'Tamils in Sri Lanka loyal to India'

COLOMBO: Urging India to play a more active role in solving the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka, a Pro-LTTE party MP on Friday said Tamils in the Island nation are "loyal" to India and will always stand for the country's unity.

"It is Tamils only who can be truly loyal to neighbouring India, and India should keep this in mind," the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, M K Sivajilingam, told media.

"Tamils will always stand as great wall to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," he said while asking India to play a more crucial role in resolving the country's ethnic problem.

"I have stated in Parliament that the Tamils in this country would be one in protecting the unity and sovereignty of India," he said.

Last week, TNA party leader R Sambanthan had said his party was happy that India is showing some interest in the affairs of Sri Lanka.

"We are extremely happy that India is at last taking some greater interest on this matter (to resolve the Tamil problem). I do not think the present position can continue for long," Sambanthan told reporters here.

"India's role is crucial and we are prepared to work with India in dealing with the Tamil question. We are prepared to talk to India. India's role is fundamental," he had said.

Sivajilingam said the international community including the US, India and China should extend support to the cause of Tamils in Sri Lanka, claiming government forces have killed over 80,000 Tamils during the two decade-old violence.