India to expedite resettlement projects for Tamils: Rao

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who arrived here on Monday on a three-day trip, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at his residence.

She told the president that India would expedite the projects undertaken by her country, including the housing project for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and reconstruction of the railway line in the North.

Both President Rajapaksa and the Foreign Secretary re-affirmed the strong bonds of friendship and neighbourly ties between the two countries.

Rao conveyed Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's good wishes to the President, a presidential release said.

Rajapaksa said Indian investors' interest in Sri Lanka was rapidly growing, and that several leading entrepreneurs have expressed their desire in setting up business in the country.

During the 45-minute meeting, Rao expressed satisfaction at the progress in the resettlement of IDPs and development activities of the North, the release said.

She had visited Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and other places in North and East and had seen that conditions were quite satisfactory, it said.

Rajapaksa said IDPs and other persons of the area should be involved  in the projects, especially in the housing sector, so that they would have a sense of ownership in them.

Minister of External Affairs G L Peiris, Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga, Treasury Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara, Sri Lanka High Commissioner in India, Prasad Kariyawasam and Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kanta were present during the meeting this evening.