Statement in Rajya Sabha by External Affairs Minister, in response to Calling Attention Notice tabled by Dr. V. Maitreyan, MP, Rajya Sabha and others regarding "Plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka"
February 27, 2013
- I rise to respond to the House on the Calling Attention Notice regarding the "Plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka”.
- At the outset, I would like to reiterate to this august House that the Government fully shares the sentiments of the Hon’ble Members of Parliament regarding the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamil community.
- Since the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka in May 2009, which left around 3,00,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in camps in Northern Sri Lanka and general devastation of infrastructure, the focus and highest and most immediate priority for
the Government of India has been on the welfare and well being of the Tamils citizens of Sri Lanka, their relief and rehabilitation and the reconstruction of infrastructure in the affected areas.
- As the Hon’ble Members of the Parliament are aware, the Prime Minister announced in June 2009 a grant of Rs. 500 crores for relief, rehabilitation and resettlement work in Sri Lanka. Since then, the Government has expended Rs. 68.96 crores in the financial
year 2009-10, Rs. 93.86 crores in 2010-11 and Rs 181.94 crores in 2011-12. In the Current Financial Year (2012-13), an amount of Rs. 290 crores has been allocated for this purpose.
- The initial phase of Indian assistance involved massive humanitarian relief efforts for IDPs in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. This included the dispatch of 2.5 lakh family relief packs; deployment of an emergency field hospital; dispatch
of consignments of medicines; gifting of more than 10,400 metric tons of shelter material and 4 lakh cement bags; deployment of de-mining teams in Northern Sri Lanka; and holding of artificial limb fitment camps in Jaffna and Vavuniya in Northern Sri Lanka.
I am happy to convey to the House that according to information available to us, all the 3,00,000 IDPs have been resettled and the last IDP camp, Menik Farms, was formally closed in September last year. It is important that IDPs be allowed to return to their
original homes.
- Subsequently, the Government took up various projects for the rehabilitation of IDPs and reconstruction of the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. To review the agricultural activities in Northern Sri Lanka, India gifted 95,000 agricultural starter
packs, seeds and 500 tractors for the use of IDPs. Government gifted 55 buses to Northern, Eastern and Central Provinces of Sri Lanka. Projects related to the development of rail and port infrastructure, connectivity and transportation, education, public health,
housing, vocational training and economic revival were taken up.
- The project for the construction of 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka, mainly for IDPs, was announced in June 2010. This is one of the largest grant assistance projects implemented by the Government outside India. I am happy to inform this August House that the
Pilot Project for the construction of 1000 houses that started in April 2011 was completed in August 2012. It may be noted that these houses were required to be constructed in largely inaccessible areas in the aftermath of a violent conflict. In many cases,
the sites had to be freed of mines and other unexploded ordinance. An MoU on the modalities for the remaining 49,000 houses (based on Cabinet approval accorded in December 2011) was signed in January 2012. The project was launched on the ground on 2nd October
2012, and since then 8039 beneficiaries under the ‘owner driven model’ have already received the first installment of payments. The reconstruction/repair of 4000 out of the 6000 houses under the "Agency Driven’ Model’ has been initiated. The phase of remaining
2,000 houses under "Agency-Driven” model in Northern and Eastern Provinces is to be implemented during 2013-14.
- In addition, the Government has extended a Line of Credit of about US $ 800 million for the restoration of Northern Railway Lines. Projects in this regard are progressing as per schedule and expected to be completed by December 2013. India is also assisting
in the rehabilitation of the Kanakesanthurai (KKS) harbour, restoration of Duraiappa stadium and construction of a Cultural Centre at Jaffna. Two vocational training centres at Batticaloa and Nuwara Eliya have already been established with Indian assistance.
- It may kindly be recalled that a 12-member Joint Parliamentary delegation, led by the Hon’ble Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, visited Sri Lanka from 16-21 April 2012. The delegation had an extensive programme involving visits to different parts
of Sri Lanka, including Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Kankesanthurai, Kalutara and Batticaloa, where projects are being implemented under Government of India assistance. At their request, the delegation also visited the camp for Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) at the Menik Farms where they interacted with IDPs and the local administration. They were also able to discuss the resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs and efforts towards national reconciliation and political devolution in Sri Lanka at meetings
with the President and Ministers of the Sri Lankan Government. During the visit, houses for IDPs, built with Indian assistance, were handed over to the beneficiaries. The delegation also gifted bicycles and participated in formal ceremonies for the handing
over of hospitals, schools and vocational training centres rehabilitated under Government of India assistance.
- I would like to underline that our constructive engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka and considerable assistance programme has contributed to the reconstruction and development of the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka.
Hon’ble Chairman,
- Regarding the issue of a political solution in Sri Lanka, Government is of the view that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue a lasting political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, acceptable to
all communities in Sri Lanka, including Tamils. It has to, however, be kept in mind that this is a long standing issue and that Sri Lanka is going through its internal processes. The sooner Sri Lanka can come to a political arrangement within which all the
communities feel comfortable, and which works for all of them, the better. Government will do whatever it can to support this process.
- Our emphasis, in this context, has been to persuade the Sri Lankan Government to take forward the process of broader dialogue with all parties, including the Tamil National Alliance, and show concrete movement towards a meaningful devolution of powers,
including the implementation of the 13th Amendment and beyond. India has conveyed to Sri Lanka on a number of occasions the urgent and imperative need for expeditious steps towards genuine national reconciliation, including investigations into allegation of
human rights violations, restoration of normalcy in affected areas, reduction of ‘high security zones’, accountability for the list of missing persons and the redress of humanitarian concerns of affected families.
- During discussions at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva in November, 2012, the Government called upon Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments made to the international community during the UPR 2008 and on subsequent occasions for
the implementation of the 13th Amendment and building upon it so as to achieve a meaningful devolution package; urged expeditious action to take forward the political process for early political settlement; urged that elections to the Northern Provincial Council
be held as early as feasible; called for effective and time bound implementation of the constructive recommendations contained in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report; and for independent and credible investigations to be conducted
in respect of allegations of Human Rights violations and incidents involving loss of civilian life brought out in the LLRC Report.
- Hon’ble Members of Parliament would recall that the Government voted in favour of a Resolution entitled ‘Promotion, Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka’ tabled by the United States at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in March 2012.
I would like to inform the august House that we understand that a follow up procedural Resolution on Sri Lanka is likely to be proposed by USA for consideration at the forthcoming session of the UNHRC in Geneva in March 2013. At this juncture, we would encourage
the United States and Sri Lanka to directly engage on the draft resolution and aim for a mutually acceptable outcome. Needless to add, our decision on a potential resolution in the forthcoming meeting of the Human Rights Council will await the outcome of these
efforts and would depend on the substance of the resolution finally tabled. Government will continue to remain engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka to advance its objective, namely, the achievement of a future for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka marked
by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect.
Hon’ble Chairman,
- Some Members have expressed concern over incidents of attack and apprehension of India fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy in waters between India and Sri Lanka. Allow me to reiterate, at the outset, that the welfare, safety and security of our fishermen have
always received the highest priority by Government.
- In response to reports of incidents of attacks on Indian fishermen, the Government, through diplomatic channels, immediately takes up the matter of their expeditious release and repatriation with the Sri Lankan authorities. As a result of these efforts,
presently, there are no Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody on fisheries related charges. However, some Indian nationals have been arrested in Sri Lankan waters on charges of smuggling narcotics and contraband. These include the five fishermen detained
on 29 November 2011. Officials from our High Commission in Colombo and Consulate in Jaffna are in regular touch with the detained Indian nationals and are extending all possible consular assistance to them.
- During my meeting with the External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Rim - Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) Council of Ministers Meeting in November 2012 and the India Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting in
January 2013, I reiterated our position that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances and that all fishermen should be treated in a humane manner.
- At the same time, the need for creating greater awareness among our fishermen to avoid crossing over into Sri Lankan waters for their own safety and security has been felt. We remain engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that fishermen on both
sides can continue to pursue their livelihood in a safe, secure and sustainable manner.
Hon’ble Chairman,
- On the occasion of the 8th India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi in January 2013, I highlighted the need for continued dialogue between the Government of Sri Lanka and the representatives of the Sri Lankan Tamil community and expressed the
hope that there would be early progress on meaningful devolution building upon the 13th Amendment and leading to national reconciliation.
- The Government remains engaged with Government of Sri Lanka to take forward the process of national reconciliation, and in a spirit of partnership, to arrive at a solution that meets substantially the aspiration of the Tamil community for equality, justice,
peace and dignity.
Thank you.
New Delhi
February 27, 2013