Sri Lanka deals with India with a wide diplomatic vision - Minister

Diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka would not be affected by the activities of extremist elements in both countries and Sri Lanka is dealing with its neighbor with a wide diplomatic vision, Sri Lanka said today.
A government minister said today that although the two governments face inconveniences as a result of the activities of extremist elements in Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the state is also important for Sri Lanka as well as the central Indian government.
Participating in a programme of the National Radio this morning, Minister of Fish

eries and Aquatic Resources Rajitha Senaratne said due to misunderstandings about Sri Lanka the people in the southern state always act with suspicion.
Pointing out that failure of a Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to visit Sri Lanka up to now has also become a main reason for the distrust, the Minister suggested the External Affairs Ministry to at least make some mediation in the future.
Dr. Senaratne pointed out that there was no pressure from the Tamil Nadu on the Tamil issue until the humanitarian operation against Tiger terrorism ended.
He said that Sri Lanka has become under pressure from both the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and the DMK leader M. Karunanidhi as they compete with each other for power and hoped that the pressure exerted by the two leaders will end after the forthcoming elections in India.
Speaking of the fishermen issue, the Minister said certain groups in Tamil Nadu are using the issue of arresting the poaching Indian fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy to create a misconception about Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu.
The Minister explained that the Sri Lankan Navy arrests the Indian fishermen for fishing in the Sri Lankan territorial waters by violating the international maritime boundaries and the mechanism adopted earlier was to release the arrested Indian fishermen with the mediation of the Indian High Commission office.
However, the Indian fishermen are taking advantage of this arrangement and deliberately indulge in illegal fishing, the Minister noted.
According to the Minister, the Ministry of Fisheries has taken steps to change this situation and take legal action against the poaching fishermen.
He assured that these activities however, do not affect the diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka.