“On the other hand, Sri Lankan Tamils face no threat to their safety and security under the government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, though their wishes such as freedom of movement were not fulfilled. There is a sense of frustration among the people including Sinhalese towards the Government,” he said.
The MP appreciated the DMK Government led by CM M.K.Stalin for rechristening the refugee camps as Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps and taking steps to provide better infrastructure to their people here. In this regard, Radhakrishnan also recalled the help rendered by the previous AIADMK Government to Sri Lankan Tamils back home.
While insisting on dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India, Radhakrishnan said refugees in Tamil Nadu willing to return are welcome as the SL Government will be providing all facilities to them. He described the BJP-led central government as friendly towards the Sri Lankan government but that some actions of the then Congress Government in India were reasons for oppressing protesters in Sri Lanka during the final wars in 2009.
Radhakrishnan said his party had voted against the Bill on the China-backed Port City.The MP linked the present economic crisis in his country to the economic impact of COVID-19. “The Sri Lankan economy is fully dependent on tourism. Our economy will revive in a matter of six months,” he said. (TOI)