GL Peiris Says Indira Gandhi’s Suspicion Influenced India’s Support to LTTE
Former Foreign Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris has stated that the suspicion of then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi towards Sri Lanka’s leadership played a key role in India’s decision to support and train the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during that period.
He made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the book launch of “Ekkada Geduma” (“United Conflict”) written by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, held yesterday (25) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.
Speaking further, he noted that during the presidency of J. R. Jayewardene, relations between Sri Lanka and India deteriorated significantly. He attributed this mainly to Sri Lanka’s closer ties with the United States.
He explained that for a small country, managing strategically important locations such as Trincomalee requires extreme caution. He said India viewed certain developments, including the proposal involving Trincomalee oil tanks and the establishment of a “Voice of America” broadcasting station in Sri Lanka, as potential threats to its national security.
According to him, these concerns contributed to India’s perception at the time, which eventually led to support and training being provided to the LTTE.
He also referred to the period between 2012 and 2014, stating that international pressure against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva was intense. He claimed that international actors and diaspora groups attempted to use LTTE-linked support networks to bring Sri Lanka before international judicial mechanisms.
He further added that diplomatic support from Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi of China, as well as Sergey Lavrov of Russia, played a crucial role in protecting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty during that period, and emphasized that no external party should interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
