Lanka pushes for defence pact with India

NEW DELHI: The threat to Sri Lanka's fragile peace process triggered by the LTTE's attack on the army commander was on the top of the agenda during foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders.

"I expressed Sri Lanka's deep regret at the decision of the LTTE to engage in a series of cowardly acts against the security forces, in complete disregard of their obligations under the ceasefire," Samaraweera told the Prime Minister on Monday.

Samaraweera during his discussions with Pranab Mukherjee once again tried to push for a defence pact with India. Expectedly Mukherjee was cool to the idea saying India was still studying the matter.

New Delhi is not keen on a defence agreement primarily because of domestic political compulsions.

Tamil sentiments would be hurt if India sold weapons to Colombo, which would finally be used to fight the Tigers. The DMK, a coalition partner of Manmohan Singh would raise serious objections to such a move.