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Colombo has not asked India for military intervention in Sri Lanka since the latest fighting erupted in the island's northern Jaffna peninsula and "I don't think India should do that again because it would embarrass India," said Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Mangala Moonesinghe on Tuesday during an interview with the private Star TV network. "India has its own domestic compulsions as to how it should handle the situation," he said in a reference to some of the partners in the Indian coalition government who oppose direct Indian military assistance to Sri Lanka. "The government has been shopping for arms from all over the world." "We will make the same offer to India. We will buy arms whether they are available in India or whether in Pakistan," the Sri Lankan diplomat said. Then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi sent a peace-keeping force to Sri Lanka in July 1987 that was later pulled out 32 months later after the fight against the LTTE that left some 1,200 Indian troops dead. "I am sorry that it had to leave because of the stupidity of one of our previous governments," Mr. Moonesinghe said. "But we are very happy with the position India is holding. We are very comfortable with that position," he said referring to New Delhi's offer. "We are extremely happy with the latest development in India where External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh declared openly that India would mediate in this crisis if called by the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE." Sri Lanka does not currently buy arms from India. The need for more equipment to beat back the Tamil Tigers' advance won positive responses from countries such as Pakistan and Israel, with the government's decision last week to restore diplomatic ties with Israel.
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