Act fast to counter Modi, says Sri Lanka daily

Colombo, May 17 (IANS) Sri Lankan leaders need to frame a clear-cut strategy before India's new government headed by Narendra Modi acts tough against the island nation, a newspaper warned Saturday.

"Sri Lankan leaders need to get their act together and work out a clear-cut strategy before Modi and (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) J. Jayalalithaa start pushing and poaching or even think of doing what Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing in Crimea," the Daily Mirror said.

The editorial quoted most observers as saying that "there may be a honeymoon period of a few months" between New Delhi and Colombo after Modi takes office this month.

It said "the hardliner Modi" was reported to have made "dangerous claims that Tamils living in any part of the world, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Fiji, are part of India".

Modi led the BJP to a fascinating victory in the Lok Sabha election and is set to take office next week.

Jayalalithaa's AIADMK has taken a tough stand against the killing of thousands of Tamils in Sri Lanka during the end stages of the war against the Tamil Tigers that ended in 2009.