Sri Lanka, Feb. 16 -- While welcoming the appeal by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking Indian citizenship or long-term visas for 89,000 Sri Lankans residing in Southern India, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has called on the Indian government to ensure that the move is not influenced by the election period or turned into a political exercise.

In a statement posted on social media, Rajapaksa said the move offers hope to thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils who have lived in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu for decades, seeking stability, dignity and secure legal status.

However, he expressed hope that the request was motivated by genuine humanitarian concerns and not influen...