By NNN-PTI,
Colombo : Apparently concerned over the criticism by New Delhi and major political parties in Tamil Nadu of its ongoing operations against LTTE, Sri Lanka has said that marginalisation of Tiger rebels should not be seen as a drive against Tamils.
Asserting that the Lankan military operations in the Tamil-dominated northern areas were aimed at freeing the region from the “fascist and dictatorial control of the LTTE terrorists”, Colombo asked India not to be influenced by “malicious propaganda” of Tiger sympathisers.
Reacting to Indian National Security M K Narayanan’s expression of concern on the situation in Sri Lanka, the island nation’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament last evening that the onus was on international community to support Colombo by taking concrete and tangible measures to “combat terrorism”.
“Hon Members may also be aware of reports of the National Security Adviser of India, M K Narayanan expressing concern on the situation in Sri Lanka. In this regard I wish to reiterate Sri Lanka’s policy of maintaining a close dialogue with India, with whom we have a time tested relationship based on mutual goodwill and trust,” he said in a suo-motu statement.
India had earlier this week expressed “grave concern and unhappiness” at the growing casualties of unarmed Tamil civilians in the military offensive in Sri Lanka and had asked the government to “act with greater restraint”.
National Security Adviser M K Narayanan summoned Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner G G A D Palithaganegoda to convey India’s concerns to him.