New Delhi: The Defence Ministry is considering the demand made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha to send back two Sri Lankan officers training in the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington in the state.
Accusing the Centre of showing "excessive enthusiasm" in training Sri Lankan defence personnel, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has written a letter to the Prime Minister putting forth her demand in this regard.
"As far as we are concerned, this is a Defence Ministry matter and we are in touch with them," Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters here when asked about the issue.
In July, nine Sri Lankan defence personnel were removed from a training institution in Tambaram to Bangalore after opposition from political parties in the state.
In her letter, Jayalalitha said such "reprehensible attitude" on the part of the Centre was reflected in permitting two Sri Lankan defence personnel Major Dissanayaka Mohottalalage Vengra and Captain Hewawasam Kadaudage to undergo 11 months training at Defence Services Staff College at Wellington from May 19.
"It is very clear that this fact of ongoing training since May 2012 has been mischievously concealed from my government, showing scant regard for the views of my government as well as for the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu," she said.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has requested the Prime Minister to instruct the Defence Ministry to immediately halt the training being given to the two Sri Lankan defence personnel and send them back to their country immediately.
PTI
