Contending that relations between India and Sri Lanka remain "friendly", President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday said New Delhi has not asked Colombo to halt operations against the LTTE in the island's embattled north.

Speaking to newsmen in Colombo, Rajapaksa said no reference was made to halting operations against the Tiger rebels in his telephonic conversation with the Indian Prime Minister last Saturday.

The President also said that he was aware of the political pressures associated with coalition politics in India and the "diverse interests that surface in such situations", referring to Tamil Nadu politicians' expression of concern over civilian casualties in Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated areas.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked President Rajapaksa to ensure that Tamils do not get "enmeshed" in the conflict with LTTE and that their rights and safety are upheld.

In response to a question, President Rajapaksa said relations between Sri Lanka and India remain "friendly and strong". "India had always helped us when necessary," he said.

Meanwhile, a release issued by the President's office said that Rajapaksa had made it very clear to the Indian Prime Minister that the operations were against the LTTE.

Rajapaksa said contrary to the impression "being created in Tamil Nadu", the food supplies from the Sri Lankan government continued to reach the LTTE areas.

"We continue to supply food even to the LTTE because our responsibility is to the civilians, the farmers and the rural producers of the region who are trapped by the LTTE," he said.