Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today called on Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed with him bilateral relations and the issue of resettlement of the war displaced Tamils.
An official in the President's office described the breakfast meeting here as cordial.
He said Mukherjee discussed with Rajapaksa issues pertaining to global economy during the meeting before proceeding to Kandy, 115km North East of Colombo.
At Kandy, Mukherjee will visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic before returning to India.
During his meeting with Rajapaksa, Mukherjee discussed the current political situation in the country and issues relating to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) in relief camps in the north, the Daily Mirror online reported.
Mukherjee, who delivered the 4th Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture here said yesterday that Sri Lanka should find a political solution for the Tamil issue as a sequel to the victory over Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and ensure that every stakeholder gains from the settlement irrespective of religion and ethnicity.
Some 1,43,161 IDPs are still living in welfare camps in the North and the East, Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said recently.
The government has claimed resettlements were taking place every day.
