Training of Lankan soldiers cancelled following protests

Coimbatore(Tamil Nadu), Jul 23 (PTI) The proposed
programme to train 25 Sri Lankan soldiers at the Defence
Service Staff College at Wellington in nearby Nilgiris
district has been cancelled following protests from Tamil
outfits, officials said Saturday.
The Lankan soldiers, who reached the college Friday
for the month-long training, left Saturday morning, the
officials said but refused to give further details.
Over 200 activists of various pro-Sri Lankan Tamil
outfits had staged a demonstration in front of the Madras
Regimental Centre (MRC) at Wellington protesting the training
programme.
The protesters included members of Periyar Dravida
Kazhagam, Naam Tamizhar Party and Viduthualai Chiruthaigal
Katchi.
They alleged that Tamils in Sri Lanka were suffering at
the hands of that country's Army and the decision to provide
training to the island nation's soldiers in south Indian state
Tamil Nadu was condemnable. PTI NVM
KAP