View source for Attacks on Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}}
'''Attacks on Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu''' refer to a series of [[Offensive (military)|attacks]] and [[demonstration (people)|demonstration]]s that have taken place in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] against [[Sri Lankans]] (particularly [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]]) and Sri Lankan interests in the state. The protests took several forms, of attacks on individuals, groups and institutions.<ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=75023 Travel advisory against Tamil Nadu?]</ref>

These attacks have led to the Sri Lankan government considering to shift its [[Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka, Chennai|Deputy High Commissioner’s office]] in [[Chennai]], the capital of Tamil Nadu, to [[Trivandrum]], the capital of [[Kerala]] following its recall of its [[Defence Attaché]] from Chennai as a result of harassment.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130324/news/lanka-may-pull-out-of-tamil-nadu-38533.html Lanka may pull out of Tamil Nadu]</ref> Sri Lankan students in universities in Tamil Nadu have been forced to vacate college hostels and are refused alternate accommodation in private homes.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130324/news/lankan-students-turned-outrefused-lodgings-in-tn-38285.html Lankan students turned out/refused lodgings in TN]</ref>

==List of incidences==
*March 2008: Sri Lankan director Thushara Peiris was assaulted while working on a film in Chennai.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/director-of-prabhakaran-threatens-hunger-strike/289235 Director of Prabhakaran threatens hunger strike]</ref>
*September 2011: The [[Maha Bodhi Society]] office in Chennai was vandalized by the [[Naam Tamilar Katchi|Naam Thamizhar]] group.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/attack-aimed-at-sabotaging-indiasri-lanka-relations/article1125075.ece|title = 'Attack aimed at sabotaging India-Sri Lanka relations'|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 25 January 2011}}</ref>
*January 10, 2012: Sri Lankan President [[Mahinda Rajapakse]]'s brother-in-law Thirukumuran Nadesan was attacked by [[MDMK]] activists while coming out of a temple in [[Rameshwaram]].<ref>http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/sri-lankan-presidents-kin-attacked-in-tamil-nadu_100589669.html</ref>
*September 2012: 184 Sri Lankan [[pilgrim]]s to churches in [[Velankanni]] and [[Poondi Matha]] were attacked by [[Tamil Eelam|pro-Eelam]] groups and had to be evacuated by a special flight of [[Mihin Lanka]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130411033415/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-05/india/33614902_1_trichy-airport-mihin-lanka-police-escort Under attack, Sri Lankan pilgrims flee Tamil Nadu]</ref><ref>[http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2012/09/05/attacks-lankan-pilgrims-tamil-nadu-india-assures-security Attacks on Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu: India assures security ]</ref>
*7 February 2013: [[Bank of Ceylon]] Branch in Chennai was attacked by a mob of 15 people.<ref>[http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/media/3841-attack-on-bank-of-ceylon-branch-in-chennai Attack on Bank of Ceylon Branch in Chennai] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215045840/http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/media/3841-attack-on-bank-of-ceylon-branch-in-chennai |date=15 February 2013 }}</ref>
*March 2013: [[Mihin Lanka]] sales office in [[Madurai]] attack by Pro-Tamil Naam Thamizhar group.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/31045-mihin-air-office-in-madurai-attacked.html Mihin-Air office in Madurai attacked] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324213735/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/31045-mihin-air-office-in-madurai-attacked.html |date=24 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130411033258/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-07/india/37530869_1_mihin-lanka-madurai-and-colombo-connectivity-from-madurai-airport Pro-Tamil outfit attacks Lankan airline’s office in Madurai]</ref>
* 16 March 2013: A Sri Lankan Buddhist priest, a student of The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), was attacked by a group of Tamil political activists while visiting The Thanjavur temple complex.<ref>[http://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/dbsjeyaraj-column/27102-attacks-on-two-sri-lankan-buddhist-monks-in-tamil-nadu.html ATTACKS on two Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks in Tamil Nadu]</ref> Later Three buses carrying the priest and the rest of the students to the [[Tiruchirapalli]] airport attacked by Tamil outfits.<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/on-way-to-airport-sri-lankan-pilgrims-attacked-by-mob-in-tamil-nadu/997675/ On way to airport, Sri Lankan pilgrims attacked by mob in Tamil Nadu]</ref>
* 18 March 2013:A group of men attacked a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk on a pilgrimage at [[Chennai Central railway station]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130411033924/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-19/india/37842944_1_cctv-footage-railway-police-bodh-gaya Another Lankan monk attacked in Tamil Nadu]</ref>

==Reaction of the Government of Sri Lanka==
* On 3 September 2012: Ministry of External Affairs, issued a travel advisory to abstain from visiting to Tamil Nadu considering the "increasing instances of intimidation of Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu for tourism, pilgrimages, sporting and cultural activities and professional training"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/media/news-archive/3592-travel-advisory--tamil-nadu |title=Travel Advisory – Tamil Nadu |access-date=1 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303173252/http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/media/news-archive/3592-travel-advisory--tamil-nadu |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and later lifted on 9 October 2012.<ref>[http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Tami_Nadu_travel_advisory_lifted_20121010_01 Tamil Nadu travel advisory lifted] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116171443/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Tami_Nadu_travel_advisory_lifted_20121010_01 |date=16 November 2012 }}</ref>
* On 19 March 2013: Issuing a statement, Government of Sri Lanka expressed its regrets over violent assaults against Sri Lankan nationals and lodged strong protests with the Government of India through its High Commission in New Delhi and the Deputy High Commission in Chennai. Ministry of external affairs reissued the travel advisory.<ref>[http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/media/3910-gosl-statement-on-incidents-of-assault-and-intimidation-of-sri-lankan-nationals-in-tamil-nadu- GOSL statement on incidents of assault and intimidation of Sri Lankan nationals in Tamil Nadu] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329110511/http://www.mea.gov.lk/index.php/media/3910-gosl-statement-on-incidents-of-assault-and-intimidation-of-sri-lankan-nationals-in-tamil-nadu- |date=29 March 2013 }}</ref>

==Reaction of the Government of India==
*On 19 March 2013: Indian High Commission in Colombo, issuing a statement, expressed that Indian Government has "noted with concern the recent incidents involving Sri Lankan citizens in Tamil Nadu" and assured the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan visitors to India.<ref>[http://www.hcicolombo.org/index.php?option=com_news&task=detail&id=3354868 Statement on recent incidents involving Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu]</ref><ref>[http://colombogazette.com/2013/03/19/travel-advice-on-tamil-nadu/ Travel advice on Tamil Nadu - Colombo Gazette]</ref>

==See also==
* [[2013 Anti-Sri Lanka protests]]
* [[Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora]]
* [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]
* [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Attacks on Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu}}
[[Category:Protests in India]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Civil War protests]]
[[Category:Tamil diaspora in Asia]]
[[Category:Student protests in India]]
[[Category:India–Sri Lanka relations]]