Press Briefings

Statement by Foreign Secretary on Sri Lanka

29/01/2009

Statement by Foreign Secretary Mr. Shivshankar Menon on Sri Lanka

“At 2100 hrs earlier today, President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka announced that for the next 48 hours, he would urge the LTTE to allow free movement of civilians to ensure their safety and security. And for all the civilians, he has assured a safe passage to a secure environment and also assured all those living in the northern and conflict areas in particular, that vacating the LTTE held areas will ensure their physical security and enable peace, freedom and rights for all citizen of the country.

We understand that necessary instructions to this effect, to enable the implementation of these steps, have been given. Government of India welcomes this important announcement and hopes that with the implementation of these steps, the condition of the civilians caught-up in the conflict, will improve.

As you know, the External Affairs Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee had visited Sri Lanka on the 27th January and this was one of the issues that had been discussed at some length. We are happy to see the steps that are being taken by Sri Lanka and we hope that all these civilians would now be able to move to safety”.

New Delhi
January 29, 2009