Discussed with Rajapakse steps for Tamils' rehab: PM to Karuna

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told his government's key partner DMK that he had taken up with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse the steps required for rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils in that country.

In his letter dated June 25 to DMK chief M Karunanidhi in response to the latter's objections to the reported controversial remarks of a Sri Lankan Minister relating to Tamils, Singh said he had discussed this matter also with Rajapakse.

"The issue, and the need for the Sri Lankan government to take steps to rehabilitate the Sri Lankan Tamils were raised by me when I met the President of Sri Lanka on June 21 in Rio de Janeiro."

"I have also stressed the need for appropriate political and other arrangements within Sri Lanka which will enable the Sri Lankan Tamils to live a life of dignity and to feel at home in Sri Lanka," Singh said in the letter released by the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam here.

The DMK chief had written to Prime Minister taking objection to the "highly provocative" remarks reportedly made by Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister Champika Ranawaka warning of a violent backlash against the Tamils in the island.