SEPT 17-Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview has said that he will not allow any country to act against the interests of India from its soil. Rajapaksa made the comment after ascertaining New Delhi’s concern about China’s presence in Sri Lanka.
When asked about the deteriorating ties between the two countries due to coalition pressures on New Delhi from partners in Tamil Nadu, he conveyed his worries about “the message of separatism” still emanating from Tamil Nadu. He tried to empathise with the Indian government and said that he understood the compulsions of Indian politicians and was ready to them a “wide margin”.
He emphasized that India-Sri Lanka relationship was indeed very good.
The island country’s Northern Province, which was at the centre of three-decade-long civil war that led to the killing of more than 120,000 people, is all set to go to the polls after a 25-year gap.
The issue of Chinese presence was raised by the opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which is expected to emerge victorious in the polls. To this, the Sri Lankan President conceded that his government had sought help from China in the field of development, including satellite technology.
He tried to cear the air by saying that India’s fears were unfounded and affirmed that it “We will never allow any country to act against India in any way from our soil.”
INDIA TODAY
