Mr. Mukherjee says India is helping rebuilding the north and the east

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lower House of the Indian parliament that the Tamils’ rights should be secured “within the territorial sovereignty and framework of Sri Lanka’s constitution”.

“The ministry of external affairs is working closely with the Sri Lankan government in this regard,” he said.

Presenting the budget proposals, the minister also announced allocation of Rs. Five billion for the rehabilitation of internally displaced people and the reconstruction of the north and the east.

Indian home affairs minister P Chidambaram earlier expressed concerns over the progress of IDP rehabilitation.

He told journalists in his home town last week that Sri Lanka does not have a plan for IDP resettlement.

"It is not satisfied to us. They have to allow independent observers such as Red Cross into the camps. They have to allow foreign journalists," Minister Chidambaram said.