COLOMBO, July 28: Sri Lanka on Monday categorically denied that its Navy or Air Force shot at Indian fishermen in two incidents that are alleged to have taken place earlier this month and said it was a ploy by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to disrupt friendly ties between the two countries.

In a communique, the foreign office spokesman said Indian High Commissioner Nareshwar Dayal was given a ``comprehensive briefing'' today by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on the two alleged incidents of shooting on July 14 and 17.

In his briefing to the High Commissioner, Kadirgamar said that after thorough investigation conducted by the Ministry of Defence into the firing at the Indian boat and also into the alleged intrusion into Indian territory by Sri Lankan Air Force, he was satisfied that the Sri Lankan Navy had not fired on the boat off Delft, nor had the helicopter gunships intruded into Indian territory or fired on fishermen there.

In support of his denial, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister presented records from the logbooks of two ships that were closest to the alleged incident off Delft for July, the diaries, arms and ammunition stock books and the gunnery progress books of these ships. He also gave details of the movements of the two helicopters that are reported to have strayed into Indian territory, and of armory records to show that neither had done as alleged.

The Sri Lankan Government, in short, has sought to lay the blame for the shootings at the door of the LTTE.

``It must always be remembered that the LTTE is constantly looking for opportunities of disrupting the good relations that exist between Sri Lanka and India,'' the Minister is reported to have told Dayal.This briefing followed an official complaint lodged by the Indian High Commission here expressing concern over the incidents. In India, the alleged incidents have caused tension in the fishing community, provoking Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to adopt a belligerent stand on the issue.

According to the allegations, in the first incident, Sri Lankan patrol craft had fired on a suspicious looking boat that did not heed orders to stop. Subsequently, according to reports, three occupants of the boat swam to Kayts island and were admitted to the hospital there by the Tamil group, EPDP, which is based on the island. They reported they were Indian fishermen and that two others had sunk with the boat.

In the second incident, Air Force helicopters were alleged to have intruded into Indian territory and fired at fishermen at Arcotthurai, killing two and injuring several.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.