Grant Indian Citizenship to Eelam Tamil Refugees Who Seek It: Sumanthiran

13-Mar-2026

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ITAK General Secretary and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran has urged that Eelam Tamil refugees who have lived in India for more than three decades and wish to remain there should be granted Indian citizenship.

He also called on India to exert appropriate pressure on the Sri Lankan government to prevent the arrest of refugees who choose to return to Sri Lanka.

Sumanthiran made these remarks while addressing the screening of the documentary “Faceless People: The Journey of Tamil Refugees in India” at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.

He said that while it is hoped that Eelam Tamil refugees who migrated from Sri Lanka to India would eventually return to their homeland and strengthen their native regions, it cannot be denied that many families have lived in India for over three decades.

The next generation has been born, raised and continues to live there. If they wish to obtain citizenship in India and live with dignity in that country, such aspirations cannot be rejected, he said.

He added that it would be appropriate to support them fully in pursuing either option — returning to their homeland or obtaining citizenship in India.

Sumanthiran also noted that many refugees are interested in returning to Sri Lanka. However, incidents have been reported where returnees are arrested on the grounds that they previously left the country illegally.

He stressed that measures must be taken to prevent such arrests.

Because the Sri Lankan government has delayed taking action on this matter, the United Nations refugee agency has suspended its programme to repatriate Eelam Tamil refugees to Sri Lanka, he added.