All Roads Run through Tamil Eelam

Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India saw him receive the grandest of receptions, in a sign that New Delhi is firmly pressing ahead with its plans to increase its footprint on the island. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech and the joint statement from the two leaders made clear that greater connectivity and closer ties between the two are a key goal in the years to come. But, in order to achieve that, New Delhi cannot afford to ignore the Tamils on the island.

Once a vocal critic of New Delhi, Dissanayake’s overtures are a marked departure from the history of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) historically anti-Indian stance. His efforts to shed the ideological baggage of his party’s past reflect the inescapable reality that Sri Lanka faces. Colombo needs New Delhi, now more than ever, for its economic survival. That is why the decision to make India Dissanayake’s first foreign trip was made. It is clear to even the staunchest Sinhala nationalists, that as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with its financial crisis, it cannot afford to isolate itself from the regional power.

For India, Dissanayake’s visit was an opportunity to test the new political force in Sri Lanka. The pomp and ceremony surrounding the trip showcased India’s interest in fostering closer ties. New Delhi’s ambitions in Sri Lanka are clear: the joint statement issued as the leaders met, emphasised the importance of connectivity. Modi highlighted new ferry and flight services as well as plans for a high-capacity power grid interconnection. These projects aim to bind the two more closely, leveraging geographic proximity and fostering greater economic interdependence. This is a goal that India has been working towards for decades, but has faced stubborn resistance from in Colombo. But now, Sri Lanka is not in a position where it can refuse.

Yet, while infrastructure and economic projects featured prominently in discussions, there was a glaring lack of emphasis on the ethnic turmoil that continues to plague the island and, in particular, Tamil North-East. This omission is not just a moral oversight; it risks undermining the very stability and connectivity that India seeks to achieve through its investments.

New Delhi must remember that any form of connectivity with Sri Lanka inherently involves the Tamil North-East. From India, all roads to the island run directly through Tamil Eelam. The Palk Strait, the strip of water just a few miles long separating Tamil Nadu from Eelam, is more than just a geographic feature. It has seen millennia of cultural and historical ties that bind India and the Tamils on the island. Whether it is power grids, ferry services, or trade and commerce, Tamil Eelam is, and will continue to be, India’s first point of contact on the island.

Without a stable North-East, India’s projects face immense risks. Initiatives such as the Trincomalee oil farms, the solar power plant in Sampur, the development of Kankesanthurai (KKS) port, and even the controversial Mannar wind farm all hinge on stability in the region. Continued unrest, driven by unresolved ethnic tensions, will render these projects fragile and unsustainable.

In order to foster the long term relationship that India seeks, a few simple but key steps need to be taken. The Sri Lankan military, a long running source of violence and instability, remains stationed in the North-East in overwhelming numbers. They must be removed. Accused of war crimes and genocide, the military continues to violate the human rights of Eelam Tamils, disrupt their livelihoods, whilst also undermining the economy of the region with their own commercial ventures. The region cannot flourish under occupation. Moreover, the military’s actions routinely escalate tensions with Tamil Nadu’s fishing communities, as highlighted by Chief Minister M K Stalin this week. Neither side of the Palk Strait wants to see the Sri Lankan military presence continue.

Secondly, devolution of powers to Tamil regions must take place. Without it, Colombo will continue to restrict the aspirations and potential of the Tamil homeland. Power-sharing arrangements, supposedly enshrined in Sri Lanka’s 13th Amendment, have been long promised but never fully implemented. While Modi made a fleeting reference to Tamil aspirations during his address, the issue was glaringly absent from the joint statement. New Delhi must do more than pay lip service to this cause. It must insist on meaningful political devolution that empowers the Tamil people, addresses their grievances and brings stability and prosperity. On this issue, the Tamil polity is remarkably united across the political spectrum. Even Tamil voters who supported the Dissanayake’s NPP did so in hopes of breaking free from the decades-long stranglehold that Sri Lanka’s old political elite held over their lives and livelihoods.

This is not simply a moral imperative for New Delhi; it is a strategic necessity. After decades of searching for reliable partners in Colombo it has expanded its presence in recent years. But with a Tamil North-East that remains under heavy military occupation, a still unresolved ethnic turmoil and a partner in Colombo that is yet to prove themselves, it is being built on a shaky foundation.