Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has proposed to lend a helping hand to Tamils in Sri Lanka, in the light of the present economic crisis in the country, the Hindu reported.
According to the report, Stalin on Thursday spoke to the Indian Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar over the phone, reiterating the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to lend a helping hand to Tamils in Sri Lanka.
During the conversation, Stalin said the Tamil Nadu government was prepared to supply essential commodities such as rice, cereals, and life-saving drugs by ship from Thoothukudi to benefit Tamils in the Eastern and Northern provinces of Sri Lanka, and in Colombo, Jaffna, and hill-country.
The Chief Minister also requested for distribution of supplies through Indian diplomatic missions in Colombo and Jaffna.
Stalin also recalled his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister on March 31 over these issues and expressed concerns over repeated incidents of assault on Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy.
He also reiterated the need to secure the release of boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lankan custody.
In response, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had assured the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister that action would be taken on the concerns raised by him. (NewsWire)