[Oman Tribune]

JAFFNA (Sri Lanka) The country’s External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Thursday underlined the need for Sri Lanka to devolve powers to Tamil-dominated provinces, envisaged under a key constitutional amendment, in a “very visible manner.”

Wrapping up his four-day visit to Sri Lanka during which he visited the war-ravaged parts of the country and unveiled rehabilitation programmes sponsored by New Delhi, Krishna said he was satisfied with the talks he had with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other leaders.

“I think it goes without saying that Article 13 plus (should) be implemented in a very visible manner. So, till then, naturally we will keep looking forward to the implementation of the assurances given to the people of Sri Lanka and during the talks we have had,” he said on his way back home. “We are looking forward to the implementation of the Article 13.”

Krishna became the first Indian politician to visit the IPKF memorial in Colombo and the former de-facto capital of the Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of Kilinochchi in northern Lanka.

The minister said he was reassured by Rajapaksa that he was committed to implementing the amendment to end the ethnic crisis.

Krishna also won the hearts of the Sri Lankan Tamils with the rehabilitation programmes of the Indian government.

Hundreds of Tamils cheered Krishna as he gifted advanced medical equipment to a district hospital, unveiled a reconstructed school and handed over houses built for some of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) among the 300,000 civilians who survived the conflict.

Under the rehabilitation programmes, more hospitals will be equipped and schools and houses will be built to restore livelihood, bring back normalcy and revive the local economy that was shattered for over a generation due to the civil war.

Committing more financial assistance to the reconstruction and development of the province, Krishna told the local Tamils that the Indian government would build a modern cultural centre at Jaffna.

“A suitable site has been identified by the local government for locating the cultural centre to preserve and perpetuate the rich tradition of the Tamils who have historical and social association with our people, especially in southern India,” Krishna said at a function here where he gifted about 10,000 bicycles to boys, girls and youth.

Krishna also unveiled the first phase of a railway project in southern Sri Lanka being built with Indian financial aid.

The 50km rail track from Galle to Induruwa was inaugurated at a function at the Galle railway station, 116km from Colombo.

The first phase of the project comprising the 42-km Galle-Matara section was completed in February 2011.

“The Indian government is committed to work with the Sri Lankan government for consolidation of peace, prosperity and development of this country and enrichment of our bilateral ties,” Krishna said.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris, Transport Minister Kumar Welgama, his deputy Rohan Dissanayake, Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha and Sri Lanka’s envoy to India Prasad Kariyawasa were present on the occasion.