Sri Lankan Tamil Born In Refugee Camp In India, Votes For 1st Time

Born in 1986 at a refugee centre in Rameswaram Mandapam camp and now living at a rehabilitation camp for Sri Lankan Tamils in Trichy’s Kottapattu, Nalaini Kirubakaran cast her vote for the first time today, reported news agency ANI.

“For the first time, I voted… I am very happy. At the age of 38, my dream has been fulfilled. I am the first person in Tamil Nadu to vote from Sri Lankan Refugee Camp,” Ms Kirubakaran said.

In 2021, she moved the Madras High Court when her application for an Indian passport was rejected by a regional passport office.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court in August 2022 directed officials to issue her am Indian passport, pointing out that the birth certificate is from Mandapam and states that a person born in India between January 26, 1950 and July 1, 1987 is a “citizen by birth,” according to the Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, 1995.

Despite getting her passport, Nalaini Kirubakaran continues to live in the rehabilitation camp, with special permission from the district collector since her family is still stateless and living inside the Trichy refugee camp. She applied for a Voter ID card and received it in January 2024.