The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry has called for a clarification over remarks by a senior Indian official that Sri Lanka should not buy weapons from Pakistan or China.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bahila told BBC Sandeshaya that the ministry is expecting a reply by Saturday over remarks by National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan.
Stating that India is a big power in the region, Narayanan has advised Sri Lanka not to approach any other country for procuring arms.
Regional power
The government is not worried over the reported remarks as the senior official has not stated anything contrary to Sri Lanka's policy towards India, Minister Bahila said.
MK Narayanan
Sri Lanka was asked not to buy weapons from Pakistan or China
"President (Rajapaksa) maintains that Sri Lanka can always rely upon India as the regional power," he said.
MK Narayanan also said that while India would provide Lanka whatever defence equipment it required, including radars, but in no case provide them with any offensive weapons.
'Offensive' weapons
"We are not seeking any offensive weapons. We are only engaged with defensive operations against LTTE, so we do not offensive weapons," minister Bahila told bbcsinhala.com.
"We sincerely hope that India will help Sri Lanka to defeat terrorism".
Sri Lanka will not regard the statement by Indian official, the minister said, as an intervention against Sri Lanka's sovereignty.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bahila told BBC Sandeshaya that the ministry is expecting a reply by Saturday over remarks by National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan.
Stating that India is a big power in the region, Narayanan has advised Sri Lanka not to approach any other country for procuring arms.
Regional power
The government is not worried over the reported remarks as the senior official has not stated anything contrary to Sri Lanka's policy towards India, Minister Bahila said.
MK Narayanan
Sri Lanka was asked not to buy weapons from Pakistan or China
"President (Rajapaksa) maintains that Sri Lanka can always rely upon India as the regional power," he said.
MK Narayanan also said that while India would provide Lanka whatever defence equipment it required, including radars, but in no case provide them with any offensive weapons.
'Offensive' weapons
"We are not seeking any offensive weapons. We are only engaged with defensive operations against LTTE, so we do not offensive weapons," minister Bahila told bbcsinhala.com.
"We sincerely hope that India will help Sri Lanka to defeat terrorism".
Sri Lanka will not regard the statement by Indian official, the minister said, as an intervention against Sri Lanka's sovereignty.
