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by Bandula Jayasekara

Former Indian Foreign Secretary M. K. Rasgotra yesterday issued a warning to the LTTE and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to avoid provocation and to stop capturing Indian Fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.

Rasagotra said: "Emergence of a third Navy, Sea Tigers will not be accepted by India. There are only two Navies, Sri Lankan and Indian. The Sri Lankan Government should do joint naval exercises with the Indian navy and eliminate unauthorised naval operations. India is concerned of Prabhakaran capturing Indian seamen. We ask them to avoid provocation of this kind".

The former Foreign Secretary said this in the presence of Indian High Commissioner to Colombo, Nirupam Sen and Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) Chairman, former Foreign Minister and MP, Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the first Sri Lanka-India Strategic Dialogue, organised by the BCIS, in Colombo, yesterday Rasgotra said the Governments of Sri Lanka and India should develop the Trincomalle port together.

The former Indian Foreign Secretary said: "We have made blunders, but, Sri Lanka has forgiven us. Today both Sri Lanka and India have become victims of terrorism. We hope the Sri Lankan peace process would succeed, the result be positive but, will not take too long."

"India has reiterated its firm commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka," he added. " We are watching the situation, LTTE's response to the Governments proposal. But, LTTE's response is not reasonable."

Rasgotra said India is not indifferent, but, watchful. "It all depends on what the people of Sri Lanka want from India."

Courtesy: Lanka Academic

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