India assures safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan visitors

Responding to the concerns raised by the Sri Lankan government on recent attacks on Sri Lankan Buddhist monks in the state of Tamil Nadu, India assureds today that it will take all measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo releasing a statement expressed concern the recent incidents involving Sri Lankan citizens in Tamil Nadu. "The Government of India, in consultation with the concerned state governments, has taken and will continue to take all measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu," the statement said. It added that the state government of Tamil Nadu has taken immediate action to identify and prosecute the miscreants, in respect of the recent incidents. The statement assured that the isolated incidents do not reflect the strong people-to-people bonds that have been an integral part of the close historical, cultural and civilizational ties between India and Sri Lanka. "Both countries consider these age-old bonds and affinities as strengths in our relations. India has been the leading source of tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka. Similarly, over 250,000 Sri Lankans visited India last year. It is this perspective that guides all our actions on such matters," it said.