The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa left back home this evening after a four day visit to India. During his stay in Delhi, he held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders and assured New Delhi of a political settlement of minorities and quicker rehabilitation of displaced Tamils in the island nation. Mr. Rajapaksa who held one-to-one and later delegation level talks with the Dr. Manmohan Singh for more than one and a half hour, signed seven pacts to widen and diversify economic partnership between the two countries.<br/><br/>During the discussions the implementation of assistance provided by India for displaced Tamils was also reviewed. Dr. Singh asserted that Sri Lankan government has a historic opportunity to spearhead an era of reconciliation where all communities can come together to realise a political settlement. <br/><br/>A joint declaration issued at the end of the talks says the two leaders agreed to start a knowledge initiative to assist in making the island nation into a triangular society and improving linkages between the univesities of the two countries.<br/><br/>Mr. Rajapaksa held discussions with the Ministers of External Affairs and Finance besides the UPA Chairperson and the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Before leaving back he visited Chandigarh and Shimla. He described his visit to Shimla quite a memorable one and relaxing.