India-Srilanka Relations

RPK

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India, Sri Lanka to hold joint naval drill in 2011

http://www.sify.com/news/india-sri-...-drill-in-2011-news-national-km1waeeajha.html
2010-12-27 22:00:00



New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) India and Sri Lanka Monday decided to hold a joint naval exercise next year as part of a series of measures to enhance their defence cooperation.

The measures include holding a formal annual defence dialogue and staff level talks between the armies and navies of the two countries beginning next year, a defence ministry statement said.


The decisions were taken at the defence secretary level talks in Colombo. The two sides were led by Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Gotabhaya Rajapakse.


It was also decided that the Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Naik, will visit Sri Lanka next month.


Senior officers of the three services, the Coast Guard and the ministries of defence and external affairs also took part in the discussions from the Indian side.


The Sri Lankan side was assisted by the commanders of the three services.


'New Delhi and Colombo have common security concerns, including the security and safety of sea lanes of communication. Both sides agreed that these common concerns will form the basis for bilateral exchanges,' the defence ministry statement said.


The meeting also reviewed major ongoing projects, including reactivation of airfields in the war-ravaged areas of Sri Lanka.


The Indian defence secretary also called on Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris. He will call on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday.
 

RPK

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Defence Secretary in Colombo to discuss peacetime engagement

http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/28/stories/2010122865181500.htm

COLOMBO: To outline the contours of India's defence engagement with Sri Lanka during peacetime, Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar arrived here on Monday on a three-day visit.

He met Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and took part in official-level talks between the two sides.

Over the past few years, including in the crucial phases of the war, India had provided know-how and technical support to the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The Indian defence establishment wants to continue the relationship beyond the civil war years and believes that the Sri Lankan establishment also is deeply interested in a peacetime engagement with the India.

Though Mr. Kumar's visit is expected to generally further cooperation between the two neighbours, the real challenge for the two sides will be to identify and agree on the nature of the relationship.

Early this month, Indian Navy Chief Nirmal Verma was here to take part in the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Sri Lankan Navy. He used the occasion to engage in wide-ranging discussions with his counterpart and others in the Naval and defence establishment here, sources said.

Joint patrolling

The two navies have been in close touch after the Sea Tiger wing of the LTTE was destroyed. From then on, Indian and Sri Lankan Navies have been patrolling the boundaries of their territorial waters. After the many incidents of firing on fishermen, the two navies also tried out joint patrolling to bring down such incidents.

The navies of the two countries have been in constant touch in the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay regions and routinely hold flag meetings to share information and sort outstanding issues. The Eastern Command of the Indian Coast Guard, which patrols part of the waters off the Tamil Nadu coast, also takes an active part in these meetings.

On Tuesday, Mr. Kumar will pay floral tributes at the IPKF memorial here. The Defence Secretary is also scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
 

RPK

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-to-train-more-Lankan-personnel/Article1-643875.aspx


India to train more Lankan personnel


Sutirtho Patranobis, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Colombo, December 28, 2010First Published: 18:14 IST(28/12/2010)
Last Updated: 18:15 IST(28/12/2010)Share more...0 Comments Tweet Email print

India will train personnel from the Sri Lankan armed forces besides holding a joint naval exercise with the Lankan navy in 2011. This was announced by the Sri Lankan government after Indian defence secretary Pradeep Kumar called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday morning. The meeting took place after Kumar paid his respects – the first Indian defence secretary to do so – at the memorial for the 1200 Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) members who died in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990.

Later, during his meeting with Rajapaksa, Kumar extended New Delhi's offer of 1400 training placements for the Sri Lankan security service personnel. The number of training placements offered is higher than the number of Lankan personnel already getting trained every year at various defence institutes and schools in India.

``It was agreed that the two countries will have a joint naval exercise in Sri Lankan waters in 2011,'' a statement from Rajapaksa's office said.

Rajapaksa welcomed the continuing good relations between Sri Lanka and India and welcomed the initiatives to strengthen cooperation in defence relationship between the countries.

Kumar emphasised the importance of ways of increasing service-to-service cooperation between the two countries.

The decision to institute the mechanism of an annual Defence Dialogue was agreed during the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rajapaksa in June this year following which a programme has been launched to improve defence relations between the two countries.

The Indian Defence Secretary met External Affairs Minister GL Peiris and defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday.
 

RPK

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Sri Lanka gets Indian help for port, airport development

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=352038134

Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) - India is helping Sri Lanka to revive commercial operations at a port and airport in the island's north to re-establish regional trade and communications links, a statement said.
The High Commission of India said Defence Secretary of India, Pradeep Kumar, had discussed the projects during a three-day visit to Sri Lanka from 27-29 December 2010.
"The two sides also reviewed major ongoing projects, including reactivation of Palaly airport as a regional civil aviation hub and of Kankesanthurai harbour for regional and domestic trade and commerce."

Both are in the northern Jaffna peninsula which was badly affected by the island's 30-year ethnic war which ended in May 2009.

Their commercial operations were disrupted by the war but they kept the peninsula connected with the rest of the island when land routes were blocked.

Kumar was accompanied by a delegation of senior officers from the Indian ministries of Defence and External Affairs, as well as from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

The statement said India and Sri Lanka agreed to strengthen existing defence cooperation links during the talks, especially in the field of training and service to service exchanges.

They also decided to hold a formal Annual Defence Dialogue beginning in 2011.

"Given the commonality of concerns of both India and Sri Lanka, including with respect to the safety and security of their sea lanes of communication, both sides agreed that these issues would inform their bilateral exchanges."

Staff-level talks between the navies and armies of the two countries will start in 2011 as well as a joint naval exercise between the navies of the two countries.


The Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force would pay a visit Sri Lanka in January 2011.
 

RPK

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Defence ties to expand further: Indian Defence Secy meets SL President

http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2010/12/63210.html

The longstanding good defence relationship between India and Sri Lanka should be further expanded and strengthened, Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar said when he called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday.

The defence dialogue on promoting bilateral relations between the two countries should be further extended to include infantry and air force, the Indian Defence Secretary said.

It was agreed that the two countries will have a joint naval exercise in Sri Lankan waters next year. The Indian Defence Secretary informed President Rajapaksa that India will offer more training opportunities for the Sri Lankan Security Forces personnel in the future.

An Indian Air Force demonstration will be held in line with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Sri Lanka Air Force next year, he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa acknowledged the continuing good relations between Sri Lanka and India and welcomed the initiatives to strengthen defence cooperation in between the two countries.

The Indian Defence Secretary emphasized the importance of increasing not only defence relations but also relations in all other spheres between the two countries. He said he held comprehensive discussions with both Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in this regard. Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok K Kanta, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and a number of Indian Security Forces representatives were present.
 

RPK

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http://expressbuzz.com/world/joint-patrol-of-sea-lanes-by-india-lanka/235098.html

Joint patrol of sea lanes by India, Lanka
P K BalachandranFirst Published : 29 Dec 2010 03:18:30 AM ISTLast Updated :


COLOMBO: India and Sri Lanka are to cooperate in safeguarding the vital sea lanes in the region. A decision to this effect was taken when the visiting Indian Defence Secretary, Pradeep Kumar, met his Sri Lankan counterpart Gotabaya Rajapaksa here on Monday. Lankan service chiefs assisted their Defence Secretary in the talks.


A communiqué from the Indian High Commission issued on Tuesday said that the two countries shared a common interest in safeguarding the sea lanes and that this would "inform" bilateral exchanges on security in the coming years.

The two sides vowed to strengthen existing ties in the field of military training and service to service exchanges. The annual bilateral defence dialogue involving the two Defence Secretaries would begin in 2011 in New Delhi.

It was also agreed to commence stafflevel talks between the navies and armies of the two countries and to conduct a joint naval exercise in 2011. Continuing the tradition of highlevel exchanges, the Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force would visit Sri Lanka next month.

The two sides reviewed major ongoing projects, including the reactivation of Palaly airport in Jaffna as a regional civil aviation hub, and the development of Kankesanthurai harbour, also in the north, as a regional and domestic trade and commerce hub.

There was no mention in the communiqué about India's offering shoulder held missiles and artillery to the Lankan army, which the Indian press had written about ahead Kumar's visit. On Tuesday, Kumar also called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Also present at the meeting were the Indian High Commissioner, Ashok K Kantha, the Sri Lankan Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe.

Earlier,Kumar visited a monument for the fallen soldiers of the IPKF and paid homage to the 1,500 men who had laid down their lives between 1987 and 1990 in an effort to quell the Tiger rebels and keep Sri Lanka united.
 

RPK

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India, Sri Lanka sign MoU on ferry
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1073458.ece

R. K. Radhakrishnan
Share · print · T+ With the signing of a memorandum of understanding, one more formality has been completed towards resuming the passenger ship liner service from Tuticorin to Colombo, the route of the Kappalottiya Tamizhan (the Tamil helmsman), V.O. Chidambaram Pillai.

VOC, as he was popularly called, launched the service to compete with the British vessels in 1906. Long after his death in 1936, the ships continued to strengthen people-to-people bonds between the two countries. The ethic strife led to the suspension of the services in the early eighties.

Now, with the end of the militancy, people have been demanding cheap and affordable transportation between the two countries.

Hence the ship service, which will allow for large baggage allowances, cheaper fares and a relatively quick passage. The baggage allowance has now been fixed at 100 kg, a source said. But some potential passengers are not very happy about this rate.

One passenger, who is a regular trader, and who did not want to be named, said that he now manages to transport 65 kg free on one of the airlines because he is a platinum card holder. Most other airlines allow 50 kg for frequent fliers.

In any case, the date of the first journey seems a little farther than the Pongal deadline that the government had informally set.

High Commissioner of India to Colombo Ashok K. Kantha and Sri Lanka's Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Highways Sujatha Cooray on Friday signed the MoU on Passenger Transportation by Sea.? It was inked in the presence of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony at Temple Trees.

The MoU envisages putting in place ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and Talaimannar and Rameswaram.

A joint committee meeting will be held on January 10-11 in Colombo, where officials from both countries will discuss the modalities to start the service.? The Shipping Corporation of India has already received Expression of Interest from potential ferry service operators in India and is examining them in order to finalise the grant of a concession to operate ferry services between Tuticorin and Colombo, which could commence shortly.
 

RPK

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India to despatch relief material to Sri Lanka

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1087887.ece


Special Correspondent
Share · print · T+ The Indian government will despatch relief material for the flood-affected people of Sri Lanka, and the first consignment will be sent on Friday, Defence Ministry officials said here.

Twenty-five tonnes of relief material, including food, drinking water, sleeping mats, blankets, bed sheets will be sent to Colombo by Friday afternoon.

Indian Air Force transport aircraft, IL76, will carry them in two sorties, with the second scheduled to leave on January 17, the official said, adding that India is responding to Sri Lankan request for assistance.

Besides ready-to-eat meals, the supplies will also include sugar, pulses, milk powder, baby milk formula, salt and other essential seasoning powders and water purifying tablets.
 

RPK

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Indian Air Chief to visit SL tomorrow

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/01/09/oostory.asp?sid=20110115_04&imid=IndianAirChief.jpg&dt=[January%2015%202011]
[January 15 2011]



The Indian Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik will arrive Sri Lanka for a four-day official visit, tomorrow.

He will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Indian Air Force Chief will also meet Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander Air Chief marshal Roshan Goonetilake, tomorrow.

He is scheduled to meet the service commanders of the Sri Lanka Army and Navy during his visit.

Being a qualified flying instructor Air Chief Marshal Naik is to visit SLAF's Jet Squadron at Katunayake.
 

Tshering22

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We are the only country that sends forces for diplomacy when our fishermen constantly get attacked and pledge millions of dollars of aid for an aggressor instead of threatening aggressive action against any adventurism and once or twice doing them so that they think twice doing it second or third time.... be it SL, China or anyone else. :clap2:
 

RPK

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http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11/Feb09_1297267444KA.php

Ferry service between Sri Lanka and India to commence next month

Wed, Feb 9, 2011, 09:34 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.


Feb 09, Colombo: The ferry service between India and Sri Lanka, that was suspended decades ago due to the terrorist activities in Sri Lanka, is to be resumed next month.

A high-level nine-member team led by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Sri Lanka, Anura Jayawickrama, is now in India to inspect the infrastructure and arrangements at the passenger terminal for the ferry service between Colombo and Tuticorin in South India.

The team comprised members from Sri Lanka Port Authority, Shipping Corporation, Sri Lankan Navy and other liaison agencies, including Customs.

The team has inspected the amenities established for passengers on the premises for ferry service expected to be launched on March 01st. Sri Lanka will deploy two ships while India deploys three ships for the service.

Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Navy are to provide security for the ferry service.

Indian authorities have installed an Electronic Access Control System and Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) to monitor the Tuticorin Port.

Personnel of bomb detection squad are also in place and two patrolling boats will be engaged at the sea round-the-clock to enhance security, the Indian daily The Hindu reported.

The ferry will be operated three times a week initially and the frequency would be increased later, India's Union Minister of Shipping G. K. Vasan said last month.

A ferry service between Rameswaram and Thalaimannar is expected to commence soon once the requisite infrastructure is put in place on both sides. An Indian company, IRCON, has already commenced survey work for this purpose to restore the damaged pier in Thalaimannar.
 

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Sri Lanka, India Hold Largest Naval Exercise

Colombo, Sep 19 (IANS): The Sri Lankan and Indian navies Monday began their largest joint exercise off the east coast of the island nation, an officer said.

The joint exercise, code-named "SLINEX II", will conclude Wednesday and is aimed at enhancing inter-operability of the two navies, according to the Sri Lanka Navy.

Two offshore patrol vessels, one fast missile craft, two fast
gunboats and six fast attack craft from Sri Lanka, while a destroyer, a frigate, a missile corvette, a landing ship tank and two fast attack craft, along with a maritime patrol aircraft from the Indian Navy will participate in the exercise, Xinhua reported.

According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the drill is expected to provide the two to finetune the concept of joint naval operations and enhance skills by gaining from each other's experience.

This is the second exercise between the two countries since Sri Lanka ended its three decade war with the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009.
 

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No objections to Kudankulam nuclear power project: Lanka

COLOMBO, APR 16:
Sri Lanka on Monday said it had not objected to the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu and underlined that India has every right to use nuclear technology in meeting the requirements of electrical energy.

"Sri Lanka has not brought up the issue of the safety of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant against India's voting at the 19th session of the UNHRC," Lanka's Atomic Energy Authority said dismissing media reports that Colombo was against the project.

The reports had quoted Lankan Energy Minister Mr Champika Ranawaka as saying that Sri Lanka was to refer the matter at the IAEA sessions in September since the country feared that any radiation from the plant will affect it.

However, Atomic Energy Authority's chairman Mr R L Wijayawardana denied any such move.

Recalling that both Sri Lanka and India are members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the statement said Sri Lanka fully understands the need of utilising nuclear energy for electricity generation.

India has every right to use nuclear technology in meeting the requirements of electrical energy.

"Sri Lankan Government has neither opposed nor registered their protest for any nuclear power plant on Indian soil. It is their sovereign right."

Mr Wijayawardena said that Mr Ranawaka headed the Sri Lanka delegation to the IAEA General Conference where he visited the Kudankulam nuclear project with Chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission.

"Therefore, the statement made to give the impression that Sri Lanka is protesting to Kudankulam project is baseless and malicious.

"As there are power plants in India close to our country, the only possible thing we can do is to make a bilateral agreement with India under the provisions of these conventions to exchange information on status of their power plants and emergency plans and to obtain assistance in case of a nuclear accident in India", he said.
Business Line : Industry & Economy News : No objections to Kudankulam nuclear power project: Lanka
 

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India-Lanka love affair over Tamil corpses

At the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, US, UK, France and Canada strongly criticized Sri Lanka on November 1 about not investigation the massacre of Tamil in 2009 and recent human rights violations. Iran, Pakistan, China and Russia supported Sri Lanka. One member was silent-India.
 

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Re: India-Lanka love affair over Tamil corpses

At the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, US, UK, France and Canada strongly criticized Sri Lanka on November 1 about not investigation the massacre of Tamil in 2009 and recent human rights violations. Iran, Pakistan, China and Russia supported Sri Lanka. One member was silent-India.
By being silent, you suspect India of having an affair? What would you accuse those who actually supported SL... of having an orgy?
 

afako

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Re: India-Lanka love affair over Tamil corpses

At the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, US, UK, France and Canada strongly criticized Sri Lanka on November 1 about not investigation the massacre of Tamil in 2009 and recent human rights violations. Iran, Pakistan, China and Russia supported Sri Lanka. One member was silent-India.
The West and their Dumb---- Evangelists lost their Naval Base in Indian Ocean with the loss of LTTE.

The North East insurgents are in the same role.
 

Ray

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Re: India-Lanka love affair over Tamil corpses

Silent?

Watch the silent diplomacy working towards the aim!
 

kayal

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Re: India-Lanka love affair over Tamil corpses

Silent?

Watch the silent diplomacy working towards the aim!


We know rge ewffect of silent diplomacy. 40000 Tamil civilians massacred in a few months even as Indian military "observers" were present in the battle theater. Over 400 Tamilnadu fishermen shot and killed.

Actually it is not silent diplomacy. It is cowardly silent assistant to the massacre of Tamil civilians. What India did was silently train Lankan military. Silently fund the massacre. Silently give militatry hardware.
 

Yusuf

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Re: India-Lanka love affair over Tamil corpses

At the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, US, UK, France and Canada strongly criticized Sri Lanka on November 1 about not investigation the massacre of Tamil in 2009 and recent human rights violations. Iran, Pakistan, China and Russia supported Sri Lanka. One member was silent-India.
India is a silent member of what?
 

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