New Delhi: India provides short-term and long-term training programmes to military personnel from Sri Lanka and other neighbouring countries, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said.

He told the Lok Sabha that the training covered both technical and non-technical streams.

The minister was answering questions asked by members P. Lingam and Prabodh Panda who wanted to know if Sri Lankan army personnel were still being trained by the Indian Army.

He said training exchanges were conducted between military personnel of India and "various neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka".

The minister said the training took place in different states "where defence educational and training establishments are located, depending on the training requirements".

When asked if the training of Sri Lankan military personnel had generated protests in India, the minister said: "(The) government is pursuing an approach keeping in view all aspects of national interest."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has protested the military training given to the Sri Lankan armed forces, which she says had killed innocent Tamils while crushing the Tamil Tigers. (IANS)