Q&A with DefenceWire

Some of you have been asking us some questions with regard to India and the acquisition of new weapons. We hope to provide you with some answers. Please note that information deemed highly sensitive by us have been omitted.

India and Tamil Nadu

According to our sources, which are primarily from the defence sector, Indian Central Government has instructed the government of Sri Lanka to achieve its targeted objectives before the 15th Lok Sabha Elections in India next year. The elections will be held in April-May 2009.

The Sri Lankan government and its armed forces are preparing to reach a decisive stage in the war by that time. Its objective would be to capture Kilinochchi and Pooneryn and corner the Tigers into Mullaitivu. Once this threshold is reached, the ruling party in India would engage Tamil Nadu politics and openly issue warnings to Sri Lanka to increase safeguards for Tamil minority rights. The Sri Lanka government will then oblige.

Currently, if you observe Indian politics, Jayalalitha Jeyaram and her counterparts have only issued isolated statements on the issue and have not adopted an anti Sri Lanka government stance as a sustained policy. She even boycotted a large demonstration organized by the Communist Party recently.

The ruling part in India and Jayalalitha Jeyaram will become vociferous as the election draws near to attract Tamil votes, especially if the Tamil question in Sri Lanka becomes a powerful issue in Tamil Nadu. But the Indian government will maintain its non-interventionist policy in Sri Lanka. It is also apprehensive of Sri Lanka's growing alliance with Pakistan and China.

In fact, a Sri Lankan military delegation returned from Pakistan with a load of weapons for the war barely two weeks ago. Pakistan and China, the other two nuclear superpowers in the region, define the LTTE as a terrorist organization. Pakistan is urging Sri Lanka to become the first state in the region and perhaps even in the world to crush terrorism since that country is also facing a terrorist problem.

New Arms: MIG 29s

NO MIG-29S HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY SRI LANKA. The bill was too expensive, in the range of $500 million, which is too much for the economy. In any case, the F-7s have demonstrated adequate air superiority and the Kfirs and Mig-27s have done more than their share in reducing LTTE infrastructure to rubble. If any investment is to be made, it will be made on servicing and further improving the aircrafts we already have, including the workhorse of the military-- the MI24/35.

Sri Lankan Ex-Military as Mercenaries

Please await a detailed analysis on the issue in the coming weeks.

Thank you,
DW Team