Colombo: Making it clear that it would not get engaged with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), India today (May 25, 2004) said it was ready to help in reconstruction work in Sri Lanka rebel-held areas.

"We will be happy to carry out reconstruction in uncleared areas if we are welcome there," Indian High Commissioner Nirupam Sen told a meeting while gifting musical instruments to the Jaffna-based "Society for the development of traditional arts".

Indian public and private sector companies could get involved in reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the island’s embattled northern and eastern regions (uncleared areas), he said.

"Uncleared" areas are those held by the rebel LTTE who are outlawed by India after holding the group's supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran responsible for the May 1991 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

No one is known to be able to carry out any work in LTTE-held areas of the island's North East without the concurrence of the Tigers and any Indian move to enter "uncleared areas" would need the support of the Tigers.

Asked how India would deal with the Tigers given the ban which last week was extended for another two years, Sen said, "There is no question of Indian Government's engagement with the LTTE."

However, he said Indian public and private sector companies could go into the "uncleared areas" if they were welcome. Sen was relying on market forces to get Indian Companies business in "uncleared" areas.