India for political solution in Sri Lanka

With the Tamil Tigers decimated, India on Thursday pledged to support initiatives aimed at finding a permanent political solution in Sri Lanka to ensure equal rights to the Tamil minority.

With the Tamil Tigers decimated, India on Thursday pledged to support initiatives aimed at finding a permanent political solution in Sri Lanka to ensure equal rights to the Tamil minority.

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"We will support initiatives in Sri Lanka which can lead to a permanent political solution of the conflict there, and ensure that all Sri Lankan communities, especially the Tamils, feel secure and enjoy equal rights so that they can lead a life of dignity and self-respect," President Pratibha Patil told a joint session of the Indian parliament.

"India will make appropriate contribution to rehabilitate those affected in the conflict," Patil said.

After Sri Lanka crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last month, New Delhi asked Colombo to address the "root cause of the conflict" with suitable power sharing formula.

India's main focus now is to work with the government of Sri Lanka to provide relief and rehabilitate over 200,000 Tamil civilians displaced by the conflict.