CM Stalin Vows to Secure Permanent Citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to securing permanent Indian citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in the State, declaring that efforts will continue until their long-pending demand is fulfilled.
Emphasising that many Sri Lankan Tamils have been residing in Tamil Nadu for decades, Stalin said they deserve stability, dignity and equal rights. He asserted that the State government would persist in urging the Union government to take a favourable decision on granting citizenship to those who have built their lives in India.
Welfare Measures Highlighted
The Chief Minister outlined several initiatives implemented by the Tamil Nadu government to support Sri Lankan Tamils residing in refugee camps and outside. These include housing assistance, educational scholarships for students, financial aid for self-help groups and skill development programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.
He noted that thousands of students from the community have benefited from scholarship schemes in recent years, helping them pursue higher education and secure better employment opportunities. The government has also focused on infrastructure improvements in refugee camps and social welfare measures to enhance living conditions.
Appeal to the Centre
Stalin stressed that while the State has extended all possible support within its powers, granting citizenship falls under the jurisdiction of the Union government. He called upon the Centre to recognise the long years of residence and integration of Sri Lankan Tamils into Tamil society and to take steps to regularise their status.
According to him, granting permanent citizenship would provide legal certainty and open up broader opportunities in employment, education and social security.
Continued Advocacy
Reiterating his government’s resolve, Stalin said the issue is both humanitarian and moral, and that the State will continue to raise it at appropriate forums. He expressed confidence that sustained efforts would eventually yield a positive outcome for Sri Lankan Tamils who have long awaited formal recognition as Indian citizens.
The Chief Minister’s remarks once again bring focus to the decades-old demand for citizenship by Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and signal that the matter will remain a key concern for the Tamil Nadu government in the days ahead.