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200,000 Sri Lankans in India want to return home

About 200,000 Sri Lankans who took refuge in India especially in Tamil Nadu now expect to return home after the Ceasefire between the Government and the LTTE, World Tamils Federation President Dr. T.R.Janarthanam said.

In a letter to the Indian Government's Chief Immigration Officer at Chennai with copies to the Indian Prime Minister, the External Affairs Minister and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr.Janarthanam said that these Lankans whose visas have expired, find it difficult to obtain exit permits from the Indian Government due to official bureaucracy and other inordinate procedures.

Applications of those who stayed more than one month in India after the expiry date of their visa, are now sent to New Delhi to take decisions. Delays on the part of the External Affairs Ministry, the Home Ministry, I.S.and RAW, Defence and Intelligence authorities would hinder the smooth process of exit permits thereby inconveniencing the applicants.

Dr.Janarthanam requested the Indian Government to send an Immigration official from New Delhi to Chennai once a week to clear the applications submitted by those who expect to return to Sri Lanka.

He also suggested that the Chief Immigration Officer of the Bureau of Immigration, Chennai, should be delegated with enough powers by the State Government of Tamil Nadu to grant exit permits to all Sri Lankan nationals expecting to leave for Sri Lanka irrespective of the duration of their overstay in India. Such an act will be an immense relief to the suffering Sri Lankan Tamils in India.

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