Editorial | Online edition of Daily News

Indo-Lanka ties on a firm foundation

WHETHER it be at a multilateral level in the SAARC context or at a bilateral level, India’s support for Sri Lanka is a prominent feature of the Indo-Lanka equation.

We had added confirmation of this when Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the media at the end of the recent SAARC Summit that India was extending her fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the LTTE terror attack on the Katunayake air base.

These policy positions amount to a restatement of India’s traditional cordiality towards Sri Lanka. They are also the guarantee that India would in no way launch herself on a course which would undermine the time-tested Indo-Sri Lanka friendship link.

Thus we are assured that the LTTE’s or any other anti-Lanka force’s machinations would not succeed in unravelling Indo-Lanka camaraderie and cooperation.

We hope this restatement of India’s commitment to work cooperatively with Sri Lanka would translate into more and more concrete programmes aimed at quelling LTTE terror because, as we have continually argued, the Tigers bode ill for the entirety of South Asia.

For instance, bilateral cooperation could be intensified in the areas of naval patrolling of the seas dividing India and Sri Lanka and in aerial surveillance of the relevant geographical areas.

What is vital about India’s policy on the Lankan conflict is that she has not budged from her anti-LTTE stance.

Developments since 1991 have only proved the correctness of this position. Far from softening its blood lust, the LTTE has relentlessly intensified it and has today acquired the means which enables it to pose a threat to even Lanka’s neighbours.

Therefore, it will be in the interests of the whole of the SAARC region, if the states of this region could close ranks more firmly against Tiger terror and work against political terror collectively. This policy position on terror was fervently endorsed by the SAARC Eight at the recent Summit and we hope collaborative action would come sooner rather than later.

It is also heartening to note India’s backing for Sri Lanka’s political initiative aimed at finding a solution to our conflict. It is fully supportive of the APC-APRC process and on this score too India has been absolutely consistent.

While emphasizing the need for a peaceful solution India has continuously pointed out that such a solution should meet the legitimate aspirations of all our communities, while ensuring Lanka’s territorial integrity.

No doubt, this is a most appropriate policy position to take because of its inherent justness. If the conflict is to end, a solution which is fair by all our communities needs to be found. This is the endeavour of the Lankan State and we are glad that India has taken cognizance of it.

This accord in perception and policy between India and Sri Lanka has set the stage for the most cordial of bilateral relations.

No doubt, the Lankan State’s policy of taking India into its confidence has further nourished these links. We call for a continuation of this proactive diplomacy on Lanka’s part.

Eastern debacle propels LTTE towards desperate measures

Propaganda campaign fails; Plan to create mayhem in Capital during festive season

THE LTTE has now resorted to a new campaign. It has made this move after realising that they have miserably failed in their efforts to bring international pressure on the Sri Lankan Government by launching an ambitious campaign to paint a bleak human rights picture, using some Southern politicians as their agents.