Sri Lanka has addressed India's security concerns: Swamy

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has addressed India's security concerns over its soil being used by extremists to infiltrate into Tamil Nadu, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said today, a day after Colombo assured New Delhi that it will not allow any anti-India activities.

"India had concerns over one particular country and some extremists from that country using Sri Lanka to infiltrate into Tamil Nadu. The issue had been raised with Sri Lankan government and they addressed it," Swamy, Chairman of BJP Committee for Strategic Action, said, responding to a question posed by a Chinese delegation attending a defence seminar here.

Sri Lanka yesterday assured India that its soil would not be used for terror attacks against its neighbour even as Colombo stepped up deportation of Pakistani nationals amid reports that they were involved in subversive acts directed at India.

"We have constantly assured India that under no circumstances will Sri Lankan soil be used for any acts against India," Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G L Peiris had said at a meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka has started deporting dozens of Pakistani nationals who have been staying in the country for long periods pending the processing of their applications.

Swamy also said that the Narendra Modi Government is not concerned over the strong ties between China and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's closer ties with China was not a problem that irked India, he said, adding that New Delhi will back Beijing working with Sri Lanka on the economic front.

"India respects Sri Lanka's right to choose with whom it wants to have friendly relations. Similarly, India is also looking forward to build its own ties with China," he said.

India is not part of any strategic partnership which works against the Chinese government, Swamy, widely seen here as a friend of Sri Lanka, said.

"We are no one to tell Sri Lanka don't have the Chinese here or don't have the Pakistanis here. We can't. Sri Lanka won't listen even," he said.