Stalin flags ‘grave risks’ posed to the Tamils by the ongoing constitutional reforms in Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka are fully protected in the island nation’s proposed new Constitution, warning that the current reforms risk marginalising the community and reigniting ethnic tensions.

“Without incorporating the principles of equality and devolution of power, any new constitution risks perpetuating the cycle of injustice and instability, potentially leading to renewed conflict and humanitarian crises,” Stalin said in a letter to the Prime Minister, citing representations from Tamil leaders in India and Sri Lanka.

According to Stalin, the Sri Lankan government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is accelerating constitutional reforms “under the guise of resolving ethnic issues,” but the draft appears to reinforce a unitary ‘Ekkiyarajya’ model. He warned that such a framework could further marginalise Tamils by ignoring their legitimate aspirations for political autonomy.