Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has written to Narendra Modi, urging the Union Government to grant Indian citizenship or long-term legal status to Sri Lankan Tamils who have been living in Tamil Nadu for decades.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister pointed out that nearly 89,000 Sri Lankan Tamils reside in Tamil Nadu, many of whom have lived in India for more than 30 years. Around 40 percent of them were born on Indian soil, he noted, and yet they remain without permanent legal status.
Stalin said Sri Lankan Tamils who took refuge in India following ethnic conflict should not be treated as illegal immigrants. Instead, he asked for a humane, permanent solution that would allow them to live with dignity, including pathways to citizenship or long-term visas.
He also recommended that the central government consider waiving passport and visa requirements for eligible applicants and delegate powers to district authorities to streamline the process. The Chief Minister highlighted that many of these residents have integrated into local communities and deserve clear and stable legal recognition.