Tamil-Speaking Parties to Meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay Soon, Says Hakeem
23-Jun-2026.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Kandy District MP Rauff Hakeem said that representatives of Tamil-speaking political parties in Sri Lanka are planning a joint meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, and that the meeting is expected to take place in the near future.
Hakeem made the remarks while speaking to the media after visiting the Tamil Nadu Secretariat and observing proceedings of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
He said he had travelled to Tamil Nadu to congratulate Minority Welfare Minister A.M. Shahjahan, a member of the Indian Union Muslim League, on assuming office.
During his visit, he also had the opportunity to observe Assembly proceedings and discussions relating to the Mekedatu Dam project.
Hakeem expressed hope that relations between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu would continue to strengthen under the new administration.
Responding to questions regarding the continued arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, Hakeem said the matter had been raised repeatedly in the Sri Lankan Parliament.
He noted that the issue was not merely a humanitarian concern but also a livelihood issue affecting fishing communities on both sides of the Palk Strait.
According to Hakeem, the problem should be addressed through cooperation between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, supported by dialogue between both governments.
He said several rounds of discussions had already taken place involving the Tamil Nadu Government, the Government of India, the Sri Lankan Government and fishing communities. However, no lasting solution had yet been reached.
Hakeem stressed the importance of discouraging the use of prohibited fishing methods and promoting alternative livelihood strategies, including deep-sea fishing.
He suggested providing training, financial assistance and subsidised deep-sea fishing vessels to Tamil Nadu fishermen while encouraging cooperative engagement between fishing communities from both countries.
Despite various proposals having been discussed over the years, implementation has remained limited, he observed.
Responding to questions about calls for Katchatheevu Island to be returned to India as a solution to the fishermen's dispute, Hakeem said the matter had already been settled through diplomatic and international legal processes during the 1970s.
He noted that Sri Lanka's sovereignty over Katchatheevu had been formally recognised and that any attempt to revisit the issue would require international legal procedures beyond the authority of either government acting alone.
According to Hakeem, linking the fishermen's dispute directly to the Katchatheevu issue was not a practical approach.
He maintained that the fishermen's problem could be resolved through constructive diplomatic engagement between the two countries without reopening the sovereignty question.
Hakeem further pointed out that Indian nationals are not prevented from visiting Katchatheevu, particularly for religious purposes such as attending the annual feast at St. Anthony's Church on the island.
He said difficulties arise only when fishing activities cross maritime boundaries and violate regulations, making diplomatic engagement the most appropriate way forward.
Asked whether he intended to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay personally, Hakeem said discussions were underway to arrange a collective meeting involving all Tamil-speaking political parties represented in the Sri Lankan Parliament.
He explained that such issues are best addressed through a united approach rather than through individual meetings.
"We have decided that all Tamil-speaking parties represented in the Sri Lankan Parliament should meet Chief Minister Vijay together. Arrangements are currently being made, and the meeting is expected to take place soon," he said.
