Lankan Tamils' problems: PM will take up with Rajapakshe

Chennai, Nov 16 (UNI) Expressing concern over the recent killing of innocent Tamils by Sri Lankan armed forces, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said he will take up the issue with the island nation's President Mahinda Rajapakse when he visits India on November 26.

In a reply to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's letter on the killing and injuring of hundreds of Tamils in Sri Lanka by armed forces, the Prime Minister said he would convey India's concern in an appropriate fashion when he meets Mr Rajapakse next.

The Foreign Secretary would visit Colombo to convey India's concern to the Sri Lankan Government and the need to provide Tamils there the same rights and privileges granted to all other citizens.

'I also propose to convey this to President Rajapakse in an appropriate fashion when I next meet him,' he said.

Mr Rajapakse, who will be in India on a two-day visit from November 26, is scheduled to inaugurate the Asian Mayors' Conference at Dehra Dun and also meet senior political leaders in New Delhi.

The Prime Minister added that India would dispatch humanitarian assistance to Tamils in Sri Lanka, taking note of the situation in the northern and eastern parts of the island.

He said 5,200 tonne rice, 1,500 tonne sugar and 300 tonne milk powder would be dispatched.

The ongoing fighting between Lankan forces and LTTE and closure of Highway A-9 connecting Tamil areas to Jaffna had led to severe scarcity of essential commodities in the Tamil-dominated northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.

More UNI AKN MSJ HS1855