A political solution for the National Question is a Sri Lankan affair and it is not the task of India, Norway or the United Nations to push Sri Lanka towards a political solution, said Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon to a group of Sri Lankan editors visiting India at the invitation of Indian Government.

As a friendly neighbour India’s duty and task is to extend its fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka to find a solution suitable for her, reported the Daily News quoting Shiv Shankar Menon.

The 13th Amendment is a sequel to the Indo - Lanka Accord. It is Sri Lankan law now. It is only Sri Lanka that would decide whether to provide a solution on the lines of 13th Amendment or go beyond it, he said.

A threat to Sri Lanka’s security would affect India in the same way a threat to India would affect Sri Lanka, said Menon.

The Tamils’ problem was much larger than the LTTE, and hoped Sri Lanka would show imagination and courage in meeting the legitimate concerns and aspirations of the Tamil people. The government was taking active part in the relief and rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons in the island nation and Rs.500 crore earmarked for the purpose, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday(June 9) in Parliament.

“We are willing to do more to restore normality and to help such people return to their rightful homes and occupations,” he said.