Attacks on Lankans in Tamil Nadu :

Serious concerns of govt conveyed to Delhi

Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

External Affairs Minister Prof G. L. Peiris told Parliament yesterday that the Sri Lankan government expressed its serious concern to the Central Government of India over the recent incidents of attacks on Sri Lankans visiting South India that did not spare even Buddhist monks. The minister condemning these attacks,

said all Sri Lankans, setting aside religious and political divisions, should unitedly condemn this harassment of Lankans by a small group in Tamil Nadu acting with ulterior motives.

Prof Peiris made these comments in response to a question raised by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake under Standing Order 23 (2).

The minister said the Sri Lankan government through its High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commission in Chennai directed all such incidents to the attention of the Indian Central government.

He said the Sri Lankan government is closely observing the situation, adding that it would take all possible measures to safeguard the lives and property of Sri Lankans in South India, if they face any danger. Prof Peiris said the Indian Central Government had asserted that, it would do everything within its power to ensure the security of Sri Lankans visiting India, adding that the Indian Security Forces have also been deployed.

He said the Indian government had filed cases against seven persons involved in the incident of harassing a Buddhist monk on March 16, while special police teams have been deployed to arrest suspects involved in the March 18 incident. The minister said the displeasure of the Sri Lankan government over these two incidents was lodged through the Sri Lankan High Commission in India. He said Sri Lanka’s High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commission in Chennai have also been instructed to take measures to ensure the security of Sri Lankans in India. Prof Peiris said the ministry also advised Sri Lankans not to visit Tamil Nadu except for unavoidable reasons.

The ministry has also advised Lankan visitors to Tamil Nadu to inform the ministry if they are making the trip for urgent reasons, he said. The minister observed that the close association between the two countries should not be allowed to be breached by this kind of activities. MP Dissanayake pointing out the recent incidents of harassment of Sri Lankans visiting India questioned the diplomatic steps taken by the government in that regard and to prevent such incidents in the future.

He said the Sri Lankan government has been unable to take adequate measures to ensure the security of Sri Lankans visiting India.