Sri Lankan pro-government supporters burn a larger-than-life photograph of Tamil Nadu state Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jayaram during a demonstration outside the Indian High Commission in Colombo on June 10, 2014. The activists denounced India s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jayaram for allegedly interfering in Sri Lanka s domestic politics. PHOTO: AFP
COLOMBO: Hundreds of activists protested in the Sri Lankan capital Tuesday against India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi for urging the island to step up post-war reconciliation with ethnic minority Tamils.
The pro-government protesters waved placards that read "Modi don't be foolish" and shouted anti-Modi slogans outside the Indian High Commission - the de facto embassy - in Colombo over the prime minister's comments made last month.
The protesters accused Modi, who swept to power with a landslide election win in May, of interfering in Sri Lanka's internal affairs.
The activists, led by the National Freedom Front, a coalition partner in President Mahinda Rajapakse's government, also targeted the chief minister of India's southern Tamil Nadu state, Jayalalitha Jayaram.
The protesters burnt a photograph of Jayaram, who has called for Modi to probe the "genocide" that she alleged was committed against Tamils during Sri Lanka's decades-long separatist war.
Sri Lanka is under international pressure to probe allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the finale of the war between the military and Tamil rebels that ended in 2009.
Rajapakse held talks with Modi after attending his inauguration last month. Modi urged Rajapakse at the talks to devolve political power to Tamils in reconciliation efforts.
There have been tensions between the two countries over Colombo's treatment of its Tamil minority, which shares close cultural and religious ties with the more than 70 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu state.
Last week, Sri Lanka's government reacted angrily to Jayaram's "genocide" remark, which it said reflected her bias against Sri Lanka.
Tamil Nadu, which is separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow strip of sea known as the Palk Strait, had in the 1980s provided safe haven to Tamil guerrillas who were fighting for an independent state carved out of Sri Lanka, the majority of whose population is ethnic Sinhalese.
COMMENTS (17)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Pity None of those developed army, arms and ammunition vis via india or developed nukes. All those you mentioned have cooperation and and trade running in million billion dollars that run their economy. Why not ask them if they are ready to have a tiff with india? And we are linked by indian born religion to nepal,srilanka, Burma- "brothers" there is natural bond between us. As far as Bangladesh we helped them with 71 that is why we have good relationship with their govt and both sides places each other's priority first. Our foreign minister sushma swaraj first trip is to Bangladesh. Balochistan issue is your own doing. Closing your eyes to their problem, burying head in sand and behaving like an ostrich won't let go of their problems. Solve those instead of blaming others. @antanu some comments you write as Pakistani some as indians. I didn't know we had dual passports for people from Pakistan. Stop trolling.
@lol. Typo. I meant 1.25. And I am a girl. :)
@whats in the name:
I guess you forgot to mention India's interference in Balochistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Burma.
its time india take over tamil areas of srilanka like jaffana etc like russia took over Crimea from Ukraine
@Mega: 25 billion indians?? no dude let it be 1.2.... we seriously dont want that to happen :D
It was a bad move by Modi. ..but then we always wanted to prove our slavery for the West. ..just to please the west we are ready to act on its behalf in Sri Lanka matters.
According to the Modi principle zero tolerance is the rule!
Zero tolerance of Modi Government may not be palatable to criminals!
@gaurav....you think we afraid of india??u are mistaken my friend..we got the assurance from our strong friends....to give us full support..you know what im talking...just mind your own business dude...in the future we might not need you...but you may need us...cus we are the strategy of indian ocean
Now get ready for trouble
I just love it when you guys spew hate on Modi. It just shows your sheer frustration and anxiety as to what he would do next. If for nothing else, I'll keep voting for him just for this. You guys, like Libra above, can keep whining
Modi just stated what all western countries and UN are demanding from srilanka. Secondly "hundred" people don't represent nation. A hundred protected against South Korea posco plant in indian state of odisa, does that mean india or indians hate South Korea? Nope. We are linked by religion Hinduism and Buddhism, natural brothers bonds are too strong for that. @libra we don't care what 18 crore people of our neighbour thinks. 25 billion indians have appointed him and given him a task to fulfill it. The world have accepted/congratulated him and looking forward to work with him fixing early dates as possible. People who envy it can burn, won't change facts.
@Libra No one gives a tinkers bell what you think about Modi. Maybe you should look at election results once again, how much people of India backs him.
India is too Big and Proud for such tiny nonsense by Sri-lankans. And at the end of day, who cares ?
I believe now fellows from across the border will do everything they can to prove that Modi is a saint in disguise.
This interference is nothing compared to what pakistan does in afghanistan. Iran treats iraq far better. So does saudia its neighbours. And usa mexico and canada. Pakistan as always sets a benchmark.
Modi is prone to trouble all neighboring countries of India. He is extremist and not fit to be a PM anyways.