COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Thursday refuted allegations that India was "compelling" the government to end the military offensive against Tamil Tigers, saying New Delhi only sought a peaceful solution to the decades-long problem.
"As a neighbouring country India is requesting peace talks but it did not compel the Sri Lankan Government to stop the war," Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane told reporters.
"Sri Lanka and India have a close bilateral relationship. Sri Lanka is maintaining a strong relationship with India as a neighbouring country," he said.
Abeywardane refuted the Marxist JVP party's allegations that New Delhi was insisting on government to stop the war in the North against LTTE and resume peace talks.
A high level Indian delegation led by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, which also included Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, had visited Sri Lanka last week.
During their visit they met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other officials including Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
Abeywardane also termed it as "baseless" JVP's charge that Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan has been elected as the Chief Minister of Eastern province under pressure from India.
Chandrakanthan has been elected Chief Minister of the Eastern Province following the polls held for the first time after nearly two decades and it was not on the insistence of India, the minister told reporters on Wednesday.
Minister Abeywardane said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has always reiterated that the doors for peace talks are open but the LTTE must lay down their weapons.
Asserting that entire North will be liberated soon, Abeywardane said Rajapaksa intended to restore peace and harmony in the Northern province while assuring livelihoods of the public.
"The Government conducted a free and fair election in the Eastern province to let them select their representatives in a democratic way," Abeywardane said.
