Sri Lanka tenders apology to Modi, Jaya over article on govt website

The apology comes on an article published in the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence website

The Sri Lankan government has offered an unqualified apology to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa against an article published in Sri Lanka's defence ministry website titled "How meaningful are Jayalalitha's love letters to Narendra Modi?"

A statement posted in Sri Lankan defence ministry website reads: "An article titled 'How meaningful are Jayalalitha's love letters to Narendra Modi?' had appeared on our website, along with a graphical portrayal of Hon Prime Minister of India and Hon Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu."

The article, which had been published without appropriate authorisation and not reflecting any official position of the Government of Sri Lanka or Ministry of Defence and Urban Development has since been removed, the website said.

"We extend an unqualified apology to the Hon Prime Minister of India and Hon Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," added the statement.

It may be noted that the posting and the apology comes in the backdrop of constant complaints from the chief minister of Tamil Nadu and several political parties about the manner in which Sri Lanka has been threating fishermen from the state and taking them into custody even though they does not enter Sri Lankan waters. Jayalalithaa has been writing to the prime minister, earlier to Manmohan Singh and now to Narendra Modi, demanding that the Centre take a stand against Sri Lankan behaviour towards Tamil Nadu fishermen.

S Ramadoss, founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi, and Vaiko, leader of MDMK, has earlier issued statements against the article and said the title and the illustation in the article are of cheap taste, demanding the Sri Lankan government act on the issue.

The write up, by writer Shenali D Waduge, while commenting against Jayalalithaa and that the Tamil Nadu government has to look at alternative ways to secure the livelihood of its fishermen as the trawling is distroying the sea. The author said that while the Tamil Nadu government is raising its voice against Sri Lanka, a BJP high powered delegation led by Subramaniam Swamy visits Sri Lanka, which shows that the India government thinks the other way.

“Tamil Nadu Chief Minister may learn sooner than later that Narendra Modi is not a puppet to dance to her tantrums or threats,” wrote Waduge. The article was posted with a disclaimer that the Ministry of Defence has no responsibility on the opinion of the contributors to the opinion page of the website.