LTTE's criticism of India shows outfit is becoming weak: Lanka

Sri Lanka today said the LTTE's outburst against India in the wake of the recent visit of the island nation's Army Chief to the neighbouring country was indicative of the outfit's deteriorating strength.

"We don't bother to what LTTE says (on India) as it is a terrorist organisation. This only shows that they (LTTE) are becoming weak," Foreign Minister Rohithat Bogollagama told reporters here.

Bogollagama said Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka's recent week-long tour to India was part of the visits undertaken "from time to time" by various officials and leaders and should not be seen in any other context.

The LTTE yesterday criticised India for hosting the Sri Lankan army chief and said the "historic blunder" will "reinvigorate" the island's military which was carrying out "ethnic genocide" against the Tamils.

"The LTTE strongly condemns the Indian State's action of extending a state welcome to the military chief of the Sinhala State which has unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire agreement (with the Tamil rebels) and has launched widespread military offensives in the Tamil homeland," it said in a statement.

On the local body elections in eastern Batticaloa swept by a group of former rebels, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said his government was encouraged by its success as it was conducted in a peaceful manner with a high turnout.

Source: PTI