India to appoint a Special Envoy on Sri Lanka?

In the wake an official visit to Sri Lanka by Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, scheduled for October, speculation is rife that India is to appoint a special envoy to Sri Lanka entrusted with the permanent task of assessing issues faced by Tamils and the progress of development in the island’s war-ravaged North and East.

However recent Indian media reports speculated that Union Government of India was considering in appointing a special envoy to Sri Lanka who was “specially deputed to solve the Tamil issue” and added that this “may become a permanent diplomatic fixture in Indo-Lanka relations."

The names of Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram or Former Union Minister TR Baalu have been reportedly forwarded to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a decision.

Meanwhile, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. M. Krishna is to visit country’s conflict-affected areas to evaluate the rehabilitation and development needs in the region, raise issues faced by the country’s Tamils and to discuss problems faced by fishermen of both countries.

The decision for Krishna’s visit was reportedly taken after he met with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai on August 18.

Sri Lanka recently agreed with India setting up two new consulates- one in Jaffna (Northern Province) and the other in the emerging southern port city of Hambanthota, as a means of reinforcing its presence in the island.

Indian FM S M Krishna to visit Sri Lanka next month India vows to look beyond rehabilitation of Tamils.

India’s External Affairs Secretary, Nirupama Rao who was recently in Sri Lanka on a three day visit, expressed her government’s satisfaction over the progress in the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and rehabilitation activities implemented in the North, when she met President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"We have to look beyond rehabilitation now, we are looking at development, livelihoods, at communications, all these aspects, in an integrated manner where we can help the people of the Northern and the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka," she said.

- Asian Tribune -