TNA seeks India’s help in return of refugees
August 27, 2014 10:39 am
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought India’s help in the return of Sri Lankan refugees from India, the Hindu reports.
“There are over one lakh refugees in Tamil Nadu living in 115 camps. We have requested the Indian government to pressure the Sri Lankan government to release their [refugees’] land in the north which has been taken over by the Army,” said TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah, who was part of the TNA delegation that met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi recently.
The population of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province declined considerably after the war and the return of refugees was crucial, he said. “They have to come back and be resettled in their own lands with secure livelihoods.”
During the country’s civil war that spanned nearly three decades, several thousand Tamils went to India seeking refuge and have since been there. “The two governments should consider evolving a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the return of the refugees,” S.C. Chandrahasan said.
