No training should be imparted to Lankan military: Vasan

Joining the chorus against India's offer to train Sri Lankan Naval personnel, Shipping Minister G K Vasan today said the Centre should avoid such taking such policy decisions.

Indicating that he had opposed any such initiative in the past also, Vasan said he had conveyed to Defence Minister A K Antony that no training should be imparted to Lankan military personnel.

"An announcement (in this regard) has come now. According to me, the Central government should avoid (taking) such policy decisions," he told reporters here.

Earlier, both Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and DMK chief M Karunanidhi had opposed India's offer to train Sri Lankan naval personnel against the backdrop of attacks on Indian fishermen allegedly by Lankan naval personnel, which is an emotional issue in Tamil Nadu.

Vasan also insisted that Delhi should pressurise Colombo to ensure equal rights for minority Tamils on par with the Sinhalese and that the 13th Amendment to Sri Lankan Constitution (on devolution of powers) was not watered down.

Indian naval chief Admiral Joshi had recently met Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo.