Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs of India, Shri S. M. Krishna inaugurated the Consulate General of India, Jaffna on Saturday, 27 November 2010. Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Governor of the Northern Province, Parliamentarians, Foreign Secretary of India, Smt. Nirupama Rao and High Commissioner of India, Shri Ashok K. Kantha also attended the inauguration ceremony.

Speaking at the inauguration, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs highlighted the special relationship that exists between the people of the Northern Province in general, the Jaffna Peninsula in particular and those of southern India, underlined the initiatives undertaken by India initially to alleviate the miseries and difficulties the people in Northern Province underwent and emphasized that now we were looking at the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Northern Province and supplement the efforts of the Sri Lankan Government.

Hon’ble Minister highlighted that even as we focus on the immediate tasks of relief and rehabilitation, longer term reconstruction was equally important and that India will remain committed to this task as well. Hon’ble Minister underlined that as this region returns to peace and normalcy, one of the priorities of the governments of India and Sri Lanka is to resume the old ties and linkages of connectivity that existed between our two countries and with this in view, we have recently completed negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding on resuming ferry services, both from Colombo to Tuticorin and Talaimannar to Rameswaram. Hon’ble Minister highlighted that to ensure that the cultural heights of Jaffna are indeed revived, the Consulate General of India will assist in setting up the Jaffna Cultural Centre and restore the Duriappa stadium.

Hon’ble Minister emphasized that the end of armed conflict in Sri Lanka in May 2009 provides Sri Lanka with an unparalleled opportunity to address all outstanding issues in a spirit of understanding and mutual accommodation and to work towards genuine national reconciliation. We are convinced that a meaningful devolution package, building upon the 13th Amendment, would create the necessary conditions for a lasting political settlement. We hope that this process of dialogue and discussion would start soon with the participation of all communities. The ultimate goal is to live in dignity and peace.

Hon’ble Minister placed on record deep appreciation for the cooperation extended in the task of the opening of this Consulate General by the Sri Lankan Ministry of External Affairs under the leadership of Prof. Peiris and also thanked the offices of the Governor of the Northern Province and the Government Agent of Jaffna for their facilitation in setting up of Consulate General of India in Jaffna.