Lankan envoy summoned

National Security Adviser MK Narayanan summoned Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner and expressed India’s “grave concern and unhappiness at the growing casualties of unarmed Tamil civilians as a result of military action”.

In a strong political message to Colombo, National Security Adviser MK Narayanan summoned Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner GGAD Paliltha Ganegoda on Monday and expressed India’s “grave concern and unhappiness at the growing casualties of unarmed Tamil civilians as a result of military action”.

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“The escalation of hostilities in the North and the resultant fall out was leading to a great deal of concern in India…there was need for the Sri Lankan government to act with greater restraint and address the growing feeling of insecurity among the minority community,” a statement from the External Affairs Ministry said.

It was conveyed to Ganegoda that the political process needed to be revived to stem the deteriorating humanitarian situation. “It was essential that vital supplies to the affected population were not disrupted in any manner,” the release stated.

“Serious concern was also expressed at the continuing attacks on Indian fishermen, including the recent incident on September 27-28,” it said, calling upon the Sri Lankan navy to cease such attacks and not lose sight of the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of the issue. Ganegoda was called to the South Block by Narayanan as Lankan High Commissioner Romesh Jayasinghe is visiting Gujarat and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon is abroad.