Indian envoys meet Sri Lankan President

Colombo, May 21 (ANI): India's National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on Thursday met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and sought a political solution to the Tamil question.

Narayanan and Menon, who met Rajapaksa at a close door breakfast meeting at his Temple Trees residence here, offered India's help in the reconstruction effort following elimination of the LTTE.

According to officials, both sides have discussed post-conflict reconstruction in Sri Lanka following the defeat of the LTTE. There is also a demand for the death certificate of Prabhakaran, which may be used as part of the investigation into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case.

The war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government lasted for over three decades and claimed over a lakh lives. It ended with the death of LTTE supremo V. Prabhakaran in a firefight in northern Sri Lanka three days ago.

India has prepared a Rs. 500 crore rehabilitation package for the displaced people in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister has already announced a Rs. 100-crore relief package for Lankan Tamils in addition to the Rs. 25 crore aid given by Tamil Nadu government.

India has been asking Sri Lanka to take political steps to ensure "effective devolution of power" so that Tamils in the island nation could live with dignity.

Ahead of their visit, Narayanan met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and briefed him about the developments in Sri Lanka.

Narayanan said that India's primary concern is to ensure that Sri Lankan Tamil civilians are taken care of. (ANI)