The Tamil Nadu Factor in Post-war Sri Lanka: Perspectives of Tamils and Muslims

Growing international concerns about human rights violations in the last phase of the Eelam war and the continued surveillance and intimidation of the Tamils in Sri Lanka have drawn the attention of their co-ethnics across the world. The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which had detached itself from the political events in Sri Lanka after Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, has renewed its interest. In the post-war phase, the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils has become an emotive issue. Their grievances have been harnessed in recent years for political advantage by several political parties in Tamil Nadu. The politics of coalition has, in fact, made it difficult for New Delhi to pursue a policy independent of Tamil Nadu. This article examines how the Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka view the role of Tamil Nadu; their perception of the 13th Amendment; and India’s options in post-war Sri Lanka.