India briefs K’nidhi on Lanka

13 June 2010 01:23 pm

The Indian government’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi this afternoon and briefed him on the recent visit to India by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Indian media reported.

Chidambaram said the Indian government has agreed to provide the Sri Lankan government Rs.1,000 crore (over $200 million) to build 50,000 houses to resettle the internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Queried about the state welcome given to Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda, declared a proclaimed offender under the Indian law, Chidambaram told reporters the union government has no official information about the cases pending against Devananda and he came to know about the cases only from the media.

Meanwhile he also termed the attempt by unknown elements to derail a passenger train in Tamil Nadu yesterday as an extremist act and hoped police would catch the culprits.

Chidambaram said: 'Along with the police, the intelligence agencies are also working to nab the culprits.'

Passengers of the Rockfort Express and the Salem Express had a narrow escape when a blast, blamed on critics of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, destroyed three feet of rail track in Villupuram district early Saturday.