India ups aid to Sri Lanka to Rs. 12.5 b via Budget

CHENNAI: Even as the anti-Sri Lanka mood in Tamil Nadu is getting more belligerent, the Centre has increased its annual grant to the country in the Union Budget.

The allocation has gone up to Rs. 500 crore (INRs. 5 billion or SLRs. 12.5 billion) for 2013-2014 from Rs. 290 crore last year. It was Rs. 181.94 crore in 2011-2012. The Budget has allocated Rs. 5,550 crore as aid for foreign governments and organisations.

The grants for Sri Lanka are meant for rehabilitation of internally displaced Tamils, but parties in Tamil Nadu have accused the Government there of diverting the Indian aid for other purposes. The issue could be raised again with the two main Dravidian parties, the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK, using it to corner the UPA Government.

The move comes at a time when political parties in the State have stepped up their offensive against the Lankan Government for alleged war crimes.