Indian minister warned of economic consequences of the prolonged conflict

Indian Finance minister P Chidambaram said :"A negotiated political solution that involves credible devolution of powers is the only way out".

The minister made these remarks delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar memorial lecture at Colombo's BMICH.

Kadiragamar memorial lecture

Although India is curently not directly involved in mediating between the Sri Lanka government and the leaders of the Tamil population, he said, that does not necessarily mean India is not concerned on the conflict.

Witness the happy conclusion reached in Northern Ireland Indian minister P Chidambaram

India insisted from the beginning, minister Chidambaram said, that Sri Lanka's conflict could not be solved through armed conflict.

"Neither side can finally prevail over the other through conflict. Peace must be forged at the negotiating table," he said.

Northern Ireland

The senior Indian minister also held discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa before leaving the island.

Citing examples from other conflicts of the world, Indian finance minister said after decades of violence, Northern Ireland's conflict was resolved through negotiations.

He said: "Witness the happy conclusion reached in Northern Ireland".

He insisted India's commitment to unity, sovereignty and territorial intergrity of Sri Lanka.

India has emphasised that the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, arising out of a sense of discrimination and a sense of negation of cultural, linguistic and human rights should be resolved through a negotiated political settlement that includes a credible devolution of powers Indian minister P Chidambaram

"India has made this clear on every occasion. At the same time, India has emphasised that the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, arising out of a sense of discrimination and a sense of negation of cultural, linguistic and human rights should be resolved through a negotiated political settlement that includes a credible devolution of powers".

Stressing that "senseless acts of terror on the one side or planned operations by the armed forces on the other side will only result in more death and destruction," the finance minister warned that the violence will have secvere adverse effects on the economy in Sri Lanka.