"We are deeply concerned. I explained to him [Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa] we have legitimate concerns about the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils. It has a bearing on Sri Lanka’s relations with India," The Hindu in a July 18 datelined story quoted Singh as telling the Rajya Sabha while responding to clarifications sought by D. Raja (CPI) on his meeting with the Sri Lankan leader on the sidelines of the recent Non Aligned Movement summit in Egypt.

Dr. Singh said he had spent the "bulk of the time" in a bilateral meeting with Rajapaksa discussing the "plight" of Tamils and told him that the relief and rehabilitation of 300,000 Tamils in 33 temporary camps should be considered "just the beginning."

The Sri Lankan leader was informed that New Delhi expected Colombo to create conditions to ensure that there was devolution of power, as envisaged by India and Sri Lanka, to meet the "legitimate political aspirations" of the Tamils, the paper quoted Singh as saying.

"I assure Mr. Raja that the bulk of my time was spent in discussing the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils," Dr. Singh said.