This piece is part of the series, The Unfolding Crisis in Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka is witnessing an unprecedented and probably the worst economic crisis coupled with political upheaval since the country’s independence from the colonial rulers in 1948. An increasing pressure of international debt, a decline in tourism as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, a decrease in the value of the Sri Lankan currency, and a currency deficit—all of which are responsible for the current critical situation of the island nation in one way or the other. The crisis has reached a crescendo with a high inflation rate when it has become difficult to purchase staple food and fuel for common people—for example, the price of rice has gone up to LKR 500/kg, and a kilogram of sugar costs around LKR 290. Consequentially, people are compelled to come out on the streets in anguish.

As Sri Lanka is a member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a multilateral regional organisation, it would be imperative to analyse the other member states’ responses to Sri Lanka’s debt-ridden economic crisis.

The media, both Sri Lankan dailies/audio-visuals and its international counterparts have portrayed how the people have been protesting for the last two months over prolonged power cuts and shortage of gas, food, and other basic goods. The protestors claim that the quality of the essential items is very poor though the price is exponentially high. Under the circumstances, it has been reported in the media that a section of people of Lanka has become desperate to take shelter in India to escape this critical situation.  Against this backdrop, this essay intends to capture the flight of Sri Lankan Tamils suffering from hunger to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and its aftermath. As Sri Lanka is a member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a multilateral regional organisation, it would be imperative to analyse the other member states’ responses to Sri Lanka’s debt-ridden economic crisis.

Fleeing hunger

A media report indicates that till 26 April, a total of 75 Tamils have left Sri Lanka to take asylum in Tamil Nadu, being unable to survive the economic crisis in their homeland. The report also says that another 60 people have entered India with tourist visas and probably would not like to return because of the miserable situation in their country. These Sri Lankan Tamils have come in batches mostly by boats to Serankottai beach in Dhanushkodi. After interrogation, the marine police decided to send them to the camp at Mandapam in Ramanathapuram. Another report states that apart from Sri Lankan Tamils, the communities like Sinhalese, Muslims, and others could also flee the country. During interrogation, these migrants have expressed that the economic crisis has reached an extent where poor workers with a meagre income cannot survive. The prices of basic items like food and cooking gas have become so exorbitantly high that these poor people are unable to bear the costs. This grim situation has compelled them to escape hunger. In many cases, age-old social and family ties have inspired them to take risks to reach Tamil Nadu. The Centre has not yet confirmed the numbers of these asylum seekers so far. Officials of the State police, fisheries, and intelligence agencies stationed in Rameswaram have been instructed to keep constant touch with fishermen and other sources to look out for families stranded on islands between the two countries. It has been reported that since the vigil has been strengthened, some illegal boat operators dropped fleeing families on islands near the India–Sri Lanka maritime border. It has also been apprehended at the official level that the numbers of asylum seekers may increase in due course if the economic severity of the Sri Lankan crisis remains unchanged for a long time. A high alert has been issued by the Indian government amidst violent protests and emergency powers have been given to the armed forces in Sri Lanka due to the recent unrest.

During interrogation, these migrants have expressed that the economic crisis has reached an extent where poor workers with a meagre income cannot survive.

It is noteworthy in this context that in its recently submitted Annual Report for 2020-21, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India states that as of 1 January 2021, there were 58,843 Sri Lankan refugees staying in 108 refugee camps and around 34,135 refugees are staying outside the camps in Tamil Nadu. These are the displaced Sri Lankan who escaped from their abode during the internal strife in the country The Ministry also indicates that around 304,269 Sri Lankan refugees entered India in various phases between July 1983 and August 2012. Though the Government of India is not a signatory to the International Refugee Convention of 1951 and the Protocol of 1967, these displaced asylum seekers from Sri Lanka were recognised as refugees like Tibetan refugees, Chakmas from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), Hindu refugees from Pakistan, and so on. For the sake of humanitarianism, the Indian government granted relief assistance to these displaced but the ultimate objective was to repatriate them back to their country. The facilities that were given to these refugees included shelter in camps, cash doles, subsidised ration (dry doles), clothing, utensils, medical care, and educational assistance. An amount of INR 1,154 crore was spent by the Centre for relief and accommodation for these refugees between July 1983 and 31 December 2020. The report also reveals that altogether 99,469 refugees were repatriated to Sri Lanka up to March 1995, and there has been no organised repatriation after March 1995. There are incidents where some refugees have returned to Sri Lanka or left for other countries on their own.

The aftermath

Age-old community linkage and previous practices have motivated the Tamil Nadu government to take initiatives to ship food grains, vegetables, and medicines from the Thoothukudi port for the Tamils located in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and also in its capital Colombo as well as in upcountry areas where a huge section of Tamil plantation workers reside. Tamil Nadu government also requests the Centre to allow these Sri Lankans who have reached the shore of Dhanushkodi to take asylum saving their lives. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin had requested the Union government to allow the state to ship essential commodities to Sri Lanka as humanitarian aid.

Age-old community linkage and previous practices have motivated the Tamil Nadu government to take initiatives to ship food grains, vegetables, and medicines from the Thoothukudi port for the Tamils located in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and also in its capital Colombo as well as in upcountry areas where a huge section of Tamil plantation workers reside.

More so, the Tamil Nadu government has requested the Centre to grant permission for “special provisions to give temporary asylum” to the Sri Lankan asylum seekers. Stalin also virtually interacted with the asylum seekers housed at a camp at Mandapam to enquire about their basic needs and welfare. Minister for Non-Resident Tamils Welfare, Gingee K.S. Masthan, Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu, Public Secretary D. Jagannathan, Commissioner of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils Jacintha Lazarus, Ramanathapuram Collector Shankar Lal Kumawat, and senior officials also participated in the virtual meeting. Following this urge of the State to help the hapless people of the island nation, the Ministry of External Affairs allowed the State government to send food materials and essential medicines to the island country. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin thanked India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar for accepting the Tamil Nadu government’s request and opines “…am sure that this humane gesture will be greatly welcomed by all and help to improve the warmth and cordiality between nations. Let the goodwill grow in all spheres”. Finally, the Tamil Nadu government sends its first consignment to Sri Lanka on 19 May.

Responses from BIMSTEC

Sri Lanka is a member of BIMSTEC and hosted the organisation’s fifth Summit in Colombo on 30 March this year. However, it is, indeed, very interesting to note that there have been no collective efforts to address the question of the severe economic crisis of Sri Lanka on part of the BIMSTEC yet. Some of the BIMSTEC member countries have rather, tried to help Sri Lanka on an individual level. India as a close ally of the island nation has provided assistance on several fronts to the country in the last six months. The assistance from India has come in the form of; a US $500 million oil line of credit; US $1 billion lines of credit for essentials to be imported from India under negotiation; a currency swap of US $400 million; Deferral of US $515 million under Asian Clearance Union; 40,000 MT of fuel on credit; 100,000 Rapid Antigen Test kits and supply of 1,000 tons of liquid medical oxygen. The experts argue that this timely help from India may rescue Sri Lanka during this crisis and also will strengthen bilateral cooperation and mutual trust.

According to the deal (May 2021), Sri Lanka was supposed to repay the loan within three months, however, as the country is facing a severe economic crisis, the Bangladesh Bank directors have decided to extend the loan term.

While crisis-hit Sri Lanka struggles to get back on track, Bangladesh has extended the term of the loans to the island nation under a currency swap deal by one more year. According to the deal (May 2021), Sri Lanka was supposed to repay the loan within three months, however, as the country is facing a severe economic crisis, the Bangladesh Bank directors have decided to extend the loan term. Bangladesh has also sent emergency medical supplies to Sri Lanka. Indeed, it is interesting that Thailand, the current BIMSTEC chair, is still silent in rendering help to Sri Lanka. It was in 2021, that the Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut assured to continue Thailand’s assistance towards Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 crisis recovery along with technical cooperation in the domains of fisheries, agriculture, and artificial rainmaking. To avoid an imminent food crisis, Sri Lanka has already signed an agreement with  Myanmar for the import of rice. Under the agreement, Myanmar would sell up to 1000,000 metric tons of white rice and 50,000 metric tons of parboiled rice to Sri Lanka. In the case of Nepal and Bhutan, the other two Himalayan member states of BIMSTEC, no reports have surfaced indicating that these countries have rendered help to Sri Lanka. Reports just indicate that the Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka is in contact with Bhutanese students living in Sri Lanka. The Embassy is assisting its students by providing consular services and so on.

The new Prime Minister, new hope?

The critical economic situation of Sri Lanka has led to a political crisis in late March. The economic crisis-driven turmoil aggravated widespread protests all over the country urging political reform and the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. President Rajapaksa imposed a state of emergency in two phases—once on April 1, lifting it five days later while again re-imposed it on 6 May after police fired teargas and arrested students protesting near the Parliament, which was adjourned until 17 May. Being unable to withstand the mounting political pressure, Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of the President of Sri Lanka, resigned as the Prime Minister. Ranil Wickremesinghe, a leader from United National Party (UNP) took over charge as Sri Lanka's 26^th Prime Minister heading the all-party inclusive interim government. for a limited period before the next parliamentary election takes place. A large section of people in Sri Lanka perceives that the “government sold everything to China and that is the biggest problem”. Will the change of a new prime minister bring a change in Sri Lanka? Only time will show the result. Acknowledgment: The author acknowledges her debt to Prarthana Sen, Research Assistant, ORF, Kolkata for her research inputs.

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The term refugee has been used in this essay to identify the people who have left their country and tried to take shelter to the other country crossing international border for their survival. In this connotation the legal definition of refugee as stated in the international conventions has not been followed.

• Neighbourhood
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Bay of Bengal
• BIMSTEC
• crisis
• Currency
• Economic
• Food
• fuel
• hunger
• refugees
• Technical

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