Chennai: Tamil legislators from Sri Lanka have sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s help in ensuring that the island nation’s government addresses the long-pending Tamil question with a lasting political solution.
A delegation of Tamil leaders met with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Gopal Baglay and handed over the letter to seek India’s help in safeguarding Tamil interests in the country.
Led by senior Tamil leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R Sampanthan, the letter was signed by popular leaders including Mavai Senathiraja, Dharmalingam Sithadthan, and Selvam Adaikalanathan, former Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran and former MP Suresh Premachandran.
In their letter, the leaders have asked for India’s help in ensuring unfulfilled promises made by the Sri Lankan government while implementing the 13th amendment and to seek a long-term political solution in this regard.
The amendment highlights rights given to the Tamil community and increases their influence in the politics of the region.
Mentioning the interventions made by the Indian political leadership at different points the letter also highlighted Modi’s address to the Sri Lankan Parliament in 2015, when he spoke of his firm belief in ‘cooperative federalism’.