In a heartfelt plea to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading members of Sri Lanka's Tamil civil society have urged him to persuade Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hold provincial elections in the north and east regions of the island.

The signatories of an open letter, which was handed over to the Indian Consulate in Jaffna, expressed their gratitude for India's support during Sri Lanka's economic crisis and its assistance in rebuilding infrastructure in war-affected areas.

They highlighted the need for an approachable administration that would help regenerate the stagnant economy and provide much-needed employment opportunities for the Tamil provinces.

The letter acknowledged that 14 years have passed since the end of the war in Sri Lanka, but the social and economic conditions of the people, especially the Tamils, have not improved as expected. Falling educational standards in the northeast and the poor state of agriculture were cited as major challenges.

The occupation of fertile lands in the Tamil provinces was identified as a key factor contributing to the agricultural struggles. The signatories stressed that an elected provincial government is necessary to efficiently plan and manage all sectors in the northern and eastern provinces.

They emphasized that the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, which calls for the devolution of power to provincial councils, is crucial in achieving this objective. The letter also expressed disappointment in the disunity among Tamil political leaders, who advocate for federalism without a clear plan of action.

Among the signatories are respected figures such as Sri Gnanasampantha Paramachariya Swamigal, Batticaloa Bishop Joseph Rassiah, and Jaffna University Chancellor Professor S Pathmanathan.

The letter represents the collective voices of Tamil civil society and highlights the urgent need for an approachable Tamil administration that can address the specific challenges faced by the Tamils in the region.