Associated Press

New Delhi, June 4:

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has won India’s crucial backing for an aid deal with Tamil Tiger rebels, but both sides expressed concern over ceasefire violations and the alleged acquisition of aircraft by the militants. After meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other officials, Kumaratunga thanked India for the prompt help after the devastating December 26 tsunami, and briefed them on developments in the peace process with the rebels as well as work done in the tsunami-affected areas. New Delhi announced a grant of Rs 1 billion ($22 million) for Colombo’s tsunami reconstruction efforts

and a three-year moratorium on debt payments, according to an Indian foreign ministry statement. One of the main purposes of Kumaratunga’s visit was to get India’s support for her efforts to establish a Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure, an aid coalition involving the rebels. The alliance would for the first time make the rebels a partner in distributing foreign aid. Yesterday, Kumaratunga also met Sonia Gandhi, head of the Congress party. Meanwhile, HNS reported from New delhi that a high-level Sri Lanka military delegation led by Admiral Daya Sandagiri will arrive in the Indian capital on Monday to discuss the growing military might of the LTTE. India has reportedly assured Sri Lanka that it will help Colombo build an effective radar system to detect possible air raids by the LTTE.