By Nethmi Rajawasam

ECONOMYNEXT –The plight of Sri Lankans in Indian refugee camps was discussed during a meeting between the president and leaders of the North and East, at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (21).

Members of Parliament R Sampanthan, S Rasamanickam, G Karunakaran, T Kalaiarasan and Kulasingham Dileepan were present at the discussion which focused on the provision of land rights for the people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the implementation of laws related to resettlement and reconciliation, and issues concerning district development, in addition to the challenges faced by Sri Lankans in refugee camps in India.

Though Sri Lankan politicians have pledged to address the larger concerns pertaining to Tamil populations, such as reconciliation, resettlement, and rehabilitation in the past, the matter of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Indian camps has yet to be addressed by a Sri Lankan head of state.

Successive Sri Lankan administrations have had differing repatriation and reintegration plans. Direct concerns over safety, lands, housing, livelihood, and reconciliation have been reported as reasons why refugees refuse to return to Sri Lanka.

Protests, political declarations, and calls for the Indian central government to be more aggressive in safeguarding the safety and well-being of Sri Lankan Tamils in India and Sri Lanka have occurred in the past.

However, interventions and actions taken by the Tamil Nadu government regarding Sri Lankan refugees have been sporadic and influenced by political dynamics, with changes in leadership, and the evolving relationships between India and Sri Lanka.

Since 2022, Sri Lanka has experienced its worst economic crisis as a result of a number of issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, dwindling tourism, the fuel crisis, a shortage of basic commodities, and soaring debt.

This has led to a rise in migration with illegal methods including ferries being used by migrants to get to Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu, which has become a viable destination.

The federal government has given Sri Lanka financial assistance totaling 3.5 billion dollars since the crisis and has allotted financial aid of 80 crore in 2021 and 2022 for welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils in refugee camps, along with cash assistance, subsidised rice and free clothes.