In the backdrop of increased arrivals of Indian tourists, as well as those from various parts of the world to Sri Lanka, controversial Indian politician and former Rajya Sabha member Dr. Subramanian Swamy has urged the Supreme Court of India to declare `Ram Sethu’ reef which is popularly known as Adam’s Bridge as a national monument. The Adam’s Bridge exits between the Southern tip of India and the North-Western coastal area of Sri Lanka.

The reef is known as Ramar Palam in Tamil (Rama’s bridge) which according to the Hindu epic Ramayana was built by monkeys for Ramachandramoorthy to cross the Palk Straits to reach Lanka to rescue his wife Sita, who was brought from India by Ravana and imprisoned in the central hills of the island, forcing her to marry him.

Since the epic Ramayana is spiritually significant among the majority of Indians, the arrival of Indian tourists has increased manifold with 136,535 arrivals in the month of April alone this year, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

Controversial figure Dr. Swamy has now pulled a new string, urging Adam’s Bridge to be declared as a National monument of India. The top court of India has taken up Dr. Swamy’s plea and the Solicitor General states that the process is currently underway in the Ministry of Culture. The court has said the central government was duty-bound to protect Ram Sethu from any form of misuse, pollution or desecration.

The number of tourists arrivals in Sri Lanka in 2025 has increased to 816,191 with the release of the latest figures for April. Among them are 136,535 from India, 102,273 from the UK and 81,130 from Russia, the SLTDA noted.

Earlier there were moves to commence a shipping service between South India and Sri Lanka via the Palk Straits. However the issue of big cargo ships not being able to cross the Adam’s Bridge reef remained a stumbling block. There was even opposition from Hindu hardliners urging the Indian Government not to meddle with Adam’s Bridge.  

Dr. Swamy is a good friend of former Presidents Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapakse. When the civil war in the island was at its peak, the Rajapakse brothers expected Dr. Swamy to be their mouth piece in India.

Now, sixteen years since the Lankan civil war ended, Dr. Subramanian Swamy is playing a different ‘ball game’ on strengthening the existence of Adam’s Bridge and his plea is even favorable to Sri Lanka as far as arrival of the Indian Hindu pilgrims are concerned.