'Addressing of minority concerns ensure that fissiparous forces are contained'

Addressing an international conference in Delhi on "Taking the Sri Lankan Peace Process Forward, Indian foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said : "Political settlement of course is not a zero-sum game. It need not and should not come at a cost of another."

She said the 13 amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution was designed to provide considerable devolution of powers to the provinces.

"The amendment is gained broad acceptance and has become the fulcrum around which the provincial administration revolves. There is consequently need to strengthen and empower these provinces further."

There are some issues. So that has to be some issues like the police powers, how to implement that, land powers, how to implement that still we are working through that. And you need to have a responsible leadership in the provinces to absorb powers Sri Lanka's Ambassador to India, Prasad Kariyawasam

She added: "India's own experiment with democracy has taught us that effective devolution of powers, equal status before the constitution, equal access to opportunities and addressing of minority concerns ensure that fissiparous forces are contained and differences are addressed in an open and democratic fashion."

Responding, the Sri Lankan government says that the country had to wait until the end of the conflict as there was no "responsible leadership" in the north and the east during the war.

"Most of the provisions of the 13 amendment are already implemented," Sri Lankan Ambassador to Delhi, Prasad Kariyawasam, said.

	India says all displaced need to be resettled 'in an atmosphere of safety and security'

"There are some issues. So that has to be some issues like the police powers, how to implement that, land powers, how to implement that still we are working through that. And you need to have a responsible leadership in the provinces to absorb powers," he said.

Ms. Rao also stressed the importance of returning the internally displaced people (IDPs) "in an atmosphere of safety and security."

"Today I believe the focus is shifted from the immediate to the medium term including restoration of livelihoods, building capacity, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure specially in the northern part of the country."

However, the reconciliation is a process that should be decided by the people of Sri Lanka, the Indian Foreign Secretary added.

"Sri Lanka has indeed arrived at the cross roads where the path to cohesion, unity, and co-existence is clear and must be followed."