TN Launches Three Meal Plan For Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees At Mandapam Camp

The Tamil Nadu government has announced a proposal to provide three nutritious meals a day to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees staying at the Mandapam rehabilitation camp in Ramanathapuram district , following reports that recently arrived refugees who fled Sri Lanka's economic crisis were not receiving adequate food. The initiative is aimed at strengthening welfare measures for displaced families and ensuring better nutritional support.

The State Government, through its Department of Rehabilitation , already provides camp management services, housing amenities and essential welfare support to Sri Lankan Tamils residing in rehabilitation camps, with the objective of ensuring dignity, safety and stability. A senior official said a dedicated kitchen will be established at the camp, and a tender has been floated to appoint a catering agency to prepare and serve the meals.

Under the proposed schedule, breakfast will be served at 7.30 am , lunch at 1.30 pm , and dinner at 7.30 pm . Children's breakfast will include milk, biscuits, idli, dosa, eggs, Bengal gram, peas and poori to provide a balanced diet.

According to the Tamil Nadu government's Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non Resident Tamils, 328 new arrivals who reached the state after Sri Lanka's economic crisis are currently accommodated at Mandapam, where they have been receiving food, clothing and other essential assistance. The government also extends welfare measures such as cash assistance, subsidised essentials, education support, LPG facilities and housing improvements for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in camps across the state. In its 2025–26 Budget, the state additionally announced plans to construct 3,000 more houses for Sri Lankan Tamils after the completion of 7,469 houses , at an estimated cost of ₹206 crore .