NEW DELHI, October 19: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa telephoned Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday, and briefed him on the latest developments in his country.

The two leaders decided that Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee should visit Colombo shortly to exchange views on the situation in Sri Lanka’s north and east.

An official statement here said on Saturday night that Dr Singh expressed his deep concern on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North of Sri Lanka, especially on the plight of the civilians caught in the hostilities.

The prime minister emphasised that the safety and the security of these civilians must be safeguarded at all costs. He also said that in order to address the humanitarian situation, continued and uninterrupted relief supplies should be ensured for the Internally Displaced Persons.

Rajapaksha assured Dr Singh that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Tamil community in the island.

Dr Singh pointed out to the Sri Lankan president that the rights and the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamil community should be jeopardized due to the on-going hostilities against the LTTE.

He reiterated that there was no military solution to the conflict and urged the President to start a political process for a peacefully negotiated political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. He also emphasised the need to nurture the democratic process in the Eastern Province.