Calling for an end to the prolonged legal uncertainty faced by Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu for over four decades, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to adopt a humanitarian approach and consider granting them Indian citizenship or long-term visas.
In a demi-official letter to the Prime Minister, Stalin highlighted that despite decades of residence and deep integration into Indian society, many refugees continue to lack durable legal status. He noted that around 89,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees currently reside in Tamil Nadu, with a significant number having lived in India for more than 30 years, and nearly 40 per cent born on Indian soil.
Tracing the origins of their migration to the 1983 anti-Tamil violence in Sri Lanka, Stalin said successive Tamil Nadu governments, with the support of the Union Government, have provided shelter, education, healthcare, and livelihood support to the refugees. However, he stressed that their legal status remains unresolved.
The Chief Minister pointed out that an Advisory Committee set up by the State Government had recommended regularisation under existing legal frameworks. It identified categories eligible for citizenship or long-term visas, including those born in India before June 30, 1987, individuals with one Indian parent, spouses of Indian citizens, and Persons of Indian Origin with documentary proof.
Stalin also observed that the 2003 amendment to the Citizenship Act, which introduced the category of “illegal immigrant,” had unintentionally affected refugees who entered India under humanitarian circumstances. He noted that administrative instructions issued earlier had restricted consideration of their citizenship applications.
While welcoming recent policy developments such as the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, Stalin said a formal clarification that registered Sri Lankan Tamil refugees sheltered up to January 2015 would not be treated as illegal migrants would provide much-needed legal certainty.
He urged the Centre to withdraw restrictive administrative instructions, waive passport and visa requirements in deserving cases based on verified Tamil Nadu Government records, and delegate powers to district-level authorities to streamline processing.
Emphasising their peaceful conduct and strong cultural ties with India, Stalin said the continued classification of these refugees as irregular does not reflect the humanitarian context of their arrival, and appealed to the Prime Minister to take a favourable and compassionate decision.