“End of LTTE by Sri Lankan Army is a strategic loss to India”. Critically examine.

The involvement of the Indian government in the Sri Lankan Civil War was based on several concerns, including its desire to project India as the regional power in the area, and worries about India's own Tamils seeking independence. The latter was particularly strong in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where ethnic kinship led to strong support for independence for Sri Lankan Tamils. Throughout the conflict, the Indian central and state governments have supported both sides in different ways

Although Sri Lanka was a key member of Non-Aligned Movement in its initial stages, the Government of Sri Lanka's policies became pro-western as J. R. Jayewardene was elected prime minister with his landslide victory in 1977 parliamentary election. Subsequently he introduced a new constitution and Open economy to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is the first South-Asian country to adopt Liberal open economy. Together with these developments, India was also concerned about

• United States raising the strength of broadcasting facilities belonging to the Voice of America (VOA) in Sri Lanka, which could pose a threat to India's defense communication systems
• Frequent high-profile visits of US defense officials to Sri Lanka including US Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger and Lieutenant General Vernon A. Walters
• Sri Lankan government granting the tenders to expand the oil storage complex at China Bay, Trincomalee to Singapore companies
• Establishment of an Israeli Interests Section in the American Embassy in Colombo
• Sri Lanka government's purchase of European and Chinese military hardware
• Sri Lanka government hiring Keenie Meenie Services (which includes ex-Special Air Service troops), a Channel Island-based British mercenary company, to train the Sri Lankan Special Task Force, a unit under the command of Ravi Jayewardene, the son of J. R Jayawardene
• Presence of Israeli Shin Bet intelligence operatives to train Sri Lankan troops on intelligence operations, Pakistani Special Services Group led by Brigadier Tariq Mohommad to assist Sri Lankan commandos, and South African mercenaries to train Sri Lanka Air Force pilots in low contour flying, in Colombo, etc.^[3]

Moreover, President J. R. Jayawardene did not enjoy the same warm relationship with Indian Premier Indira Gandhi that he had enjoyed with her father, Premier Jawaharlal Nehru.^[1] Thus, with the outbreak of Black July ethnic riots, the Indian government decided to support the insurgent groups operating in Northern Sri Lanka.