India today said it was not giving any "direct" help to Sri Lanka in its fight against LTTE but was maintaining a vigil along the coast to prevent any adverse impact on the country.
Naval chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said Indian Navy is not providing any direct help to its Lankan counterparts in its efforts to recapture the Tiger strong-holds in northern parts of the island nation.
"There is no direct support. We support them by checking our activities on their coast and their activities on ours. In this way, we help ourselves by helping them," Mehta told reporters here.
His comments came after reporters asked him whether Indian Navy is helping its Lankan counterparts in their war against the Tigers.
Mehta said the Navy was keeping a tight vigil on the coast and are closely watching the situation in the neighbouring country.
Lankan Navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda yesterday said in Colombo that co-operation with India has been extremely successful in countering the LTTE.
"Every year, the Indian Navy with the Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lankan Navy holds four bilateral discussions. We are conducting coordinated patrols with the Indian Navy as well," Karannagoda said.
Apparently emboldened by its recent military successes against the LTTE, the Sri Lankan government has on January two decided to scrap its ceasefire agreement with the rebel outfit that was signed in 2002.
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