NEW DELHI, February 8: Even as Sri Lankan security forces are all set to recapture the remaining portions of LTTE-held territories in the island’s Northern Province, India is busy putting together a reconstruction and developmental package for the civil war-ravaged Jaffna peninsula.

The package is expected to include a number of power and infrastructure development projects as well as capacity-building activities. It will be implemented in association with the Sri Lankan government in the region, now on the verge of being freed from the clutches of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after 23 years.

Implementation of the package can begin as soon as the military offensive against LTTE gets over.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency today quoted government sources here as saying that details like the number of projects, their volume, the exact format are being worked out in consultation with the Sri Lankan government.

"The aim is to enable the people of northern Sri Lanka, who are in an impoverished condition due to two decades of war, to stand up on their feet," the sources told PTI.

The intent is to lay strong and sustainable foundations of peace in Sri Lanka’s north and provide for comfortable conditions for the people there to live in, the sources said.

The reconstruction package could be on the pattern of activities being undertaken by India in Afghanistan and various other countries.

India has undertaken projects worth $1.25 billion in Afghanistan, covering power sector, infrastructure, social empowerment and capacity-building. It is also constructing a brand new parliament building in Kabul.

India will also work closely with the Sri Lankan government in the political field, like implementation of a devolution package of empowering all communities and holding elections in Northern Province, the sources said.

The devolution package is based on the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord.

Incidentally, India had helped Sri Lanka in the conduct of elections in the eastern province, held after it was liberated from the LTTE.

During his recent visit to Colombo, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee conveyed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa India’s keenness to work with the Sri Lankan government to enable all Sri Lankans, particularly the Tamil community, to lead normal lives as soon as possible.

He had said: "An early restoration of normal democratic life in the areas affected by the conflict would be a major contribution to peace and stability. India will do all that it can to bring this about, working with all those who work for this goal with us."