Swaraj, Sirisena launch film on Tamils in Sri Lanka

Colombo, Feb 5: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today launched a 30-minute documentary based on the struggle and survival of Indian-origin Tamils in this country.

Both the leaders along with more than 100 people watched the documentary film titled "Echoing Hills". "An emotional connect.

EAM & Prez @MaithripalaS launch 'Echoing Hills', a film on Indian origin Tamils in Sri Lanka," external affairs ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

"Echoing Hills" is on the history of the Indian-origin plantation Tamils. It depicts how a Tamil-Sri Lankan couple living abroad, comes back to Sri Lanka and discover the history of their ancestors from India who came to Sri Lanka more than two centuries ago as indentured laborers and struggled to survive.

The indentured labour was brought to Sri Lanka by the British in the 1800's. The film was launched after Swaraj co-chaired the ninth session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission along with her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera.

Swaraj will inaugurate a 'Rise of Digital India' exhibition tomorrow as part of 'Sangam' festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-2016.

Swaraj arrived here today on her second visit to the country within a year to attend the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting.

PTI