Sri Lankan Navy today rubbished a report published by Indian media that it was providing tactical support to Somali pirates operating out of Indian waters. Speaking to Ada Derana Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said that these were attempts by South Indian media to tarnish the relations between India and Lanka.
South-Asian News magazine Truth Dive claimed quoting unnamed sources that the tactical support to Somali pirates operating out of Indian waters was from the Sri Lankan Navy.
It states that, “The Sri Lankan navy is known to have turned a blind eye to Somalian Pirates operations. The waters along the Tamil Nadu coast was more or less in control of LTTE but now the Sri Lanka Navy appears to have forged ties with Somali Pirates to operate in this region. According to sources the pirates are allowed to use the Sri Lanka coastline to fuel and berth. The pirates recently captured by Indian Navy seemed to have spilled the beans. The pirates are given refuge in turn for keeping the coast free from intrusion.”
The Navy Spokesman stated that it was absurd to claim that pirates from Somalia which is miles away from Sri Lanka used the Lankan coast for refueling. He added that the Lankan Navy would apprehend anyone who attempts to use the Lankan waters for illegal activities.
