Wednesday, February 16 2005 14:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kochi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Feb 16, 2005) assured Kerala that the Centre would fully support rehabilitation of those affected by the tsunami.

Expressing solidarity with those who lost their families, Prime Minister said, "I assure you that we will fully support the rehabilitation and reconstruction work."

"We are committed to converting this tragedy into an opportunity to rebuild a new life for the survivors of tsunami," he said at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Rs 3000 crore ICTT project in Kochi.

It is a "great pleasure" to return to Kerala and to its coast. The last time I was here, it was to share your grief after the tsunami disaster," he said.

"It is, however, rare that the sea has brought death and destruction to Kerala. For millennia, the sea has been a source of your well-being and progress," the Prime Minister said.

"The sea has fed you, it has given you employment, it has allowed you to reach out to new worlds and it has brought trade and prosperity to Kerala," he said.