TN Will Handle Return Of Lankan Tamils Legally, Says CM Stalin

It is to be noted that a group of 10 people, including women and children, fled the economic crisis gripping Sri Lanka and arrived at Rameswaram on Wednesday.

TN Will Handle Return Of Lankan Tamils Legally, Says CM Stalin (File Image)

New Delhi: With the sudden arrival of Sri Lankan nationals to Tamil Nadu in the wake of an economic crisis in the island nation, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said that his government is in touch with the Centre on how to handle the issue legally.

Talking about the media reports on the Lankan nationals fleeing the crisis-hit island nation and reaching the southern state, Chief Minister Stalin said he has already instructed the officials to get in touch with the Central government on handling the issue legally.

"I have been watching (the news of) the suffering (Lankan) Tamils coming to Tamil Nadu recently. I had instructed my officials yesterday to get in touch with the Union ministry concerned and officials, as well, on how to handle this issue legally," news agency PTI quoted Stalin as telling the Assembly.

"The Tamil Nadu government will strive to ensure a new dawn to the Lankan Tamils," he added.

It is to be noted that a group of 10 people, including women and children, fled the economic crisis gripping Sri Lanka and arrived at Rameswaram on Wednesday.

Earlier, six Lankan nationals had arrived in Tamil Nadu.

Taking up the issue in the Assembly, Congress legislator S Vijayadharani sought to know if the Tamil Nadu government could intervene and help the Lankan Tamils.

Meanwhile, Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman on Thursday condemned the arrest of Sri Lankan Tamils who illegally entered India amid the ongoing economic crisis there.

He said that the Centre should provide asylum to the Sri Lankan refugees as they did for Tibetans. 

READ | Sri Lankan Tamils Entering Tamil Nadu Should Not Be Arrested, Says NTK Chief Seeman

In a press release on Thursday, Seeman said, "It is disheartening to see Sri Lankan Tamils put to suffer due to the economic crisis even after they faced several years of suffering as a result of civil war and suppression due to ethnicity."

With reports claiming the skyrocketing price of essential commodities, there has been an acute shortage of petroleum products in Sri Lanka.

Last week, India had announced a USD 1 billion line of credit to the island nation to deal with the economic crisis after having extended USD 500-million earlier.