REFUGEE

Sri Lanka today said all displaced Tamil civilians, currently lodged in relief camps, will be resettled by January 10 next year and efforts for a political solution to the Tamil question will be initiated immediately after the presidential elections thereA Sri Lankan delegation consisting of Senior Presidential Adviser Basil Rajapaksa, President's Secretary Lalit Weeratunga and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa met Minister of External Affairs S M Krishna to discuss issues related to the resettlement of Tamil civilians. "The discussion was very good. It was a very cordial meeting," Basil told reporters here.

He said the Tamil civilians living in the camps in northern Sri Lanka have all the democratic rights. "They are going to vote," was his refrain when asked whether they will be given constitutional rights before the polls.

Asked about the political solution to the Tamil question, Basil said, "We have very firm understanding. We assure we will see the task (of political solution) immediately after the presidential elections... All constitutional amendments needed for the political solution will be made."

The Sri Lankan leader also said that "Sri Lanka will stand with India" in all the interests of Indian government and its security concerns. At the same time he maintained that the Indian government did not raise the issue of any of its security concerns in the meeting.