Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss has called on Sri Lanka to move away from its current unitary system and embrace a federal political structure that recognizes the Tamil homeland and ensures self-determination for ethnic Tamils.
Ramadoss emphasized the need for Sri Lanka to acknowledge the grievances of Eelam Tamils, stating that the existing unitary framework is inadequate to address their concerns. He highlighted the importance of transitioning to a federal setup to prevent further ethnic divisions and human rights violations.
During a meeting with the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), Ramadoss was briefed on the challenges faced by Tamils in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The delegation highlighted ongoing issues such as land seizures, demographic changes, militarization, and suppression of dissent that perpetuate the suffering of Tamils.
Ramadoss criticized the delay in implementing devolution of powers to Tamils as mandated by the 1987 India–Sri Lanka Accord. He pointed out that despite the introduction of the 13th Constitutional Amendment, genuine power-sharing remains elusive due to the unitary nature of the system.
The PMK leader expressed concern over the Sri Lankan government’s attempts to centralize authority and uphold Sinhala-Buddhist dominance through proposed constitutional changes. He called on the Indian government to intervene diplomatically to prevent the passage of such laws and stressed the necessity of a federal system that respects Tamil sovereignty for lasting peace.
