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India will never allow separate State in Lanka: pm

ISRAEL: India will never allow a separate independent state for Tamils to be carved out from Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said here yesterday.

"It should be borne in mind that India will never allow a separate independent state for Tamils in Sri Lanka because such a development will have a disastrous effect in India," Wickramanayaka, who is the first Sri Lankan Prime Minister to visit Israel, told a gathering.

"India has always been committed to Sri Lanka's territorial integrity," he added. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, who is on a four-day visit, claimed that LTTE leader V Prabhakaran wanted to create a Tamil state by "including certain parts of India as well". Seeking international support in the fight against LTTE, Wickramanayaka said it has become a cross border menace which requires global coordination.

"The international community can help us in our fight against terrorism. If the illegal activities of the Tigers in collecting funds can be effectively curtailed and if smuggling of arms can be intercepted, LTTE can be forced to come to the negotiating table," he said. He also accused the LTTE of using peace talks as a cover "to regroup and carry out heinous crimes".

He said that his country is committed to a political solution to the three-decade-old conflict and is not seeking a military solution. He ruled out any division of the island nation, which he said has remained as one single unit throughout history. "It is not feasible politically or economically," he said.

While asserting that his Government's doors are always open to peace talks, the Premier dismissed any chances of a breakthrough with the LTTE under the current megalomaniac leader [Prabhakaran].

Describing the steps being taken by his Government to bring strife torn areas to normality and to draw minority communities and peripheral populations to the mainstream, Wickramanayaka referred to the 13th Amendment (on devolution of power), which he said was based on "the Indian model".

The decision of the Government to fully implement the 13th Amendment has been commended by India and other countries as a welcome step in finding a political solution acceptable to all communities within a united Sri Lanka, Wickramanayaka said.

"More than any other country, India is well informed of our complex situation and the Amendment that has introduced the provincial council system was a result of Indo-Sri Lanka accord signed in the year 1987," he added.

Brushing aside international criticism on his country's human rights record, Wickramanayaka said that the Security Forces are "waging a campaign against a ruthless terrorist outfit and there can be sometime minor infractions and civilian casualties".

"We are taking adequate precautions in minimising civilian casualties and the Armed Forces are being given training in human rights and international humanitarian laws," he stressed.

He alleged that the Tigers maintain links with international terror groups such as PKK and certain affiliates of Al-Qaida. "According to some experts on terrorism, they maintain contacts with other terror groups such as PKK, Taliban, Islamic groups in the Philippines and even some affiliates of Al-Qaida," he said.

He also said that certain reports mentioned about Tamil youths receiving training in Palestinian camps in Syria and Lebanon.

"The Black Tigers are responsible for suicide operations and have perfected suicide bombings and assassinations. It is generally believed that they learnt it from some Palestinian groups," Wickramanayaka said.

He has held talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

He will also be travelling to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

Earlier, Wickramanayaka said his island nation shares a lot of commonalities with Israel and both the nations have been at the receiving end of terror attacks.

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