The recent arrest of a 75-year-old Tamil refugee upon his return to Jaffna after 37 years in exile in India is yet another painful reminder of why Tamils urgently need sovereignty.
Mr. Sinnaiah Sriloganathan, who fled Sri Lanka in 1987 during the height of Sinhala military attacks, had lived for decades in a refugee camp in Tamil Nadu, India. Having followed all legal procedures, including registering with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and holding valid documents for his return, Mr. Sriloganathan arrived at the Jaffna International Airport on May 29, 2025. He hoped to spend the rest of his life peacefully with his son in Elalai. Instead, he was immediately arrested by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and remanded until June 5 under accusations of having “illegally left the country.”
This act is a disgrace to international norms and humanitarian values. Under international law, Mr. Sriloganathan is a recognized refugee. Criminalizing his return, despite clear documentation and UNHCR registration, is not just legally unjustified—it is morally indefensible.
This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of state hostility and Sinhala-Buddhist domination in Tamil regions. While Sinhala war criminals walk free and enjoy state protection, elderly Tamils returning to their homeland after decades of hardship are treated as criminals.
This arrest sends a chilling message to all Tamil refugees still living in India and other countries: you are not welcome in your homeland.
This is why Tamils demand sovereignty.
Without political power and self-governance in the Tamil homeland, Sri Lanka will continue to treat Tamils as outsiders—even when we are simply returning home. Our land is militarized. Our temples are seized. Our youth are arrested. Now, even our elders in exile are imprisoned.
We, the Tamil Diaspora, call on the international community, the United Nations, and governments hosting Tamil refugees to strongly condemn this arrest and demand the immediate release of Mr. Srilokanathan.
We also call on India to ensure that no refugee is deported to Sri Lanka without ironclad guarantees of safety and dignity.
Sovereignty is not just a political ideal—it is now a matter of survival and dignity.
Tamils will not be safe until Tamils govern Tamil lands.
Thank you,
Tamil Diaspora News,
May 30, 2025
