Tamil Eelam: A Strategic Imperative for Indian Ocean Stability

Abstract

The Indian Ocean has emerged as the epicentre of twenty-first-century strategic competition. China’s increasing maritime presence in Sri Lanka, particularly in Hambantota Port and Colombo Port City, has established a durable foothold in South Asia. Western powers, primarily the United States and the United Kingdom, alongside India as a stabilising regional actor, aim to counterbalance China’s influence. In this context, recognising Tamil-majority regions as a distinct administrative or political entity is proposed as a strategic mechanism to safeguard maritime stability and reduce unilateral external influence. Drawing upon global precedents, including Kosovo and South Sudan, this study provides a neutral, academically rigorous framework that situates Tamil Eelam as a geopolitical solution rather than a critique of India or Sri Lanka.

Keywords: Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka, China, Indo-Pacific, maritime strategy, Western containment, regional stability.

1. Introduction: The Indian Ocean as a Strategic Theatre

The Indian Ocean serves as a critical conduit for global commerce, with over 80 per cent of maritime trade passing through its strategic sea lanes (Smith, 2020). China’s Belt and Road Initiative, combined with its “String of Pearls” strategy, has positioned Sri Lanka as a central maritime node (Kaplan, 2009; Lee, 2019).

Western powers, led by the United States and the United Kingdom, have increasingly focused on the Indo-Pacific, leveraging India’s geographic and strategic centrality as a stabilising force (Miller, 2022). Sri Lanka’s unitary governance structure has historically enabled flexible foreign alignments, facilitating external influence.

This study analyses how the recognition of Tamil-majority regions as a distinct entity can serve as a strategic instrument, ensuring long-term maritime security while preserving sovereignty and supporting regional stability.

2. China’s Strategic Presence in Sri Lanka

2.1 Dual-Use Infrastructure: Maritime Leverage

China’s engagement in Sri Lanka has included significant infrastructure investments:

Hambantota Port: Leased for 99 years, providing deep-water access for commercial and potential strategic operations (Sri Lanka Ports Authority, 2017).

Colombo Port City: Special economic jurisdiction with potential dual-use applications for maritime logistics and influence (Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, 2020).

These projects enhance China’s strategic reach in the Indian Ocean, making Sri Lanka a pivotal node in its regional expansion.

2.2 Centralised Governance as an Enabler

Sri Lanka’s unitary state allows central governments to grant exclusive external access, limiting provincial oversight (DeVotta, 2016; Uyangoda, 2012). This structural characteristic has facilitated China’s commercial and diplomatic presence, underlining the strategic significance of governance structures in regional power dynamics.

3. Western and Indian Strategic Alignment

3.1 India as the Regional Balancer

India plays a critical role in maintaining stability in the northern Indian Ocean. Defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, and integration within the QUAD framework strengthen India’s capacity to uphold regional equilibrium (Colley, 2021). India’s strategic centrality ensures a credible counterweight to external influence while safeguarding regional sovereignty.

3.2 Western Engagement: Conditional Support

Western involvement in Sri Lanka encompasses economic assistance, governance reforms, and security partnerships. Nevertheless, the flexibility of Sri Lanka’s unitary system allows for policy reversals, highlighting the need for structural solutions to secure long-term maritime stability (Wignaraja & Knight-Jones, 2023).

4. Tamil-Majority Regions: A Strategic Consideration

4.1 Administrative Reconfiguration for Security

Recognising Tamil-majority regions as a distinct administrative or political entity could prevent any single government from granting exclusive external access to strategic ports. This measure would enhance maritime security and reduce the risk of unilateral influence in the Indian Ocean.

4.2 Historical Precedents: Kosovo and South Sudan

Kosovo (2008): New political arrangement stabilised the Balkans under international oversight (Wheeler, 2009).

South Sudan (2011): Partition mitigated decades-long conflict while enabling international security engagement (Deng, 2012).

These cases demonstrate that strategic reconfiguration can achieve stability and international legitimacy, providing a conceptual framework for Tamil-majority regions in Sri Lanka.

4.3 Neutral and Diplomatic Approach

This framework is not intended to critique India or Sri Lanka. India remains the stabilising regional actor, while Western powers support governance, security, and maritime stability. Tamil-majority recognition is framed as a strategic consideration, enhancing long-term regional security without undermining sovereignty.

5. Policy Implications: Strengthening Maritime Security

1. For Western Powers: Ensures durable maritime stability and prevents unilateral influence.

2. For India: Supports regional stability and preserves strategic depth in South Asia.

3. For Sri Lanka: Provides a governance mechanism aligned with international norms.

4. For Tamil Regions: Ensures representation, security, and alignment with global governance frameworks.

6. Conclusion: Tamil-Majority Recognition as Strategic Necessity

China’s maritime expansion and Sri Lanka’s unitary governance highlight regional vulnerabilities. India’s stabilising role, combined with Western strategy, underscores the need for structural solutions. Recognising Tamil-majority regions as an administrative or political entity represents a neutral, strategic mechanism to:

Enhance maritime security

Prevent unilateral external influence

Align governance with broader Indo-Pacific objectives

Key Thesis Statement:

“Recognition of Tamil-majority regions as a distinct administrative or political entity provides a sustainable mechanism for maritime stability, supporting both Western and Indian strategic objectives while preserving national sovereignty.”

References

Colley, L. (2021). The Indo-Pacific Empire: American Strategic Expansion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Deng, L. (2012). Statehood and Secession in Africa. London: Routledge.

DeVotta, N. (2016). Ethno-Political Conflict in Sri Lanka. New Delhi: Sage.

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Harrington, A. (2018). Secession and International Security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kaplan, R. (2009). Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power. New York: Random House.

Lee, J. (2019). Maritime Geopolitics and China’s Belt and Road. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.

Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development (2020). Colombo Port City Development Project: Official Report. Colombo: Government of Sri Lanka.

Miller, T. (2022). The Indo-Pacific and Western Strategy. London: Routledge.

Smith, K. (2020). Global Maritime Trade and Strategic Corridors. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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Uyangoda, J. (2012). Sri Lanka: Post-War Challenges and China’s Influence. Colombo: University of Colombo Press.

Wignaraja, G., & Knight-Jones, M. (2023). “The IMF and Sri Lanka’s Geopolitical Future.” Chatham House Papers.

Wheeler, N. (2009). Humanitarian Intervention and State-Building in Kosovo. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Copyright:

© 2025 Balananthini Balasubramaniam. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the author.