India will help create a conducive situation for the Sri Lankan army to withdraw from the island’s Northern Province as there can be peace only after demilitarisation, India’s Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan said.
He told presspersons in Thanjavur that Sri Lanka went ahead with the conduct of the Northern Provincial Council election as scheduled only due to the Indian government’s pressure.
“Now, the newly elected Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, C.V. Wigneswaran, has said his first demand is that the Sri Lanka military should leave the area. The Indian government will create a situation for that. Then only peace will return there,” Mr. Vasan said.
He added that India will urge Sri Lanka to treat the Tamils there with dignity and equal rights.
Mr. Vasan also said the Central government was keen on implementing the Sethudamudram shipping canal project.
“The United Progressive Alliance government has decided to implement the project for economic reasons and without any damage to the environment and marine wealth and fisheries,” Mr. Vasan said. – The Hindu
