Special provisions with regards to development and the political rights of upcountry people living in North, who were affected and uprooted by violence in the past, should be brought in the constitutional reform, the representatives of upcountry Tamils living in North and Community Development Forum told the committee which is engaged in collecting the public opinions on the constitutional reform.
The above demands were put forth at the session held at Killinochchi District Secretariat on Tuesday.
Following are further stated by them;
Despite 45% of people are upcountry Tamils, we have no single member in Northern Provincial Council on our behalf. This is the good example for describing the plight of our people. Representation to the upcountry as per the proportion is not given even in the local councils.
More or less 45% of uprooted upcountry Tamils are living in the region in Killinochchi West which includes 16 GN divisions, Aanaivizhunthaan, Jeyapuram, areas in Killinochchi West which includes Ulavanur, Puthiya Punnai Neeravi, Tharumapuram, Kalmadunagar, Mayavanur and Kodatkulam in Iyakkachi. These upcountry Tamils have unique social, economic and cultural structures. Though they have been living with the ethnic identities like other Tamils have, their issues are unique as they are vulnerable in fulfilling basic needs, gaining education, getting livelihoods, getting job opportunities. Therefore, privileges should be granted to the development of them.
Therefore, these people should be included in the distinct nationalism called Upcountry Tamil Nation and the privileges should be given for these people to attain their interests under the umbrella of Upcountry Tamil Nation.
