Jaswant offers grains, not army to Sri Lanka

In his discussions with the Sri Lankan official delegation and moderate Tamil leaders, Singh made clear that a military intervention of the 1987-kind – in fact of virtually any kind – was out of question.

Humanitarian aid of any type, which did not involve military intervention, was however on offer. This included supplying wheat, rice and sugar to the country, and a credit facility of up to US $ 100 million. The details will be worked out between the finance ministers of the two countries. The joint statement said Kumaratunga had "welcomed India’s offer of assistance in the humanitarian as well as economic sphere to ease any constraints that may be currently faced by Sri Lanka."

After meetings on Sunday with Kumaratunga and her colleagues – Singh and his team were at Temple Trees, her official residence, almost till midnight on Sunday – another round of formal talks took place on Monday morning. Sri Lankan sources said the country’s defence and finance secretaries were also involved in talks with the Indian delegation.

After the formal discussion on Monday, lasting about two and a half hours, Singh and Kumaratunga had a 15-minute one-to-one exchange in which no aides were present.

The joint statement did not specify the "political process" through which a just lasting peace could be achieved. But the devolution package for more powers to Tamils did figure in the discussions. Kumaratunga told Singh she realised the "urgency" of the constitutional reforms to introduce the package.

In his meeting with Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of the Opposition, Singh talked about the need of an agreement on devolution of powers. Kumaratunga needs the backing of Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) in Parliament to get the proposals passed as a constitutional amendment.

Tamil leaders, who met Singh in a group, told him their wish-list. They wanted India’s intervention in arranging a cease-fire between Sri Lankan forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; mediation between the two sides and humanitarian aid for the people caught in the fighting.

Singh reportedly told them that India too wanted a cease-fire, but gave no indication that Delhi was doing anything to bring that about. Delhi seemed more concerned about achieving "a lasting peace" – a long-term political solution – rather than in temporary cessation of hostilities.

One Tamil delegate pointed out to Singh that LTTE was a banned group in India, a reference to the problem Delhi might face if it makes any overt mediation effort.

Leaders from People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) met Singh at India House, the official residence of the High Commissioner.

Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) representatives met him separately. He also met leaders from the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) which represents plantation Tamils of Indian origin, and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

The minister was briefed on the military situation in Jaffna peninsula, and Norway’s efforts at brokering peace.

The joint statement said the discussions had enabled an understanding on measures which Sri Lankan and India can take, collectively and individually, `to bring about lasting piece in Sri Lanka’.