New Delhi (PTI): Sri Lanka today unequivocally stated that terrorist activities of the LTTE have to be dealt with militarily and any underlying causes, exploited by such outfits, should be addressed politically.

"For over two decades, Sri Lanka has been facing a tremendous challenge to our democratic way of life through barbaric actions of a terrorist group, the LTTE.”

"There is no doubt that such groups have to be dealt with militarily," Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in his address at the second summit of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

He said Sri Lanka believes that any underlying causes, exploited by terrorists in an attempt to seek legitimacy for their operations, should be dealt with politically.  

Terror groups are able to sustain themselves by illegal fundraising, narcotics and people trafficking, money laundering, and arms and ammunition smuggling, including through the sea routes in the Bay of Bengal, he said.

"I urge you to consider setting up of a mechanism to effectively police the seas of the Bay of Bengal, to deny these terrorists mobility and connectivity," he said.  

The issue of terrorism came up for discussion at the summit meeting of leaders of member nations -- India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Nepal.

The resolution, adopted by the BIMSTEC leaders, "fully reflects our concern" over growing terrorism in the region, Rajapaksa told reporters later.