Chennai, Oct 27: India will provide 800 tonnes of relief material to the civilian population in conflict-hit Sri Lanka to areas where Indian origin Tamil population is predominant, this was disclosed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

A joint statement issued here on Sunday after talks between Mukherjee and Special Advisor to Sri Lankan President, Basil Rajapakse says that the Sri Lankan Government will facilitate the delivery of the relief material.

The Indian side called for implementation of the greater devolution to powers to the provinces as the issue of negotiated political settlement in the north came up for the discussion in the meeting.

Colombo  - At least four people drowned and some 136,000 have been displaced in floods sweeping areas of Sri Lanka over the past five days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said Sunday.

Keerthi Ekanayaka, Coordinating Officer of the DMC in the north- west, west and south, said more than 25,000 homes were affected.

The heavy rains also affected Tamil rebel-held northern areas, where government troops are continuing military operations.

New Delhi, Oct 26 : Sri Lanka today assured India that it will ensure the safety and security of ethnic Tamils in the Island nation and that it would allow Indian medical aid to the affected people in the country''s embattled north.

Basil Rajapaksa, Special Advsior of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday to discuss the issue of ethnic Tamils in the island nation.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday said that his Govt. is taking all possible steps for well being of displaced Tamils in the country. The primary responsibility of a Govt. is to look after all its citizens and I carry out this responsibility to the fullest.

He said that a wrong impression had been carried in Tamilnadu relating to this matter. This is far from the truth. They are our citizens and we take every measure to look after and provide for them.

Talking to media persons in his office the President maintained that - the friendly relations between Sri Lanka and India remained very strong and New Delhi had always helped us when necessary and supported us at every step.

Colombo - Tamil rebels launched a suicide attack on two merchant ships off a harbour in northern Sri Lanka causing considerable damage to the hull of one of the ships Wednesday morning, the Defence Ministry said.

The ships, carrying essential supplies for civilians in the north. came under attack off Kankesanthurai harbour, 410 kilometres north of the capital.

Navy spokesman Commander DKP Dassanayke said that three LTTE suicide vessels came for the attack and one of the boats exploded close to the merchant ship Nilwala causing damage.

Colombo  , Oct 21 : JVP (People’s Liberation Front) General Secretary Tilvin Silva has reportedly accused the Indian government of throwing a fresh lifeline to the LTTE as the army stepped up pressure on Kilinochchi.

Asserting that the government would eventually “give in to Indian pressure”, he attacked the SLFP leadership and its allies, particularly the breakaway JVP faction the National Freedom Front
(NFF) for blaming the ruling DMK for triggering chaos.