PM Modi urges Sri Lanka to meet Tamil aspirations, hold provincial elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to address the aspirations of the Tamil community and hold provincial council elections in the island nation.

The matter was discussed during their comprehensive talks in New Delhi. PM Modi also held a separate meeting with a delegation of Tamil leaders from Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces.

Following the meeting, Modi, in a social media post, said that he reiterated India’s “unwavering commitment” to a “life of equality, dignity and justice” for the Tamil community within a united Sri Lanka.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1908496668191752213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution that provides for devolution of power to it.

The 13th Amendment was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. In his media statement after talks with Dissanayake, Modi hoped that Colombo would fulfil its commitment towards fully implementing the Constitution of the country.

“We also talked about reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. President Dissanayake apprised me of his inclusive approach,” the prime minister said.

“We hope that the Sri Lankan government will meet the aspirations of the Tamil people and fulfil its commitment towards fully implementing the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and conducting provincial council elections,” he said.

Modi also said that the construction work of 10,000 houses for the Indian origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka will be completed soon.

In a post on X, Modi said many projects and initiatives launched during his visit to Sri Lanka will contribute to the social, economic and cultural progress of the Tamil community.

“It is always a pleasure to meet the leaders of the Tamil community of Sri Lanka. Conveyed my condolences on the passing of respected Tamil leaders, Thiru R Sampanthan and Thiru Mavai Senathirajah, both of whom were personally known to me,” he said.

“Reiterated unwavering commitment to a life of equality, dignity and justice for the Tamil community within united Sri Lanka,” he said.On Modi’s meeting with the Tamil leaders, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post that the prime minister “reaffirmed India’s continuous commitment to work for the well-being of the Sri Lankan Tamil community.”

Prime Minister Modi reached Colombo after concluding his visit to Thailand, where he attended the BIMSTEC Summit and held bilateral talks with several world leaders, including Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay, Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

In Sri Lanka, PM Modi was warmly received at the airport by six senior ministers, despite rains: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, Labour Minister Anil Jayantha, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, and Science and Technology Minister Chrishantha Abeysena.

With inputs from agencies