New Delhi, June 28:The SAARC summit to be held in Colombo next month and the LTTE’s latest ploy to use trained divers for carrying out underwater suicide missions and blowing up ships are two fresh security concerns that have rung alarm bells in New Delhi and Colombo. In fact, Indian Air Force will beef up air defence around Colombo for the summit.

Rattled by the “mystery explosion” that sunk one of its fast-attack naval crafts on March 22, the Sri Lankan government has shared the findings of its investigation with an official team led by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan that visited Colombo last week. The Indian team was briefed on the LTTE’s latest weapon — “human torpedoes”. The Indian team included the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary.

India is looking to further strengthen the air defence around Colombo for the summit from July 27 to August 3 since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the event during the last two days.

With Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alok Prasad too conveying his concerns over the prevailing security situation, sources said, India will have extra Air Force deployments in Colombo with IAF choppers and other assets expected to be put in place in the city ahead of the summit. An IAF team is also to visit Colombo to assess the situation before deciding on deployment. Incidentally, the Air Defence radars currently in operation in Colombo were provided by India.

On the issue of LTTE’s latest capabilities in sea fighting, the three-member team was given a detailed presentation by Sri Lankan officials on how the LTTE has trained deep-sea divers who strap explosives around them and carry out suicide missions. The attack on Sri Lankan Navy ship SLN Dvora on March 22 was the first such incident where six sailors were killed.

For this purpose, sources said, the Sri Lankan side was keen on assistance from the Indian Navy to help find ways to locate approaching divers.

Also, the possibility of these divers using sea mines to blow up ships is not being ruled out.

Intelligence reports on the Tigers obtaining water scooters are also being looked into.

India has been careful in providing Sri Lanka with military assistance and has confined its help to defensive purposes.

While this policy was prompted by domestic political considerations, it has compelled Sri Lanka to depend increasingly on Pakistan and China.

As a counter of sorts, India has recently given a soft loan of $1 billion to Sri Lanka to upgrade its defence capabilities.

With Pakistan palming off ammunition from its war stocks, which otherwise would expire, Colombo too is keen to look at other options but has been strapped for funds.

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