Gen Fonseka has described Tamil Nadu politicians as 'jokers'

In an interview with state run newspaper, Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka has said that Indian government will not listen to "jokers" in TN.

"If the LTTE is wiped out, those political jokers like Nadumaran, Viko and whoever who is sympathising with the LTTE will most probably lose their income from the LTTE," Gen Fonseka was quoted by the state owned Sunday Observer.

He was commenting on the recent protests in TN against Sri Lanka's military offensives.

'Expressed regret'

The official spokesperson for the India's Ministry of External Affairs, Vishnu Prakash, told journalists in Delhi that the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Alok Prasad, has taken the issue "strongly" with Sri Lanka authorities.

The Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka promised to look into the matter and conveyed regrets should any such comment have been made Official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, India

"The Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka promised to look into the matter and conveyed regrets should any such comment have been made," he said.

It is not the first time that Gen Fonseka's remarks have created controversy.

Earlier, British parliamentarians criticised his remarks to a Canadian newspaper that minorities in Sri Lanka should not make undue requests.

Attending a private member's debate in the Westminster parliament on 14 October, Labour MP Barry Gardiner criticised Gen Fonseka’s remark that Sri Lanka belong to Sinhala people.