‘Won’t allow anti-India activities’: Sri Lankan President Dissanayake
Hindustan TimesSri Lanka will not allow its soil to be used against Indian interests, its President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday as the two sides agreed on measures to bolster strategic and security cooperation. A joint statement said Dissanayake reiterated Sri Lanka’s “stated position of not permitting its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India as well as towards regional stability”. Modi said Dissanayake had spoken of “his inclusive approach” when the two sides discussed reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. The joint statement pointed to the shared security interests of India and Sri Lanka and the importance of “regular dialogue based on mutual trust and transparency and giving primacy to each other’s security concerns” and said the two sides had agreed to work together to counter traditional and non-traditional threats. President Dissanayake was very upfront in saying that he would ensure that nothing was done by using Sri Lankan territory that might impact India’s security.” The Sri Lankan government is looking at the issue, and India is confident that it will give “due care” to such important issues, Misri said.