Sri Lankan delegation meets Udhayanidhi Stalin and Left leaders in Chennai
Tamil Nadu: A high-level delegation led by Sri Lankan MP and President of the Tamil National Council, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, met with several prominent political leaders in Chennai on Saturday. The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss the problems faced by the Eelam Tamil community in post-war Sri Lanka and issues related to their rights.
The delegation first met with Tamil Nadu opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin at his residence in the Greenway area of Chennai. The two sides discussed in detail the situation of the Eelam Tamils, their socio-economic conditions, and political rights. The delegation stated that the Tamil community continues to face many challenges in Sri Lanka in the post-war situation, and that continued efforts are needed to ensure their rehabilitation and protection of their rights.
The delegation included leaders from several prominent Tamil political parties and organizations. These included Democratic Tamil Arasu Party leader K. V. Thavarasa, Tamil National Green Movement leader P. Angaranesan, Tamil National Front General Secretary S. Gajendran, Tamil National People’s Front National Coordinator D. Suresh, Speaker K. Sukesh, and Propaganda Secretary N. Kandeepan was present. All the leaders stressed the need to unite and raise the issues of Eelam Tamils internationally.
During the meeting, Udhayanidhi Stalin assured the delegation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the main party in Tamil Nadu, has historically supported the rights of Eelam Tamils. He stated that the party’s ideology and tradition have always been aligned with the interests of the Tamil community. Udhayanidhi Stalin also stated that he would bring this issue to the attention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and strive to convey the Tamil community’s concerns to the central government.
During the discussion, the delegation expressed hope that Tamil Nadu political parties would play an effective role in raising the issues of Sri Lankan Tamils in India and on international forums. The discussion also highlighted the need for concrete action on issues such as rehabilitation, education, employment, and political representation of the Eelam Tamil community.
Udhayanidhi Stalin assured the delegation that his party is sensitive to the problems of Eelam Tamils and that continuous dialogue will continue on this subject. He also stated that these issues can be better addressed through the solidarity and cooperation of the Tamil community.
Following this meeting in Chennai, the delegation also held discussions with leaders of left-wing parties. Representatives of Sri Lankan political parties met with P. Shanmugam, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), and M. Veerapandian, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), at their party headquarters.
The meeting with the left-wing leaders also primarily focused on the rights of Eelam Tamils, their rehabilitation, and the post-war situation in Sri Lanka. Both sides agreed that continued dialogue and international cooperation are essential on issues such as human rights, equality, and justice.
This entire visit and meetings are being viewed as an important political dialogue among the Tamil community. Sri Lankan Tamil leaders expressed hope that with the support of Indian political parties, their issues can be more strongly raised on international platforms.
This series of meetings in Chennai has once again brought to the fore the historical and political ties between the Tamil communities of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The delegation said that they would continue such dialogue in the future so that joint efforts could be made to protect the rights and interests of Eelam Tamils.
