India on Wednesday said that it was not giving any direct help to Sri Lanka [Images], in its fight against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, but was maintaining a vigil along the coast to prevent any adverse impact on the country.

Naval Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta said that the Indian Navy is not providing any direct help to its Lankan counterparts in its efforts to recapture the Tiger strong-holds in the northern parts of the island nation.

"There is no direct support. We support them by checking our activities on their coast and their activities on ours. In this way, we help ourselves by helping them," Mehta told reporters in New Delhi.

His comments came after reporters asked him whether the Indian Navy is helping its Lankan counterparts in their war against the Tigers.

Mehta said that the Navy was keeping a tight vigil on the coast and are closely watching the situation in the neighbouring country.

Lankan Navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda on Tuesday said in Colombo that co-operation with India has been extremely successful in countering the LTTE.