JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — In one of his more theatrical and illogical speeches in Parliament, Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna suggested that Sri Lanka should not only hand over Katchatheevu, but also give away Jaffna itself to Tamil Nadu — a remark that observers said seemed to have little connection between tongue and brain, if any.
“Not only Katchatheevu — give Jaffna to Tamil Nadu too. The people of Tamil Nadu will look after us,” Mr. Archchuna declared during a speech that quickly drew attention.
Mr. Archchuna began by congratulating TVK president and Tamil Nadu’s incoming Chief Minister, Vijay, whose political rise has captivated many Tamils across the region, before pivoting sharply to local grievances.
“When I recently visited Neduntheevu, I saw that nearly 50 percent of the people had no electricity,” he said. “For five out of seven days, they are without power.”
Katchatheevu, ceded by India to Sri Lanka in 1974, remains a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu politics, often resurfacing during election cycles as a symbol of Tamil identity and regional nationalism. Vijay, too, declared during one of his election rallies that he would seek to reclaim Katchatheevu if he came to power.
