Indian Army experts will assist Sri Lankan authorities to detect and defuse thousands of mines laid by the LTTE, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon had told IANS.

As the Sri Lankan troops defeated the terrorists this year, India sent military doctors to take care of the thousands escaping from LTTE territory. The medical personnel were first based in the East and are now located in the North.

Menon's comments came shortly after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced in his budget speech that India would grant Rs.500 crore ($100 million) for the relief and rehabilitation of IDPs.