In the end, there was no thunder and bluster in Tamil Nadu as news of LTTE chief V Prabhakaran’s death trickled in. Following sporadic incidents of violence, the state government has stepped up security measures through the state, including its coastline. Security has also been beefed at Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commission in Chennai, and in Sriperumbudur since the Gandhi family may visit the town on May 21 to observe the 18th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
In a resolution adopted on Monday, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) — one of UPA’s key partners — said “India should prevail upon Sri Lanka to protect the rights of the Tamils and take measures for their peaceful existence.” DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said his government would put pressure on the Centre to prevail upon Sri Lanka to find a political solution. “Still our concern is the safety and the future of lakhs and lakhs of Tamil civilians, who should live in peace and be given equal rights on a par with Sinhalese,” he said.
Earlier, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to convey that “armed resistance by the LTTE has come to an end and that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead”. India has called upon Sri Lanka to address the “root causes” of the conflict by “effective devolution of power” as well as to provide aid to those displaced in northern Sri Lanka.
India will send medical supplies worth Rs 3 crore to the island nation on May 22.