Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh met the visiting Sri Lanka President Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa at his residence in New Delhi yesterday.

Dr Singh pressed for an early solution to the decades-long ethnic issue and stressed the need to fast-track rehabilitation of displaced Tamils.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, he raised the issue of devolution of powers so that the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka can live with dignity and respect.

Dr. Singh also emphasised the need to treat fishermen humanely in cases where they may stray across maritime boundary.