<p>Sri Lanka has rejected moves to block trade with Tamil Nadu and has insisted that economic relations should not be disrupted despite political tensions, an official said Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"There were reports regarding a protest by a port employees' organization which said their members will refrain from handling or processing Indian supplies due to the situation in Tamil Nadu," Port and Highway Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardana said. <br /><br />"I am confident that such a situation will not arise," Xinhua quoted him as saying.The pro-government trade union coalition named the "Organization for Protecting Harbor Solidarity" held a protest campaign before the main gate of the Colombo harbour Tuesday.<br /><br />Its convener Sanjaya Kumara Weligama told the media that the protest was a severe warning to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and other politicians who have attempted to push the Indian government into taking a tough stance on Sri Lanka's human rights record.<br /><br />It is estimated that around 40 percent of the $5 billion trade between Sri Lanka and India passes through Tamil Nadu to the Colombo port.<br /><br />The DMK pulled out of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government demanding investigations on allegations of war crimes -- an issue that has been festering since the three-decade war ended in 2009.<br /><br />Many in Tamil Nadu took to the streets in vociferous protests.<br /><br />Two Buddhist monks and 16 Sri Lankan tourists were also attacked. This provoked counter protests in Sri Lanka, with groups handing over petitions to the Indian high commission in Colombo.<br /><br />Jayalalithaa banned Sri Lankan cricketers from playing in the Indian Premier League, a lucrative extravaganza with millions of fans, in Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai.<br /><br />The Sri Lankan government has steadfastly refused to engage with Tamil Nadu despite worsening relations. Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka are separated by a narrow strip of sea.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka has rejected moves to block trade with Tamil Nadu and has insisted that economic relations should not be disrupted despite political tensions, an official said Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"There were reports regarding a protest by a port employees' organization which said their members will refrain from handling or processing Indian supplies due to the situation in Tamil Nadu," Port and Highway Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardana said. <br /><br />"I am confident that such a situation will not arise," Xinhua quoted him as saying.The pro-government trade union coalition named the "Organization for Protecting Harbor Solidarity" held a protest campaign before the main gate of the Colombo harbour Tuesday.<br /><br />Its convener Sanjaya Kumara Weligama told the media that the protest was a severe warning to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and other politicians who have attempted to push the Indian government into taking a tough stance on Sri Lanka's human rights record.<br /><br />It is estimated that around 40 percent of the $5 billion trade between Sri Lanka and India passes through Tamil Nadu to the Colombo port.<br /><br />The DMK pulled out of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government demanding investigations on allegations of war crimes -- an issue that has been festering since the three-decade war ended in 2009.<br /><br />Many in Tamil Nadu took to the streets in vociferous protests.<br /><br />Two Buddhist monks and 16 Sri Lankan tourists were also attacked. This provoked counter protests in Sri Lanka, with groups handing over petitions to the Indian high commission in Colombo.<br /><br />Jayalalithaa banned Sri Lankan cricketers from playing in the Indian Premier League, a lucrative extravaganza with millions of fans, in Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai.<br /><br />The Sri Lankan government has steadfastly refused to engage with Tamil Nadu despite worsening relations. Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka are separated by a narrow strip of sea.</p>