A permanent political settlement for Sri Lankan Tamils is in India’s interest, says former Jaffna mayor
Former Jaffna Mayor Visvalingam Manivannan. | Photo credit: T. Ramakrishnan
According to former Jaffna mayor Visvalingam Manivannan, it is in India’s interest for New Delhi to pressure Colombo to reach a permanent political settlement for the Tamils living in Sri Lanka’s northern and eastern provinces.
“Culturally, linguistically and sentimentally, the North and East are well connected with India. We have no need or inclination to go against India. In fact, we could act as a bulwark for India’s security interests. Only when we gain more and more political powers will we be able to ensure that no anti-India elements enter the region,” he told The Manivanto recently. “If we are given a meaningful political solution, there is no need to think about a separate state,” the former mayor noted.
On the issue of economic development of the two provinces, 43-year-old Manivannan claimed that Sinhalese Buddhists would “not allow” any other ethnic or religious group in Sri Lanka to make a prominent appearance. “They suffer from a sense of fear that if the North and East are allowed to grow economically, the region will dominate the whole of Sri Lanka. They would not want the region to make economic progress,” he pointed out.
Describing the current level of air services operated at the Jaffna International Airport in Palaly, Mr. Manivannan said that the Tamil diaspora living in the West is unable to travel to Jaffna directly as “otherwise Katunayake (Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo) would lose its importance. At least there could be a direct flight from Katunayake to Palaly. Alternatively, arrangements could be made for connecting flights as far as the Jaffna-Chennai sector is concerned. From now, after reaching Chennai, any journey beyond the border would have to be separate.
“Currently, Tamils coming from Europe travel eight hours to reach Colombo but need more time to reach Jaffna by road. That’s why they are reluctant to come north,” he complained. (There are daily flights from Jaffna to Chennai and thrice-weekly operations to Tiruchi, both up and down, according to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) regulator’s website).
To substantiate his criticism of the Sri Lankan government’s lack of interest in the economic development of the North and East, Mr. Manivannan recalled that when he was at the helm (2021–22), the Sri Lankan government asked the Jaffna Local Authority not to proceed with the implementation of a twin city scheme involving Toronto and Kingston in the United Kingdom.
When asked if the current Janatha Vimukthi Peramun (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) regime was different from previous regimes, the former mayor, who is also the Deputy Minister of Tamil Makkal Kootani led by former Northern Province Chief Justice (retd) CV Wigneswaran, said: “So far, from political settlement or economic development, people do not belong to the security forces. I don’t see any change in the North.”
Referring to the 1987 India-Lanka accord, Mr. Manivannan said, “For all practical purposes, that accord is dead. But we in the North and East understand that India’s security interests are enshrined in the accord. While we are trying to work out a political settlement, there is no need to leave the accord. In fact, India would like to address India’s new security concerns. It has the power to persuade Sri Lanka to come to understanding,” he added.
(This journalist was in Toronto during the second week of October at the invitation of the Federation of Global Tamils.)
Published – 28 Oct 2026 09:43 IST