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| `No Indian Army contingent to guard PM during SAARC Summit` | | | Colombo | July 12
Sri Lanka has dismissed as "untrue" reports that a large contingent of Indian security forces would be present in the island nation during the SAARC Summit next month to guard Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"It is not true that a big contingent of Indian Army would be coming to Colombo to provide security for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the SAARC summit," Nimal Siripala, a senior Sri Lankan Minister, told Parliament here on Friday.
His comments follow reports in newspapers here recently that had claimed that President Mahinda Rajapakse had given approval for a heavy Indian military presence in Sri Lanka during the August 2-3 SAARC Summit.
Siripala, leader of the House and Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, said it was normal for the heads of state to bring their own security as has been the case with other international conferences, but added that no large contingent of security forces from India would arrive here to provide security to Singh.
The issue first came up on Wednesday when the Marxist JVP party member Bimal Ratnayaka sought to know whether 1500 Indian soldiers had already come to Sri Lanka to provide security to Singh during the SAARC Summit. At that time, the member was assured that Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake would reply to the question on Friday.
When the JVP member again sought the government's clarification on the issue yesterday after reminding that Wickremanayake was present in the House, the Prime Minister directed Siripala to answer the query.
Siripala said neither any Indian Army contingent was in the island country at present, nor was there any proposal to have it during the SAARC Summit.
Speculation about the presence of the Indian security forces during the SAARC Summit was triggered by the recent closely-guarded visit here of a high-level Indian delegation comprising National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.
'The Sunday Leader' newspaper had late last month reported that "President Mahinda Rajapakse has given approval for a heavy Indian military presence in Sri Lanka during the SAARC Summit."
Another newspaper 'Sunday Times' had also reported that the Indian Prime Minister has decided to "rely on his very own specialised Indian security for protection during his stay in the island (for the SAARC Summit)."
Sri Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka had told foreign correspondents recently that it was normal for all heads of state to have their own security during such meetings.
While refusing to divulge whether India had sought to have its own security for Singh, Fonseka had, however, said New Delhi could bring its own aircraft, helicopters and navy ships to guard the Indian delegation.
The Sri Lankan Army chief had insisted that despite the ongoing war with the LTTE, Colombo would be able to provide adequate security to leaders during the SAARC Summit. |
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