Lankan govt arranging special plane to fly SL nationals home

In the backdrop of protests being faced by Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu, the island nation's government is arranging a special plane to take them back home today.

In the backdrop of protests being faced by Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu, the island nation's government is arranging a special plane to take them back home on Tuesday.

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"We get reports that some people follow the pilgrims group, intimidate, abuse and even attack them with stones," Sri Lanka deputy High Commissioner R K M A Rajakaruna told PTI, adding, the group would be leaving today.

The Sri Lankan government evaluated the situation as the people "appealed to us to arrange to send them back to Sri Lanka," he said.

"We thought it would be advisable to arrange their quick eviction from here," the envoy said.

A batch of 178 Sri Lankan nationals on a pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu faced protests for the second day today with a pro-Tamil outfit trying to block their vehicles when they were returning after offering worship at the famous Velankanni Christian shrine near Nagapattinam.

Police, however, intervened swiftly by arresting nine activists of the Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam with pro-LTTE leanings, who tried to block the seven buses carrying the pilgrims.

The Lankan nationals faced similar protests during their pilgrimage to the Poondi Madha Christian shrine near Thanjavur on Monday.