CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday interacted with the Lankan Tamils who have taken shelter at Mandapam camp in Ramanathapuram district due to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka and enquired about their needs. Besides, he also renewed his request for Union government’s permission for sending humanitarian aid including foodgrain, vegetables, medicines, etc., to Tamils in Lanka through Thoothukudi port.
To date, 39 Lankan Tamils belonging to 13 families have reached Tamil Nadu by sea. This includes 11 men, 11 women and 17 children including an infant. They have been given shelter at the Mandapam camp and essential commodities and food are being supplied to them. During his interaction with them through video conference from the Secretariat, the Chief Minister enquired about their needs and well-being.
The Chief Minister, in his letter to the External Affairs Minister (EAM) on Friday, reiterated the willingness of his government to ship essential supplies to Sri Lanka since the Union government has now enabled the shipping of food and other essential commodities to the country.
Stalin said humanitarian aid would be sent from Thoothukudi port to the Lankan Tamils living in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and Colombo, as well as those working in plantations. “I request that this may be facilitated at the earliest in view of the worsening situation in Sri Lanka,” he added.
Stalin also brought to the notice of the EAM the plight of the 12 Indian fishermen, who were apprehended on March 23. The Killinochchi court that tried the case has adjourned the case to May 12 with instructions that the fishermen could be released on bail on a personal bond of SLR 2 crore per head.
“As this is a prohibitive amount, the fishermen can never furnish the same. They are presently lodged in the Jaffna prison. I request your urgent intervention in this regard and request you to ensure all legal support and assistance to the poor fishermen and enable their early release,” the Chief Minister added.
Just after the Lankan Tamils started arriving by sea due to the economic crisis in their country, the Chief Minister wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 1 to accord permission for providing them temporary asylum so that the concessions being given to the Lankan Tamil refugees could be extended to the Tamils arriving now.
During his meeting with the Prime Minister on March 31 and in his letter to the EAM on April 7, Stalin had reiterated the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to send humanitarian aid to the suffering Tamils in Sri Lanka.