Pathetic life for Tamils in Sri Lanka, says Tamil Nadu government

The Tamil Nadu government today asked the Centre to pressurise the Sri Lankan government for the rehabilitation of Tamils displaced in war, saying they were leading a "pathetic life of subjugation."

"Lakhs of Tamils have perished during the recent war in Sri Lanka and the remaining are leading a pathetic life of subjugation in their homeland," governor SS Barnala said in his address to the assembly.

"This government urges the Centre to impress upon the Sri Lankan government the need for taking up immediate measures to rehabilitate the Tamils in their own area," he said.

Soon after the AIADMK won the April 13 assembly elections, Jayalalithaa said India should impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka so that they take steps to mitigate the sufferings of the Lankan Tamils and provide them "an honourable and decent life."

The governor also promised renovation of the Lankan Tamil refugee camps in the state.

Besides providing necessary assistance for education of the children of refugees, special employment training will also be arranged, he added.

To ease traffic in Chennai, a mono rail project would be implemented and integrated with the existing transport system, Barnala said adding the government was also looking into the possibility of introducing such project in Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.