COLOMBO, MAY 24: Sri Lanka was mulling on Wednesday how to react to an offer by India to help evacuate thousands of troops defending the northern peninsula of Jaffna against an LTTE offensive, if requested to do so by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. However, official sources privately expressed displeasure and described India's offer as a move that could further demoralise their soldiers.``We have asked for help but not to withdraw from Jaffna,'' a senior government official who declined to be named said. ``We have sent not only more weapons but more modern weapons and troops to defend Jaffna.'' The official said soldiers were prepared to defend their positions and fight on, but the Indian move could place the military on a ``withdrawal mode''.Sri Lanka's stand was somewhat voiced by its Deputy External Affairs Minister, Lakshman Kiriella, in Chennai today when he said there was no need to immediately evacuate the troops from Jaffna. Speaking to reporters at Chennai airport before leaving for Colombo this morning, he said the ground situation did not warrant immediate evacuation.Stressing that the next four or five days would be crucial, he said Sri Lanka welcomed India's conditional offer to help evacuate its troops. Asked why his government was yet to come out with a formal request as demanded by India, he said there was only a presumption that it was necessary. ``I doubt it very much.It all depends on the ground situation,'' he added.The country's junior defence minister, Anuruddha Ratwatte, had on May 9 told Parliament that the government would ``fight to the last man'' to defend Jaffna, regarded by Tamils as the centre of their culture. Similar sentiments were expressed by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who said the country was facing its ``worst military crisis'' but the government would not allow the ``fascist Tigers'' to retake Jaffna.India had earlier offered a ``helping hand or a negotiating hand'' but the Colombo Government did not make use of that saying the offer was not conveyed officially. On May 4, Sri Lanka established diplomatic ties with Israel shortly after India refused any military aid to its security forces battling the Tigers. With the re-establishment of diplomatic relations after 30 years, Sri Lanka promptly ordered weapons and aircraft from the Jewish state. Government officials said the military would not have sent more weapons to Jaffna if the government contemplated a withdrawal.Interestingly, Kumaratunga has expressed disappointment over India's refusal to give military assistance to her country and said New Delhi should help bring the LTTE rebels to the negotiating table, in an interview to an Indian newspaper on Wednesday. Kumaratunga said India could contribute to the peace process in Sri Lanka by strengthening the hand of Norway, which has been trying to end fighting between the troops and the LTTE. ``There is already a third party facilitating for 15 months. We can't suddenly drop Norway and pick up somebody else. But we are looking at the Indian offer in the background of Norway being our chief facilitator,'' said Kumaratunga. ``India can do many things. What it could do is strengthen the hands of our chosen facilitator, Norway, and try to persuade the LTTE to come for talks.''``I think India has, could have a lot of influence over the LTTE, if they so wish,'' she said.Kamaratunga told the daily she was disappointed by India's reticence to give her government military assistance but said she did not feel betrayed. ``I have always said that India has a very crucial role to play in South Asia . but I also understand the Indian Government's reticence. They very willingly came forward at one time.and the Indian troops and government were so shabbily treated.''
