Jaya to dole out Rs 1000 monthly to Lanka refugees

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced a monthly old age dole of Rs 1000 to 5,544 Lankan Tamils living in refugee camps in the state. An order to this effect has been issued by the chief minister.

"The chief minister is concerned about the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamils staying in refugee camps in the state and, therefore, in the Governor's address had also announced that various welfare measures will be extended to the Tamils," it said.

 Jayalalithaa had taken up the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils lodged in camps in the island nation with the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she met her last month, the release said.

After the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came to power, the Tamil Nadu Assembly also adopted a resolution demanding economic sanctions to "rein in" Colombo on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

Jayalalithaa's action to provide relief to the Tamils comes a day after her party members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha sought to embarrass a visiting Lankan Parliamentary delegation led by Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

AIADMK members led by M Thambidurai were on their feet raising slogans on the Tamils issue as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar introduced the visitors led by the Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker.