Abstract

India and Sri Lanka have a long history dating back to before and after their independence. The bulk of Sri Lankan refugees in India have been living in camps in the State of Tamil Nadu for more than 20 years, under close police supervision, following the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister. The purpose of this essay is to look at the hardships and way of life of Sri Lankan refugees in both the camp and in society. It also examines the options and tactics for making a living for camp refugees, based on a primary survey carried out in the camps. They rely on foreign and Indian social networks for employment, migrate seasonally or temporarily, locate lucrative jobs outside of the camp, and invest in human resources like their children's education as means of livelihood. This study suggests that reintegrating Tamil refugees into the community may be a viable long-term choice for them, especially if they marry Indian citizens and wish to remain in India. The difficulties and ongoing issues that public and private Sri Lankan refugees face in the camps is covered in this article.

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