Sethu project: Beware of LTTE, says Lankan Navy chief

Sri Lankan Navy chief Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda on Thursday sought international cooperation to deal with the threat posed by the LTTE and claimed that patrolling would have to be increased if India’s Sethusamundram shipping channel project is implemented.

Wasantha Karannagoda, who is in New Delhi to take part in Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, claimed that the LTTE has been a threat for Sri Lanka but if its activities were not checked the group will pose problems for other countries.

He said the Sri Lankan Navy has been successful in countering the LTTE. Welcoming the Indian Navy’s initiative to bring together sea forces of the Indian Ocean region, he said such a cooperation will help in forming a joint strategy to deal with threats posed by terrorists.

Karannagoda steered clear from the controversy over the Sethusamundram project but said that the Indian Government would have factored the security aspect while conceiving the shipping lane.

On its party, Sri Lanka will increase patrol on its side of the channel, he added. The Sri Lankan official said the bilateral cooperation between the maritime security agencies of the two countries was in place.

The two sides hold regular discussions to clear any misunderstanding. There are coordinated patrols to secure the area.

Source: newindpress.com