Addressing a Defence Seminar organized by the Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry, he said India’s foreign policy, under the Narendra Modi-led government, would be structured entirely on national interests and not on narrow regional interest. “Much of the troubles are due to the political polemics of Tamil Nadu,” he said, adding that all proponents of strong action in the Tamil cause were defeated electorally.

“We will have normal relations with Sri Lanka and develop it further,” he said, pointing to the BJP’s massive mandate in the Lok Sabha elections which, he said, enabled New Delhi to act independently without the pressures of coalition partners.

Dr. Swamy had then said India would be far more supportive of Sri Lanka’s position at the United Nations Human Rights Council than before.

SDF/KH