New Delhi: Sri Lanka's naval soldier, Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni, who had attacked former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has warned incumbent PM Narendra Modi of not interfering in island nation's internal affairs.
The 46-year-old man said that interference by India in problems being faced by Tamilians will lead to unrest.
“I like Modi..I am happy he is visiting the country. He is a good man. But he should not interfere in our internal affairs. He should respect our territorial integrity,” Rohana told Indian Express.
“If he interferes like Rajiv Gandhi, the Tamil problem will resurface. Thousands of Sri Lankan soldiers and about 1,500 Indian soldiers died during the war. Modi should keep relations with Lankan government… should maintain peace. After the war (with LTTE got over), there is peace. Tamils are now into fishing, agriculture. Economy and tourism is doing good. You should tell PM Modi to support them, not interfere,” Rohana added.
ALSO READ: Modi arrives in SL as final stop of his 3-nation tour
Rohana shot to fame for his assault on Rajiv on July 30, 1987 at President's House, Colombo. It was claimed by some as an attempted assassination. He had in 2000 contested general election under the Sihala Urumaya party.
Meanwhile, after an overnight journey from Port Louis in Mauritius in a special Air India plane, Modi arrived in Colombo today morning on a two-day visit.
He is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka in last 28 years. During his stay in this island nation, the Indian PM will hold talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who visited the neighbouring country last month on his first foreign trip after assuming office in January.
The visiting dignitary will also have a luncheon meeting with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Modi will also address the Lankan Parliament today afternoon and visit the IPKF memorial.
Rajiv was the last PM to visit Lanka for bilateral talks. In 2008, former PM Manmohan Singh had visited the country for the yearly SAARC summit.
Rohana makes a living out of a small shop in Nugegoda supermarket, about 7 km off Colombo's Fort area.
Rohana, according to Indian Express, had last year introduced himself as an astrologer. He had also made three predictions: Mahinda Rajapaksa will not be president after the next election; BJP will come to power after 2014 Lok Sabha polls India and Congress vice-president will become Prime Minister but in the elections after the next one.
