India welcomes Lanka's move to cease hostilities

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday welcomed the Sri Lankan government's announcement that combat operations in the northern parts of the island nation have reached a conclusion, saying it meant cessation of hostilities.

"It means cessation of hostilities.It means to the government of India that the Sri Lankan government has put an end to the ongoing offensive," he said. Chidambaram, who spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, informing him of the Sri Lankan government's decision, said from Kariakudi where he is campaigning that "Sri Lanka's announcement offers solace to us. The next course of action on the issue will be decided in consultation with all."

"I think we all should welcome the development. More needs to be done. The Government of India will do more. The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh), the NSA (M K Narayanan) are in touch with the Sri Lankan authorities. We will try to do more. But for now this means there is cessation of hostilities," he said.

Chidambaram said New Delhi's understanding was that Sri Lankan government, which launched a decision combing operation against LTTE, has put an end to the hostilities.

The Home Minister said India was asking for cessation of hospitalities and the Sri Lankan government's statement was a significant one. "It is a result of the efforts that the Government of India has been making over the last several days, specially in the last 72 hours. We have exerted pressure on the humanitarian situation...," he said.

Asked whether India would send relief material to affected Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, Chidambaram said indeed it was a humanitarian situation and it was prime concern for India. "I think we are examining the possibility of stepping up humanitarian aid. I intend to speak to the Prime Minister later on Monday and if there is any aid, it will be announced on behalf of the Prime Minister," he said.

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