Amid the massive political turmoil in Sri Lanka, India has stepped up vigil on the maritime border with the island nation to prevent any possible influx of refugees or anti-India elements. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed its hovercraft, aircraft and patrol boats to enhance the surveillance, reported ANI.
The surveillance activities have been enhanced in the areas stretching from the Tamil Nadu coast to the parts of Kerala coast. Tamil Nadu police has also been put on high alert.
Since the protests and violence erupted in Sri Lanka, only a few cases of incidents where people tried to cross over to India were reported, officials said, adding that monsoon rains and rough sea would be acting as a deterrence.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India was closely monitoring the developments in Sri Lanka. The ministry, however, maintained that India stands with the Sri Lankan people in their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means, established institutions and constitutional framework.
"India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour and our two countries share deep civilizational bonds. We are aware of the many challenges that Sri Lanka and its people have been facing, and we have stood with the Sri Lankan people as they have tried to overcome this difficult period," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
India's reaction came a day after thousands of angry protesters stormed embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence and set Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private house on fire, in the culmination of months of agitation over the ongoing economic crisis.
The island nation is reeling under severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines in the last few months as the economic crisis deteriorated.
As the economic crisis worsened, Sri Lanka witnessed massive street protests in the last months and the public anger led almost all the cabinet ministers to quit the government.
