Tamil Nadu MP delegation returns from Sri Lanka; submits report to CM

Completing its mission of studying first hand the conditions prevailing in the camps housing internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka, the 10-member MPs delegation from Tamil Nadu returned here today and submitted its report to chief minister M Karunanidhi.

Karunanidhi, who came under attack for omission of opposition MPs from the team, was present at the airport to receive the DMK-Congress-VCK delegation, which presented the report to him soon after it landed here after the five-day visit to the island nation.

"We have completed our job. We sought feedback from the Sri Lankan Tamils who appealed to us to prevail upon the Sri Lankan Government to send them back to their homes as early as possible," Congress MP Sudharasana Natchiappan told reporters. He said the delegation handed over its report to Karunanidhi.

The team led by DMK Parliamentary Party Leader TR Baalu had embarked upon the mission amidst rising concerns in Tamil Nadu over the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils lodged in the camps. The delegation visited eight camps housing people displaced by the war between LTTE and Sri Lankan Army in the north, KS Alagiri, a delegation member, said.

The delegation had called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and pressed for speedy resettlement of displaced Tamils. To a query, Alagiri said they would also submit their findings to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. 

Karunanidhi and AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa were involved in a war of words over the delegation visit with the latter terming it as "an eye-wash" since the composition did not reflect an all-party character. Karunanidhi had defended the omission of opposition MPs saying it was not a government-sponsored visit and parties had borne the expenses.

Other opposition parties had also criticised the visit. Speaking to reporters here, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today said the prime minister should have advised the state to include MPs of all parties.

"Sri Lankan Tamils issue is an issue of national concern. It is not an issue of one party or alliance partners," he said expressing surprise over "ignoring" and "avoiding" other parties including the AIADMK, BJP and the Left. He urged the Centre to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government for early resettlement of displaced Tamils and the Lankan Government to honour its promise in this regard.