India will never hurt SL’s interests- Kantha

12 May 2013 07:12 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Stressing that India was pleased with Sri Lanka’s progress in the aftermath of 2009, outgoing Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha said the vote in Geneva should not be treated as a vote against the country.

The High Commissioner who took up the posting in Sri Lanka no sooner LTTE terrorism was eradicated in the country, in an interview with the state owned Sunday Observer said, “India will never do anything which will hurt Sri Lanka’s interests,” adding ‘The vote in Geneva was not a vote against Sri Lanka’.

Kantha said that the ‘fundamental interests of Sri Lanka and India are interlinked and there was no contradiction in these interests’.
The High Commissioner said his three-and-a-half year tenure was one that saw heightened interactions between the two neighbours and President Mahinda Rajapaksa made four fruitful visits to India during this period and the exposition of the sacred Kapilavastu relics in Sri Lanka was the zenith of these interactions.

When asked why India isolated Sri Lanka in Geneva last March when a US sponsored resolution was taken up, he said, “We see progress and that gives us confidence. The big picture of our relationship is very positive. There are occasional differences. We may have different perspectives on some issues.”

Speaking on a political settlement, he denied that India is dictating terms to Sri Lanka on a solution aspired by them. “We always recognise that these are domestic processes where people of Sri Lanka, through an internal dialogue arrive at a settlement which is acceptable to them. India has never tried to dictate terms to Sri Lanka. That is not our approach.”

The High Commissioner also assured that the Governments of India and Tamil Nadu have stepped up security and it was safe now for Sri Lankan pilgrims to travel to India.

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Comments - 20

Saskia Sunday, 12 May 2013 10:23 AM

You are also involved in war crimes and be ready to go to the Hague one day.

CriticRoshan Tuesday, 14 May 2013 01:50 AM

This was what the FOX said after it failed to reach the grapes.

Punchi Nilame Monday, 13 May 2013 09:52 AM

Because our Foreign Minister is not bothered about the Lankans in India

Trehan Munasinghe Monday, 13 May 2013 09:45 AM

We Sri Lankan's will never trust our "Opportunistic" Neighbour...

Jan Chandra Monday, 13 May 2013 08:59 AM

Sri Lanka has enough experience not to believe this man.

Nihal Monday, 13 May 2013 06:36 AM

Even Dixit also said so many times 'India have good offices" but his inner heart always had dirty things.

Asoka Jayawardana Monday, 13 May 2013 06:34 AM

Never ever trust Indians. There is a proverb " If you see Indian and Cobra kill Indian first"

Dhammaloka Monday, 13 May 2013 05:34 AM

Because we have enough Indian Spouses working in Sri Lanka.

raviraj Sunday, 12 May 2013 03:19 PM

please try that and dig your own grave.
Does SL think that it is some super power of sort.
Sl has no friends in the international arena

kumara soysa Sunday, 12 May 2013 11:22 AM

This is the typical lie that Indians make! I was a senior State officer between 1977 and 1985, during when we saw the surreptitious efforts that the R.A.W made to promote the LTTE, arm them, train them and offer not an iota of assistance to us.

We should take legal action in an international court of justice and claim compensation for the harm they did to Sri Lanka. While doing so, we should also take Norway to court.

weir Sunday, 12 May 2013 07:25 AM

RIGHT. YOU COULD HAVE FOOLED US

Prof Hemantha Wickra Sunday, 12 May 2013 10:23 AM

You are playing politics Sir. You don't like Chinese presence here and scared of Southern Tamils. Sri Lankans are NO fools

Ruwan Sunday, 12 May 2013 08:55 AM

You did everything for your country and of course it is your duty. But you fooled most of our officials.

SALIYA WICKS Sunday, 12 May 2013 08:47 AM

NO MORE INTEREST LEFT TO BE HURT.

unchikun Sunday, 12 May 2013 08:41 AM

Well said sir. The vote was not against Sri Lanka. It was to bring violators of HRs to justice . Keep the pressure on.

Foxen Sunday, 12 May 2013 08:04 AM

Sir Sri Lankans are not children do not fool us. On you bike. we have other friends

Dxr Sunday, 12 May 2013 07:50 AM

Why your country does not allow Sri Lankan spouses of Indians to work in India?

Fusion Sunday, 12 May 2013 07:49 AM

Its the other way around. You will never hurt us as long as "WE" serve your interests! You have hurt us multiple time in past especially when we got close to the US. Don't forget that India has created/supported all kinds of Sinhala & Tamil extremist/terrorists in SL.

Shan Sunday, 12 May 2013 07:44 AM

Guilty Conscience is now speaking....

K.D.G.U.Wijesiri Sunday, 12 May 2013 07:36 AM

He is telling without telling "India Voted against Sri Lanka for Sri Lanka's Interest" thank you sir!

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India will never hurt SL’s interests- Kantha

Comments - 20

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