Basil says SL firm on training military personnel in India

3 October 2012 06:39 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Notwithstanding stiff opposition from political parties in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka on Wednesday asserted that it was "very firm" on continuing the training programme of its defence personnel in India and ruled out sending them to countries like China.

During an interaction with visiting Indian journalists, Mr Rajapaksa admitted that the recent attacks against Sri Lankan citizens in Tamil Nadu has "hurt" their feelings, but said no one in his country had any "hard feelings" for India or its people.

"No. We have never (thought about it) because in our long history since the days when we moved from British shoulders all training (to army personnel) were done in India or in Pakistan," he said.

The minister was responding to a question whether Sri Lanka was reconsidering the training programme for its military personnel in India and possibly get them trained in countries like China in the wake of protests in Tamil Nadu.

Dwelling on the issue, he said it has been the practice for any new batch to be sent to India for training and that Sri Lanka has no plans to change the tradition.

"There can be various opinions, but we can't (shift the programme). We are very firm on that and we have confidence (that it will continue). We have not even thought about," he said when pressed further on whether Sri Lanka would stop sending its personnel to India.

He noted that starting from the defence secretary to army commanders, everyone has been trained in India. "Everyone go to India first and only then they are sent to other countries like USA (for training)," he said. (Press Trust of India)

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Comments - 6

Hal Wednesday, 03 October 2012 07:18 AM

You can train Indian on economy. That is how to show growth in an economy when it is really sick.

flipper Wednesday, 03 October 2012 07:23 AM

india should come here for training!

buffaloa citizen Wednesday, 03 October 2012 08:22 AM

Making pleasing statements as the day of reckoning gets closer.

raviraj Wednesday, 03 October 2012 11:19 AM

so open your eyes and ears all you China and Pakistan lovers. Now you know who has been training SL all these years, and how the war was won.

RAJKK Wednesday, 03 October 2012 11:30 AM

why dont you to to Iran or Plastain. Expensive...???

Indian Thursday, 04 October 2012 03:53 PM

Sri lankans go to india to clean Indians' as ses with their tounges....after eating food from their as sholes....that's why sri lankans are going to India....

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Basil says SL firm on training military personnel in India

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