Sri Lanka [Images] on thursday, welcomed India's decision to extend the ban on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and described it as New Delhi's policy of not extending support to terrorism.

"This is in keeping with India's tradition of having banned the LTTE and not endorsing the outfit's separatism and support for terrorism," sources in the Presidential secretariat said .
"Therefore this move by India is welcome," the sources said.

A notification extending the ban for another two years on the LTTE, declaring it as an unlawful association, was issued by the union home ministry in New Delhi on wednesday.

The release said the "turbulence" in Sri Lanka is being exploited by the pro-LTTE forces, in spite of the ban, causing disquiet and threat to the security of Tamil Nadu.

In view of hostilities between Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE, vigil has also been stepped up in 21 islands in the Palk Straits.

The LTTE-led by Velupillai Prabhakaran has been banned in several countries including the United States.

The LTTE was involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 and the group has been banned in India since 1992.

The notification said that the Indian government was of the view that LTTE is an unlawful association and there is a continuing strong need to control all such separatist activities by all possible means.