Kumaratunga lauds India's role in rehabilitation

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on Tuesday noted India's efforts in rehabilitation in the war-torn areas of Sri Lanka.

"While Norway is playing an essential facilitatory role, others - such as India, Japan, the European Union, the United States and some international non-governmental organisations - are deeply involved in the development and rehabilitation process of the war-affected areas," she said.

She also noted that these countries are engaged in poverty-alleviation programs in the rest of the country as well.

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Kumaratunga said that her government has implemented a series of programs to engage the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the militant group fighting for a Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka, in comprehensive peace negotiations for the past 10 years though the process had its share of both successes and setbacks.

The Norwegian government has been playing a crucial role in the negotiation process for nearly six years. "We have taken the process forward with the active participation of Norway, even though at present the LTTE is refusing to return to the negotiating table from which it withdrew nearly 18 months ago," she said