Indian cadets lament S. India’s treatment of Lankan military trainees

Chaminda Perera

M. M. Krishnan	Gayathri Panday

Indian cadets who participated in the Herman Loos and De Soysa training camp last week, questioned the rationale of South Indian authorities responsible for the repatriation of Sri Lankan military personnel on a training mission in Wellington Camp in India.

The Indian cadets and officers who participated in a two week training mission at the National Cadet Corp Training Camp in Rantebe, stressed the need to have more closer interaction between the two militaries and cadets for regional safety. Speaking to the media at the conclusion of the NCC passing out parade at Rantebe, the Indian cadets said the average people of India won’t tolerate this type of provocative action which would lead to damaging close ties between Sri Lanka and India.

MM Krishnan, a cadet from Tamil Nadu said Sri Lankan Forces were very accommodating. He said the Forces and the people of the two countries are more closer than the authorities. Krishnan said Sri Lankan military officials and a school football team had to face an unfortunate incident in Tamil Nadu and this type of incidents should not happen in the future. He said the Sri Lankan Forces have been able to bring peace to the country after many decades and the people were reaping the dividends of peace. Gayathri Panday representing Kerala said they met a number of top defence officials during their visit to Sri Lanka. “We met the President, the Defence Secretary and Services Commanders and exchanged views with regard to improving cadet training facilities,” she said.

She said Indian cadets were able adopt the training programme implemented at the Rantebe NCC Training Centre in a few days.