Sri Lanka, India to strengthen ties

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 6 (UPI) -- Sri Lankan and Indian officials say they plan to strengthen military ties in a joint effort against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam terrorist organization.

Indian Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor and the head of the Sri Lankan army, Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, announced the two countries will strengthen ties in their ongoing military operations against LTTE, the Sri Lanka Ministry of Defense reported.

The U.S. government and many Western countries consider LTTE a terrorist organization.

Sri Lanka has been seeking greater cooperation from India recently. During the meeting, officials say Kapoor and Fonseka discussed the gains and losses the two countries have experienced in fighting LTTE including recent military operations.

When the meeting concluded, Kapoor and Fonseka said "the political relations between the two countries were on right track and it was time for the armed forces to strengthen ties," the release said.