Udayan attempting to create bad image about Lanka - Maj Gen Hathurusinghe

Ridma Dissanayake and Rakshana Sriyantha

The Udayan newspaper yesterday reported that the Sri Lanka Navy had anchored a number of its Fast Attack Craft near Kachchathivu Island. The report said the craft have being anchored there to threaten Tamil Nadu fishermen.

Udayan is attempting to create a bad image about Sri Lanka among Tamils in Tamil Nadu by publishing articles of this nature, Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said commenting on this article.

He said the Northern Province does not have a large number of fast attack craft.

"We have reduced the number of Fast Attack Craft in the Northern Province with the end of terrorism. The Sri Lanka Navy is not involved in coast guard activities now. It has now been taken over by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Department," he said.

Major General Hathurusinghe said articles like these are created by Udayan to support the Tamil Diaspora.

"They are trying to create anger among the Tamils," Major General Hathurusinghe.

"The Sri Lanka Navy's responsibility is engaging in security activities in coastal areas in the country. They have no intention of frightening people," he said.

The Sri Lanka Navy is following international Naval rules and regulations. In such a situation they will never do anything to damage the close friendship between Sri Lanka and India which has a long history, he said.

The Sri Lanka Navy is trying to strengthen peace and harmony in the country and they will never do anything to affect the hard won peace, Major General Hathurusinghe said.

A'll Sinhala, Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka have clearly understood the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and racial newspapers like Udayan can never change the mind of Sri Lankans, he said.