NEW DELHI: BJP chief JP Nadda will release a commemorative postal stamp on Saturday in recognition of India-origin Tamils’ “toil” in establishing the plantation industry and other infrastructure in Sri Lanka, 200 years after they arrived in the island country.
The BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai said in a statement, “The release of the commemorative postal stamp on the event, 200 years after the arrival of Indian-origin Tamils to Sri Lanka, is a recognition of their toil in establishing the plantation industry and other infrastructure in Sri Lanka after being dispatched to Sri Lanka by the British.”
He said the stamp will be received by Senthil Thondaman, the governor of Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.
The event will be held at the BJP headquarters.
Annamalai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since assuming office in 2014, has earnestly undertaken several initiatives to ensure the welfare and development of the Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The central government has sanctioned 14,000 houses in addition to health, education, cultural facilities and basic amenities in a ceaseless manner to the Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka, he said.
Additionally, owing to India’s neighbour-first policy, about USD 4 billion worth of financial aid was extended to Sri Lanka when the country reeled from an unprecedented economic crisis, Annamalai added.
Modi, he said, believes that Sri Lanka is a “civilisational twin” of India. The prime minister is “untiringly” delivering support to aid the wellbeing of lakhs of Indian-origin Tamils in the island country and the BJP has been striving to ensure their prosperity, Annamalai added.