Union minister joins TN CM in opposing training to Sri Lankans in Tambaram airbase

Chennai:

Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on Friday expressed concern over Sri Lankan Air Force personnel being trained at Tambaram Air force Station and said it was “unacceptable and regrettable.”

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Rs 9.82 crore state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Management System at Chennai Port, the minister said Sri Lankan soldiers getting training in Tambaram airbase is a matter of concern and it should be stopped.

Interestingly, this is the first reaction from a Union Minister expressing concern over his government’s move to train Sri Lankan airforce personnel after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa demanded that the nine Sri Lankan air force personnel undergoing training in Tamil Nadu be packed out as the move adds insult to injury.

He said that Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has raised the issue and TNCC president B S Gnanadesikan is going to New Delhi to meet the concerned minister and express his concern over the issue. “I am sure there will be a full stop to such kind of things in the future,” the minister said.

He also said that resettling of the Tamils was India’s concern in Sri Lanka. “Not only that, we are equally concerned about giving equal powers to the Tamils as the Sinhalese are getting in Sri Lanka. This is our concern,” he said.