Colombo, April 19 (NationPress) The President of the Ceylon Workers Congress, Senthil Thondaman, expressed his appreciation on Sunday for the opportunity to meet with Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and conveyed his thanks to the Indian government for its unwavering support to Sri Lanka during Cyclone Ditwah.

In an interview with IANS following his meeting, Thondaman stated that he urged the Vice President to consider granting Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status to Tamils of Indian descent residing in Sri Lanka.

"Welcoming the Indian Vice President, His Excellency C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji, was a privilege. Our discussion, representing the Ceylon Workers' Congress, was productive and cordial. First and foremost, we extend our gratitude to the Indian government for its consistent help during the Ditwah Cyclone, where they donated $450 million, the largest aid to Sri Lanka. I also commend the Indian High Commission team, led by His Excellency Santosh Jha, for executing the aid program so swiftly. Their support during the Covid pandemic and beyond has been invaluable," he remarked.

"India has consistently been a supportive neighbor under its Neighbourhood First policy. I expressed my gratitude and also requested the OCI status for over one million Indian-origin Tamils here, who have been settled for more than 200 years but currently lack OCI status. I am hopeful for a positive announcement from the Indian government," he added.

Mano Ganeshan, leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance Party, described his dialogue with Vice President Radhakrishnan as "productive." He emphasized the need for simplifying the process of obtaining OCI status for Indian-origin individuals in Sri Lanka, noting that indigenous Tamils inhabit the northeastern province of the country.

Ganeshan further commented to IANS, "We had a constructive meeting with Excellency Radhakrishnan, Vice President of India. This follows our discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently visited Sri Lanka, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. We have raised several issues, particularly the need for a streamlined process for OCI status for Sri Lankan Tamils of Indian origin. We also seek support in education, health, and housing. While Tamil-speaking Indian-origin people are spread across the globe—from Singapore to South Africa—our situation is unique. Despite living here for 200 years, we still face challenges. The indigenous Tamils have resided in northeastern Sri Lanka for millennia and are advocating for self-determination.

"Tamil nationalism is in conflict with Sinhala nationalism, putting us in a challenging position since we identify as Tamil speakers. Thus, our citizenship remains incomplete. It is crucial for India to consider our situation thoroughly and with empathy. I believe that Prime Minister Modi understands our concerns, as he has sent External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and now the Vice President to address them. We are optimistic that positive developments are on the horizon. The Indian-origin community in Sri Lanka, comprising about 1.5 million people, should be eligible for OCI status. We are willing to embrace this identity but remain Sri Lankans first; we regard Sri Lanka as our homeland and India as our fatherland," he concluded.

Vice President Radhakrishnan is currently on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, highlighting the strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Earlier, the Vice President met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.