Rajapakse telephones Manmohan to brief Trincomalee situation

Colombo, Aug 1 (UNI) Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse today briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the phone on the security situation, especially in the restive Eastern Trincomalee district, where the government troops and the LTTE cadres are locked in intense fighting, Presidential sources here said.

''President Rajapakse has discussed with the Prime Minister the present situation in Trincomalee and the Mavilaru areas. He has also thanked Dr Manmohan Singh for India's assistance to evacuate hundreds of Sri Lankan workers stranded in Lebanon,'' a top aide of the President's office said over the phone.

President Rajapakse's telephone call to the Prime Minister has come within hours after the Tamil Tiger rebels fired volley of long-range mortar and artillery shells towards the Sri Lankan navy's key naval base inside the strategic port city of Trincomalee, where India has strong economic interests.

India's Oil giant, the Indian Oil Company (IOC) has rented all 99 oil tank farm from Sri Lanka on long term basis and is presently has an oil storage facility in China Bay.

China Bay is located in the close proximity of the Trincomalee harbour, where the Indian ships call on frequently to unload fuel cargoes.

Further details of the telephone conversation are not known immediately.

UNI XC SHB RN2311