Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Indian government to intervene in Sri Lanka's ongoing constitutional reform process. In a letter written on Sunday, Stalin expressed grave concerns that the proposed changes could further undermine the rights and aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamil community.
Stalin's Warning on "Grave Risks" to Tamils
Stalin stated he was writing the letter after receiving detailed representations highlighting the "grave risks" the constitutional reforms pose to Sri Lankan Tamils. He pointed out that the current government in Colombo, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and commanding an absolute parliamentary majority, is fast-tracking efforts to introduce a new constitution. While this is being promoted as a solution to ethnic issues, Stalin warned that the proposed framework seems to reinforce a unitary "Ekkiyarajya" (unitary state) model.
"This threatens to further marginalize the Tamils by ignoring their legitimate aspirations for political autonomy," the Chief Minister emphasized in his communication to the Prime Minister.
A History of Unitary Structure and Oppression
Stalin's letter provided a historical context, arguing that all post-independence constitutions of Sri Lanka—those from 1947, 1972, and 1978—have been rooted in a unitary state structure. He asserted that this framework has historically enabled "planned ethnic violence, structural oppression, and denial of basic rights to the Tamil people."
He further claimed that even after the end of the civil war in 2009, the existing constitution allowed the Sri Lankan government to facilitate demographic changes, land grabs, and an erosion of Tamil identity in their traditional homelands.
The Call for Federalism and Thimphu Principles
The Tamil Nadu leader outlined a clear path for India's diplomatic intervention. He urged New Delhi to press Colombo for the inclusion of federal arrangements that devolve power to the provinces. This, he argued, is essential to protect ethnic minority rights and uphold principles of pluralism and equality.
Specifically, Stalin demanded that the new constitution incorporate the Thimphu principles presented by Tamil representatives during talks in Bhutan in 1985. These foundational principles include:
- Recognition of Sri Lankan Tamils as a separate nation.
- Acknowledgement of the northern and eastern provinces as the traditional homeland of the Tamil people.
"Without incorporating these elements, any new constitution risks perpetuating the cycle of injustice and instability, potentially leading to renewed conflict and humanitarian crises," Stalin cautioned. He concluded by stressing that India has both a moral and strategic imperative to act decisively on this sensitive issue affecting the Tamil diaspora and regional stability.
