India has insisted on finding a political solution "beyond 13 amendment"

In a statement to the Indian parliament, Foreign Minister SM Krishna said Sri Lanka's recently concluded military conflict is an opportunity to heal the wounds and for a new beginning.

"We have insisted on Sri Lankan government that full implementation of the 13 amendment (to the constitution) and the Sri Lankan government has promised to do exactly that," Minister Krishna said.

India says it "attaches utmost importance" to the reconstruction and rehabilitation in northern Sri Lanka and do everything possible to help the island.

“Government of India had emphasized to the Sri Lankan Government that the time had indeed come to focus on issues of relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation,” he said.

We have insisted on Sri Lankan government that full implementation of the 13 amendment (to the constitution) and the Sri Lankan government has promised ot do exactly that Minister SM Krishna

The minister has once again expressed India's concern over the plight of the internally displaced people still kept in camps in northern Sri Lanka.

"We have consistently urged the Government of Sri Lanka to quicken the pace of rehabilitation and resettlement. They had agreed that the bulk of the IDPs would be resettled within 180 days," the minister said.

The Sri Lankan government earlier this week partially allowed the IDPs to leave the camps. They were given a time limit to come back to the camps.

Sri Lanka government also says it has already resettled over 100,000 IDPs.

"The government aims to resettle all the IDPs before the end of January 2010" Secretary to the Ministry of Human Rights, Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha told the BBC on Wednesday.

Demining and fishermen

"In order to facilitate speedy resettlement of IDPs, India is extending much needed de-mining assistance. Four Indian de-mining teams are currently in Sri Lanka. After our Parliamentary delegation suggested enhancing Indian assistance in the field of demining, we are sending three more de-mining teams," Minister SM Krishna said.

	Minister says India is sending three more demining teams

The Indian government is assisting Sri Lanka with rehabilitation of war widows and in the fields of agriculture and reconstruction of railway, according to the minister.

He said: "The extension of assistance under Lines of Credit to take up projects in railway infrastructure reconstruction in Northern Sri Lanka and provision of rolling stock is receiving our attention, as also construction projects in the North and East of Sri Lanka to rejuvenate the cultural and social life amongst the people. At the same time, the requirements of the up-country Indian Origin Tamils are also not lost sight of".

He added that Sri Lanka and India are in constant conversation over the safety of Indian fishermen and the apprehension of Indian fishermen has witnessed a sharp decrease after an MoU was singed between the countries in October 2008.