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by Manjula Fernando and Nadira Gunatilleke

The proposed defence agreement with the Government of India is not a pre-emptive or a precautionary measure but only an indication of the close bilateral relations between the two countries, Cabinet spokesman Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing Prof. Peiris said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stated this categorically in New Delhi in answer to a question that was put to him by the media. The Prime Minister has categorically stated that he was convinced there was no likelihood that war would be started by the LTTE. This has been confirmed by Indian intelligence.

The proposed comprehensive defence agreement will cover equipment and training. There is also going to be a collaboration between police forces of Sri Lanka and India. They are also prepared to assist Sri Lanka with reforms to the police force in Sri Lanka. The number of security personnel being trained in India will be increased two-fold.

India has re-asserted that she remains committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and India has also emphasized that it very strongly supports for a political resolution for the ethnic conflict through internal political procedures. The support and assistance gained by Sri Lanka from India is a very good example that proves the success of the foreign policy of Sri Lanka, he added.

Minister Prof. Peiris added that the opposition attempted to poison India by using the Trincomalee harbour issue and then tried to mislead the public by using the same tactics but the Indian response indicated their rejection of these 'spoiler tactics'.

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