In a letter to the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu,  citing an “atmosphere of fear” and “intimidation” said that though the new presidency in Sri Lanka was a symbol of hope, an environment “of possible human rights violations has not entirely dissipated,” due to apprehensions regarding the high concentration of the Sri Lankan army in Tamil areas. 

He further called for the autonomy and democratic rights of the Tamil people in the North-East of Sri Lanka, to be fully protected, to protect them from further subjugation, reports the Times of India.

The conditions in Sri Lanka’s North-East are not conducive for voluntary repatriation of Tamil refuges in Tamil Nadu, said the state’s chief minister, O Paneerselvam.

Highlighting the fate of thousands of internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka, Mr Paneerselvam, said, "there is a concern that Tamils could be reduced to a minority even in their own traditional habitation areas."

Expressing the need for concrete measures to be taken by the new leadership in Sri Lanka before Tamils refugees could return to their “native land” in the North-East, Mr Paneerselvam, added,

"The process of voluntary repatriation could be considered only after concrete and credible measures are taken by the Sri Lankan Government and the Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu are given adequate verifiable assurances and gain the requisite confidence to return to their native land.”