Indian foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon on Saturday discussed the prevailing political situation in the north of Sri Lanka with president Mahinda Rajapaksa
Amid concerns about the humanitarian impact of the war against LTTE in the embattled
north of Sri Lanka, Indian foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon on Saturday discussed the prevailing political situation in the region with president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
During the meeting, which lasted about an hour, the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest, including the proposed next month's SAARC foreign ministers conference in the Island country, officials said.
According to a Sri Lankan government release, the discussion focused on the prevailing political situation, economical issues of concern and multi-lateral relationships
between the two countries.
It added that the president also explained about the facilities provided by the government to refugees fleeing from LTTE-controlled region in the Northern Province to Menon.
Rajapaksa also mentioned about the scheduled development plans in the Northern Province aimed at improving living standards of people in the war-affected region, the release said.
The Indian high commissioner Alok Prasad was also present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, India has assured Sri Lanka that it will continue to work with the Island country in meeting the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in the North.
New Delhi has yesterday announced a second installment of such assistance amounting to about Sri Lankan Rupees 40 million, it said.
Accordingly, a consignment of medicines was handed over by Menon to senior presidential advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa at a simple ceremony yesterday.
Earlier in November, India had sent about 1700 tonnes of relief supplies to civilians and internally displaced persons affected by the conflict in the northern part of the country.
However, Rajapaksa is presently in Kandy to celebrate Pongal.
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