12-28-2005, 02:13 PM
India-Sri Lanka-Defence
India has provided Sri Lanka with two indigenously developed military radars on the eve of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's maiden visit.
India is the newly elected Sri Lankan president's choice for a first visit abroad.
The transfer of the radars, to enable low-level detection of fighter aircraft, marks the resumption of non-lethal military aid after five years.
The transfer adheres to the India-Sri Lanka draft defence cooperation agreement that does not encourage Colombo to opt for a military solution to the Tamil issue, a media report said here today.
At the same time, it beefs up Sri Lankan defence against any distant possibility of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam acquiring prowess in air operations. At present, the LTTE owns two micro-light aircraft and is believed to have developed two airstrips in areas under its control.
India did provide non-lethal military equipment, including fast patrol crafts, in 2000 following the stepped up activities of the LTTE. But it has generally refrained from providing high-technology supplies ever since it stopped supplying military hardware in the late 1980s.
India agreed to supply the radars after Pakistan began taking interest in filling the void in Sri Lankan military supplies.
Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh made the formal offer during his visit to Colombo earlier this year as India felt uncomfortable with the idea of having Pakistan-installed surveillance equipment near its shores.
Despite the defence agreement being in limbo two years after it was first drafted, the two countries deepened their military-level joint naval exercises earlier this month.
The two navies could again meet next month when India hosts a joint exercise for sea forces of neighboring countries.
The joint exercise was carried out in the Indian Ocean about 30 kilometers off the coast of Colombo, he added
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0...83503125432.htm
India has provided Sri Lanka with two indigenously developed military radars on the eve of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's maiden visit.
India is the newly elected Sri Lankan president's choice for a first visit abroad.
The transfer of the radars, to enable low-level detection of fighter aircraft, marks the resumption of non-lethal military aid after five years.
The transfer adheres to the India-Sri Lanka draft defence cooperation agreement that does not encourage Colombo to opt for a military solution to the Tamil issue, a media report said here today.
At the same time, it beefs up Sri Lankan defence against any distant possibility of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam acquiring prowess in air operations. At present, the LTTE owns two micro-light aircraft and is believed to have developed two airstrips in areas under its control.
India did provide non-lethal military equipment, including fast patrol crafts, in 2000 following the stepped up activities of the LTTE. But it has generally refrained from providing high-technology supplies ever since it stopped supplying military hardware in the late 1980s.
India agreed to supply the radars after Pakistan began taking interest in filling the void in Sri Lankan military supplies.
Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh made the formal offer during his visit to Colombo earlier this year as India felt uncomfortable with the idea of having Pakistan-installed surveillance equipment near its shores.
Despite the defence agreement being in limbo two years after it was first drafted, the two countries deepened their military-level joint naval exercises earlier this month.
The two navies could again meet next month when India hosts a joint exercise for sea forces of neighboring countries.
The joint exercise was carried out in the Indian Ocean about 30 kilometers off the coast of Colombo, he added
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0...83503125432.htm