Unfriend Lanka, says Jaya

New Delhi (Agencies): The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution asking the Centre to stop treating Sri Lanka as a friendly country. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, demanded a referendum on a separate Eelam among Tamils in Sri Lanka and Lankan Tamils abroad. It also wanted the Centre to impose an economic embargo against Sri Lanka Voicing concern over increased attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, Jaya asked the Centre to initiate diplomatic steps to check it and urged for withdrawal of the 1974 agreement ceding Katchatheevu islet to the island nation. Replying to a special call attention on the issue in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said her government would seek legal course if the UPA government failed to accede to the demand. In her detailed reply, she said ceding of Katchatheevu had resulted in attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy as Colombo was not respecting various provisions of the agreement relating to traditional rights.