Thank you Mr.
Chairman. I would like to begin by expressing our appreciation
to the Japanese Government for hosting this Conference.
India is pleased to participate
in the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development
in Sri Lanka. We welcome the support extended by the international
community to rehabilitate the people and reconstruct the
economy of Sri Lanka.
India has an important bilateral
aid programme for Sri Lanka and currently extends assistance
amounting to approx. US $ 200 million. The assistance is
utilized to obtain a range of capital goods, food supplies,
education and health services. This programme is intended
to assist communities living in all parts of Sri Lanka.
India is committed to the
unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.
It is our view that there is no solution to the ongoing
conflict other than a political solution. That is why we
support the actions of the Government of Sri Lanka to negotiate
a peaceful resolution that will satisfy the just aspirations
of all the communities in Sri Lanka. India sincerely hopes
that these negotiations would conclude successfully.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
|