India's National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan meeting Thamilnadu Chief Minister at an earlier occasion

He said that India is a big power in the region and advised neighbouring Sri Lanka not to approach any other country for procuring arms.

In a brief interaction with the media after meeting with M.Karunanidhi, chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Narayanan said if Sri Lanka wanted any help it should come to India which would in turn render it whatever help was necessary.

Certainly they should not approach countries like China and Pakistan, he stressed.

He also said that while India would provide Lanka whatever defense equipment it required, including radars, but in no case provide them with any offensive weapons.

"We will not provide the Sri Lanka government with offensive capabilities and that is the standard position", he said.

Naval operations

India's National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan said that there are problems about joint patrolling, but both countries have already begun co-ordinated patrolling.

Refering to the issue of Indian fishermen, he said, India had advised Sri Lanka Navy that they should not fire on Indian fishermen.

"Sri Lanka Navy have said they will not and they have not", India's National Advisor, M.K.Narayanan added.