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Rajapaksa expresses regret over MoD article as outrage continues in Tamil Nadu

The Sri Lankan president expressed regret on Tuesday over a derogatory article posted by the Ministry of Defence over the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I regret that it has happened. I have called for a report on it," Rajapaksa told media in Colombo, the Daily Mirror reports.

The public statement of regret comes as there was widespread outrage in Tamil Nadu from cross-party politicians as well as personalities from the hugely influential Tamil Nadu film industry.

On Monday India's external affairs minister announced that the Sri Lankan High Commissioner would be summoned in response to the incident.

The article, published on the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence website, was entitled 'how meaningful are Jayalalithaa's love letters to Narendra Modi," and featured an illustration depicting the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Indian Premier's faces encircled in a heart. See here for more.

India summons SL High Commissioner amidst protests against Sri Lanka's MoD article (04 Aug 2014)

Tamil Nadu parties condemn SL military article on Jaya-Modi (02 August 2014)

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