Rehabilitate Sri Lankan Tamils urges Jayalalithaa

Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday urged the Centre to pressurise Sri Lanka to ensure rehabilitation of internally displaced Tamils back in their original settlement ‘at least now’ and also devolve equal powers on par with the Sinhalese.

Unfurling the national flag on the 66th Independence Day celebrations at the historic Fort St George on Wednesday, Ms Jayalalithaa said, “At a time when we are celebrating Independence Day, our Tamil brethren in Sri Lanka are suffering in relief camps in that country.”

“The Centre should at least now compel the Sri Lankan government to take steps and ensure that Tamils, housed in relief camps, are sent back to their places of origin by devolving equal powers on par with the Sinhalese,” she said.

In her nearly 20-minute address, the chief minister listed out the achievements of the 15-month-old AIADMK regime and numerous schemes launched by her since her government assumed office in May 2011. Ms Jayalalithaa said her government had set several records on various fronts.

 “As far as agriculture is concerned, foodgrain production has shot up to 106 lakh metric tonnes in 2011-12 from 76 lakh metric tonnes in 2010-11,” she said. (DeccanChronicle)