All-party delegation to meet visiting Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa

Chennai, June 7 (ANI): Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam party has decided to lead an all-party delegation and call on the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his ensuing visit to India.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meet of the senior DMK leaders here on Monday.

The all-pary delegation would comprise Union Ministers K S Elangovan, T R Baalu, Kanimozhi and Helen Davidson (DMK), Sudarsana Natchiappan, J M Haroon, K S Azhagiri (Congress party) and Thol Thirumavalavan (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi).

Briefing mediapersons about his party's decision senior DMK leader T K S Elangovan said: "The prime issue is that the people who were languishing in the camps, most of the people were sent back to their camps but there are still people who are there in the camps, who have to be sent back to their houses and rehabilitated. So the first exercise is the rehabilitation of the people in the camps. The second exercise would be political settlement for the issue. Now that there is no war, the government should come forward for a political amicable and an acceptable political settlement."

He also informed DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had earlier written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for early rehabilitation and reconstruction measures of internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to arrive on a State visit to India on June 8.

The all-party delegation would request the Sri Lankan President to initiate necessary steps and expedite the process of rehabilitation of the displaced Tamilians in Sri Lanka. (ANI)