It has been one of my lifelong dreams to visit the Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Can anyone in Tamil Nadu elaborate on the safety of a Sri Lankan in Tamil Nadu. I know there is a travel advisory as well as a ban on sportsmen from Sri Lanka, but is there a probability of being attacked on the streets or any other sort of discrimination/inconviniences (I have heard hotels regularly refuse to board Sri Lankans from the south)
Please note that I am from the south and I don't speak Tamil.
The bans on Sri Lankan sportsmen is against the spirit of the Indian Constitution which guarantees freedom of movement between states which are a part of India. However as you know, there is resentment against the Sinhalese people in Tamil Nadu for various reasons which you'd already be aware of.
That said, overall Tamil Nadu is one of the safest states in India by most indicators, violent crimes, rapes etc. You needn't worry about your safety if you visit, you will not be attacked or heckled on the streets as long as you don't openly advertise your lankan ties. To avoid problems with refusal of boarding I'd recommend you book your stay in advance with a reputable hotel or resort online(3+ star).
I would also recommend that you brush up on basic Tamil before your visit because the penetration of English is rather low in rural parts of the state.
I wish you all the very best for your trip, if you do choose to make it.
