Sri Lanka invited those "who make unfounded and exaggerated allegations as well as unrealistic demands as solutions" to visit Sri Lanka for themselves and see the progress themselves, in a statement issued today by the External Affairs Ministry. Deeming the call by the Tamil Nadu state assembly as "disturbing", the ministry asserted that the reports of Tamil Nadu fishermen being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy were "erroneous and without any factual basis". Slamming international calls for accountability, the ministry claimed that allegations against Sri Lanka's security forces were "based on hearsay, misinformation, misperceptions and ethno-nationalistic ideologies".
See here. Extracts reproduced below:
"In this context, it is regrettable that sections of Tamil communities living abroad have resorted to sustained protests and calls for unfriendly measures against Sri Lanka, ostensibly to obtain political rights for Tamils in Sri Lanka. These groups and parties have recommended solutions and demands that have no relevance to the ground realities in Sri Lanka but can militate against the efforts taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to provide justice and to arrive at arrangements for reconciliation."
"Strident demands to stop calling Sri Lanka a friendly country by some are disturbing and do not relate at all to the continuing friendship and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka that has stood the test of time and finds expression today in a multifaceted relationship encompassing all regions of India and all aspects of modern life including substantive economic interaction."
"Descriptions of the military conflict with the LTTE and its concluding phase in an emotive and unrealistic manner and demands for international intervention in Sri Lanka are devoid of merit and smack of prejudice. Allegations levelled against the Sri Lankan State, its leaders and Security Forces are based on hearsay, misinformation, misperceptions and ethno-nationalistic ideologies."
"The Government of Sri Lanka is willing to conduct inquiries into any allegations, if duly presented to authorities in Sri Lanka, through the judiciary and military tribunals, in line with practice followed by all other democratic nations. The persistent allegations against the Sri Lanka Navy with regard to alleged killing and harassment of Indian fishermen are erroneous and without any factual basis."
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