L.T.T.E. has to be dealt with militarily: Rajapaksa

New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) Sri Lanka on Thursday unequivocally stated that terrorist activities of the Liberation Tigers of tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) have to be dealt with militarily and any underlying causes, exploited by such outfits, should be addressed politically.

"For over two decades, Sri Lanka has been facing a
tremendous challenge to our democratic way of life through
barbaric actions of a terrorist group, the L.T.T.E.

"There is no doubt that such groups have to be dealt with
militarily," Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in his
address at the second summit of Bay of Bengal Initiative for
Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
(B.I.M.S.T.E.C.).

He said Sri Lanka believes that any underlying causes,
exploited by terrorists in an attempt to seek legitimacy for
their operations, should be dealt with politically.

Terror groups are able to sustain themselves by illegal
fundraising, narcotics and people trafficking, money
laundering, and arms and ammunition smuggling, including
through the sea routes in the Bay of Bengal, he said.

"I urge you to consider setting up of a mechanism to
effectively police the seas of the Bay of Bengal, to deny
these terrorists mobility and connectivity," he said.

The issue of terrorism came up for discussion at the
summit meeting of leaders of member nations -- India, Sri
Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Nepal.

The resolution, adopted by the B.I.M.S.T.E.C.leaders,
"fully reflects our concern" over growing terrorism in the
region, Rajapaksa told reporters later.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said B.I.M.S.T.E.C.
leaders had finalised a convention on fighting international
terrorism, trans-national organised crime and illicit drug
trafficking. PTI SKU
SAK