Coordinated patrolling with Lanka: Naval chief

New Delhi, Dec 3: Ruling out joint patrolling with the Sri Lankan Navy, Indian Naval Chief Sureesh Mehta has said the two navies are, however, planning to go for coordinated patrolling of their areas.

''Indian Navy has no role to play in a sovereign Lanka. It can only help in the peace process,'' Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta told reporters on the eve of the Navy Day yesterday.

He said the Indian Navy was taking precautionary measures to counter the problem of refugees in the event of a civil war in the Island Nation.

''Our concern is the influx of refugees, while the Sri Lankan Navy has to ensure that arms and contraband do not reach the Tamil Tigers.'' To exercise checks and controls, he said, the two navies were planning to go for coordinated patrolling through which each side would provide information on what was happening in their areas.

UNI

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