Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vedanayagam called for Eelam Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu to return to the island, pledging land allocation, housing schemes, and livelihood assistance. His comments come against the stark reality of Tamils continuing to risk dangerous journeys to escape ongoing persecution.
The Governor made these remarks during a meeting with Sanchitha Sathyamoorthy, former National Office Head of the UNHCR, at the Governor’s Secretariat this week. Vedanayagam acknowledged the UNHCR’s past assistance to the people of the North and emphasized the organization’s role in facilitating the return of Tamil refugees from Tamil Nadu. He outlined plans to provide returning refugees with employment opportunities, housing, and access to land, and requested the UNHCR’s cooperation in these efforts.
While the Governor’s intentions suggest a renewed focus on reconciliation and development in the North, they stand in contrast to the lived realities of Tamil families fleeing the island. Over recent years, there have been multiple cases of families departing the North-East by boat, seeking refuge on the Tamil Nadu coast near Rameswaram. These families have cited dire economic conditions and ongoing persecution as their reasons for leaving.
The economic crisis alongside discrimination and the continued military occupation of the North-East, has left these families with little choice but to leave their homeland. The harrowing journeys they undertake underscore the desperation and disillusionment felt by many Tamils in the region.
The Governor’s call for Tamil refugees to return also raises concerns about his ability to deliver on commitments made. Previous initiatives to resettle displaced Tamils and rebuild war-affected areas have often been mired in delays, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and allegations of corruption. In the meantime land grabs by the Sri Lankan state continue, with ongoing displacement.