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More defence cooperation with India
By Palitha Ariyawansa and Chris Kamalendran
Sri Lanka and India have reached accord on greater defence co-operation to ensure security in the Indian Ocean region, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle declared on Friday.

Lt. Gen. Balagalle, who during a four-day official visit to India, held talks with the Chiefs of Staff of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, told journalists in Diyatalawa that arrangements have also been worked out for joint intelligence co-operation between the two countries. He said other "arrangements have also been worked out" but declined to divulge details except to say they were being "considered favourably." He spoke to them when he arrived in Diyatalawa to take part in a passing out parade of Air Force cadets at the Air Force academy.

Lt. Gen. Balagalle said during his visit he held extensive discussions with Indian defence authorities. He said this was to ensure "regional security" and also "to prevent all illegal activities including smuggling".

He did not elaborate. He said the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lanka Navy had reached agreement to work jointly to prevent what he called illegal activities in the Indian Ocean region.

Lt. Gen. Balagalle revealed that an agreement had been signed with the Indian Air Force to lease out their aircraft. These aircraft are to be used to transport troops from Ratmalana to the Palaly airbase in the Jaffna peninsula. He said that a lack of transport planes at present caused a heavy delay in the movement of troops to Jaffna and its immediate environs.

Lt. Gen. Balagalle also revealed that another agreement had been signed with the Indian authorities to conduct urgently needed repairs to the runway at the Palaly airbase. This was to facilitate the easy use of aircraft to be leased from the Indian Air Force.

Lt. Gen. Balagalle's visit to India where close defence co-operation arrangements have been worked out comes at a time when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had moved in to forge closer ties with India. During a meeting with parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Kilinochchi on December 9, Political Wing leader, S.P. Tamilselvan, urged them to take steps immediately to improve relations with India.

Officials in New Delhi, however, dismissed the initiatives. They reminded that Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief, Pottu Amman were most wanted men in India for the assassination of former Premier Rajiv Gandhi.

Lt. Gen. Balagalle's talks with senior officials in the Indian defence establishment, External Affairs Ministry and Defence Minister George Fernandez came in the backdrop of President Chandrika Kumaratunga's take over of the defence, interior and mass communication portfolios on November 4. Since then President Kumaratunga had intensified efforts to conclude early a proposed Defence Co-operation Agreement with India. It was Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe who decided on this proposed agreement during talks in New Delhi with Indian Premier, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

President Kumaratunga is learnt to have asked Lt. Gen. Balagalle to discuss with Minister Fernandez and Indian officials matters relating to the Defence Co-operation Agreement. Yesterday, Indian High Commissioner Nirupam Sen also discussed the proposed Defence Co-operation Agreement when he met President Kumaratunga during a meeting at the President's House.

A source at the President's office said Mr. Sen would leave for New Delhi today for consultations with his Government on many matters including defence co-operation.
It may be recalled that during a visit to Srinagar, the capital of war torn Jammu and Kashmir province in India, Lt. Gen. Balagalle declared that Tiger guerrillas were recruiting cadres and enhancing their military arsenal in the event the peace talks fail.

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