Sri Lanka assures India of security of ethnic Tamils

New Delhi, Oct 26 : Sri Lanka today assured India that it will ensure the safety and security of ethnic Tamils in the Island nation and that it would allow Indian medical aid to the affected people in the country's embattled north.

Basil Rajapaksa, Special Advsior of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday to discuss the issue of ethnic Tamils in the island nation.

The Lankan envoy apprised Mukherjee of the steps being taken by the government to ensure that the rights of ethnic Tamils are not compromised during the ongoing military offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Basil also met Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon this morning.

After the meeting, Basil told reporters, "Every assurance we have given (to) look after the human behaviour needs and whichever way we can."

Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, assured him that "all necessary measures" are being taken to ensure safety and well being of the Tamil community in the island nation.

Earlier, the Union Government had asked Colombo to ensure that the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka do not get enmeshed in the hostilities and that their safety is not compromised after serious concern were raised over deteriorating humanitarian situation in the island nation.

ANI