Indian government on Friday reiterated that the international community should work with the government of Sri Lanka in ensuring justice and progress for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

“We believe that our decision to abstain on the UNHRC resolution adopted on Thursday will strengthen our hand in achieving our objectives vis-a-vis the Tamil community in Lanka,” India's Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh told Indian media.

“Missing persons, detainees, reduction of high security zones, return of private lands by the military, and withdrawal of security forces from the civilian domain in the Northern Province”.

The foreign secretary also said, “Our abstention on Thursday is in the best interest of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and will assist us in our efforts to help them. Additionally, it is also in the interest of the fishermen’s communities in Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry.”

she highlighted that the Sri Lankan government had released all Indian fishermen in custody as a ‘good will gesture’. “This is the first step towards a long-term solution to the fishermen’s issue,” she said, referring to the release of 98 Indian fishermen and 23 boats earlier on Friday by the Lankan government.

When asked why ‘sentiments’ of TN were discounted in not supporting the resolution, a senior government official said the views of the State government and people were considered carefully, but ultimately it was a balancing act between various factors.

The ‘final objective’ of all the parties, as well as the Indian government was to be able to give a fair deal for Lankan Tamils within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, the official said

“Lanka has already rejected the resolution... If India had voted yes, how will it have helped to achieve the objective of bettering the lives of the Tamils?” asked a senior official of external affairs ministry had asked 'The News Indian Express' on Friday.