A lasting political settlement for Sri Lankan Tamils is in India’s interests, says Jaffna’s former Mayor

Jaffna’s former Mayor Visvalingam Manivannan. | Photo Credit: T. Ramakrishnan It is in the interests of India that New Delhi should push Colombo to arrive at a lasting political settlement for Tamils living in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, according to Jaffna’s former Mayor Visvalingam Manivannan. “Culturally, linguistically and sentimentally, the North and the East are well connected with India. We do not have the need or inclination to go against India. In fact, we could function as the armour for India’s security interests. Only when we acquire more and more political powers, will we be able to ensure that no anti-Indian elements enter the region,” Mr Manivannan told The Hindu in Toronto recently. “If a meaningful political solution is provided to us, there is no need to think of a separate state,” the former Mayor observed. On the issue of economic development of the two provinces, the 43-year-old Manivannan contended that advocates of Sinhalese Buddhism “would not permit” any other ethnic or religious group in Sri Lanka to emerge strongly. “They suffer from the sense of fear that if the North and the East are allowed to grow economically, the region will control the entire Sri Lanka. They would not like the region to achieve economic progress,” he pointed out. Giving an account of the current level of air services operated at the Jaffna International Airport in Palaly, Mr. Manivannan said the Tamil diaspora, living in the West, were not in a position to travel to Jaffna directly, as “otherwise, Katunayake [the Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo] would lose importance.” At least, there could be a direct flight from Katunayake to Palaly. Alternatively, in respect of the Jaffna-Chennai sector, an arrangement could be made for connecting flights. As of now, on reaching Chennai, any journey beyond would have to be separate.“At present, the Tamils, coming from Europe, travel for eight hours to reach Colombo, but they require more time to come to Jaffna by road. This is why they are reluctant to come to the North,” he complained. [From Jaffna, there are daily flights to Chennai and thrice- a-week operations to Tiruchi, both up and down, according to the website of the regulator of airports and air services - Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka)]. To substantiate his criticism of the Sri Lankan government not being interested in the economic development of the North and the East, Mr Manivannan recalled that when he was at the helm (2021-22), the Sri Lankan government asked the Jaffna local body not to go ahead with the implementation of the twin city scheme, involving Toronto and Kingston, United Kingdom. To a question as to whether the present Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) regime was different from the previous regimes, the former Mayor, who is also the Assistant Secretary of the Tamil Makkal Kootani headed by former Chief Minister of the Northern Province Justice (retd.) C.V. Wigneswaran, replied: “so far, nothing. Be it on political settlement or economic development or on withdrawal of security forces from lands belonging to people of the North, I do not see any change.”Referring to the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, Mr. Manivannan said, “for all practical purposes, the Accord is dead. However, we, in the North and the East, understand India’s security interests are embedded in the Accord. Even while making efforts to work out a political settlement, one does not have to abandon the Accord. In fact, I would suggest that India go for a fresh pact with Sri Lanka which will address its security concerns. India has the power to persuade Sri Lanka to come to an understanding,” he added.(This journalist was in Toronto during the second week of October on invitation from the Federation of Global Tamils.) Published - October 28, 2026 09:43 am IST