India wants Indo - Lanka shiplane freeze lifted

(February 27, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Indian government in a draft affidavit said it wants to continue plans to build a ship lane between India and Sri Lanka.

The coaltion government is under pressure from its southern allies to go ahead but Hindu activists oppose the plan saying it will affect Ram Sethu, a coral reef which they say was built by Hindu God Ram.

The draft affidavit said it wants the government to lift the freeze on the ship channel which will significantly cut sailing time to ports on the southeastern coast.

But a final decision on the project will be reached Thursday. The government has to submit the affidavit in Supreme Court by March 5.

Meanwhile, India has carried out a successful test of its first undersea ballistic missile. The weapon known as K-15 with a range of 700 kilometers was tested off the eastern Vishakapatanam coast.

Tuesday's test puts India alongside the US, Russia, France and China which have the technology.
The technology would considerably enhance New Delhi's nuclear deterrence as sea-launched missiles will form crucial part of the country's second strike nuclear capability.