Why train Srilanka?Navy, Jaya asks

Chennai: In a strongly worded communique, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Sun­day urged the Prime Minister to review Indi­a’s continuing defe­nce co-operation policy with Sri Lanka and instruct the ministry of defence to not pursue a proposed training programme for Sri Lankan Naval officers by the Indian Navy.

Following media repo­rts that India Navy had offered to train Sri Lank­an Navy officers and wo­u­ld put them thr­ou­gh a four-year Bac­helor of Te­c­h­nology course that is now being offered to In­d­ian Navy officers, the ch­ief minister said that the Centre’s move has come as a ‘great shock’ to the people of Tamil Nadu.

“The commitment ma­de by the Government of India is tantamount to actively working with the Sri Lankan regime and providing them with the necessary wherewithal to act even more strongly not only against the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka but also against the poor Indian fishermen who regularly bear the brunt of the brutal attacks of the Sri Lankan Navy,” Jayalalithaa stated in her letter.

She pointed out that there was a widespread sentiment among all sections of society in Tamil Nadu about the need to hold the Sri Lankan regime to account for the acts of genocide and war crimes against Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. “Further, the fishermen of Tamil Nadu are agitated over their indiscriminate abduction on the high seas,” the Chief Minister said.