The proposed Indo-Lanka Defence Co-operation Agreement will be signed during the three day visit to India by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, beginning today, India's visiting Army Commander N.C. Vij revealed yesterday.
Addressing reporters after high-level talks with Sri Lanka's Chief of Defence Staff and Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri, General Vij said the proposed agreement provided for enhanced military assistance to Sri Lanka.
He also said the agreement was now cut and dry for wrapping up.
Referring to India's controversial Sethusamudram project, Vice Admiral Sandagiri said the navy had given General Vij a report from the Foreign Ministry, outlining the negatives in the project.
"The project might pose many environmental and security problems to Sri Lanka and we have already presented our report on the matter to the Foreign Ministry, which will take up the issue with the Indian government," Commander Sandagiri said.
Commenting on the proposed defence co-operation agreement, Vice Admiral Sandagiri said he believed the agreement was to Sri Lanka's advantage and he hoped it would strengthen military ties between the two countries.
Last week Defence Ministry Secretary Cyril Herath and the three service commanders held talks with a five-member Indian delegation led by the Defence Ministry's Additional Secretary, Ranjith Issar, to finalise the draft agreement. The agreement covers greater military cooperation in military training, exchange of military intelligence, maritime surveillance, joint military exercises, defence supplies and bilateral meetings at different levels of the security establishment.
It also provides Sri Lanka's security forces easy access to Indian military hardware.
Last week, the LTTE came out strongly against the proposed defence cooperation agreement, warning it might even jeopardise the peace process.
