue during the recent visit of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse here, Krishna said, "We will stay engaged with Sri Lanka" on issues relating to building further on the
13th Amendment adopted by Sri Lankan Parliament which gave effect to the devolution provisions of the Indo-Lanka Accord of July 1987.

The minister said the settlement, "acceptable under the ambit of 13th Amendment and beyond", should be implemented so that peace and tranquility can prevail in Sri Lanka.

Krishna said he would visit Sri Lanka by the end of this month to study the situation facing the Sri Lankan Tamils Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other issues. A senior ministry official would also go to Colombo before him.