Tamil Nadu govt in touch with Centre on handling fresh arrival of refugees from Sri Lanka: CM Stalin

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has said the state government is in touch with the Centre on handling the fresh arrival of refugees from neighbouring Sri Lanka. Responding to queries in the state Assembly yesterday, he said he has instructed the state officials to consult the Centre in the matter.

Mr Stalin’s remarks come in the wake of 16 Tamil speaking people from Sri Lanka arriving Pamban near Rameswaram on Tuesday in two batches, without valid travel documents.

The arrival of the 16 people coincides with the reports that the neighbouring island nation is currently facing



economic hardships. They came in two batches on Tuesday.

The first batch of six persons was rescued from mid-sea by the Indian Coast Guard, as they were found in a precarious situation in an islet. They were later lodged in Central Prison at Puzhal near Chennai.

The other ten were housed in the Mandapam refugee camp in Ramanathapuram district. The state Rehabilitation Commissioner Jacinta Lazarus after inspecting the camp yesterday told reporters, all sixteen will be accommodated in the camp until there is clarity on their status.