Tamil Nadu - Ramanathapuram   

“India has not extended military assistance to Sri Lanka”

RAMANATHAPURAM: Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of Naval Staff, has said that the Indian Armed Forces, including the Navy, have not extended military assistance to Sri Lankan forces battling the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Addressing a press conference after commissioning the INS Parundu, a full-fledged naval air station at Uchipuli near here on Thursday, he said Indian forces had no role in the ongoing military action against the LTTE.

Mr. Mehta said that the Navy had to be careful in the wake of the turmoil witnessed in some of our neighbouring countries in the recent past.

He said the happenings in Sri Lanka were also a cause for concern.

Asked whether the commissioning of the INS Parundu in Ramanthapuram coast was because of possible threat from the LTTE, he said it was also one of the threats in this region.

The Navy did not execute plans based on threats, as they kept changing from time to time. It was implementing its plans based on long term as well as short term perspectives.

Asked about the reported move of Sri Lanka to declare Katchatheevu, which was ceded to the island nation on certain conditions, a sacred island, a move that might ultimately deny the Indian fishermen their rights in using the island, the Admiral said it was given to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture.

As per the agreement, Indian fishermen could visit the island for specific purposes.

On frequent firing against Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, he said a section of fishermen every now and then ventured into the sea beyond Katchatheevu. This presented an opportunity to the LTTE, causing problems for the Sri Lankan Navy.

Asked about the intrusion from the Sri Lankan side, Mr. Mehta said there was no report of intrusion except the arrival of Sri Lankan refugees in small numbers.

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