Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM), M.K. Stalin has written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a “humane and pragmatic” resolution to the long-pending citizenship issue and legal status of Sri Lankan Tamils living in the state for over four decades.

In a letter dated 15 February, Stalin described the issue as one of “profound humanitarian, constitutional and national importance,” noting that around 89,000 Sri Lankan Tamils continue to reside in TN, both inside refugee camps and outside. Nearly 40 per cent of them were born in India, and many have lived in TN for over 30 years.

He pointed out that since 1983, successive TN Governments, with the concurrence of the Union Government, have provided shelter, education and healthcare to those who fled the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. However, many continue to lack access to citizenship or long-term visa status.

Referring to the recommendations of a State advisory committee, Stalin urged the Centre to rescind earlier administrative instructions that bar the consideration of citizenship applications, waive passport and visa requirements where appropriate, delegate powers to district-level authorities for faster processing, and formally clarify that registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals sheltered up to 9 January 2015, should not be treated as “illegal migrants.”

Despite their prolonged stay, only 11 Sri Lankan refugees have so far been granted Indian citizenship. Of them, just one has secured voting rights, while the remaining 10 have applied for inclusion in the electoral rolls, highlighting the limited progress in regularising their status.

In his letter, Stalin said that those who sought refuge in India had lived “with dignity, discipline and deep cultural affinity” for over four decades and urged the Premier to take a favourable decision on humanitarian grounds.

New Delhi Television Limited