Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A controversial cricket stadium and "sports city" promised for Jaffna, launched with presidential fanfare less than a year ago, is being scaled back to a modest cricket ground after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) admitted it lacks the funds to deliver it. Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, the SLC honorary secretary, Prakash Schaffter, said the project was under review and its scope being…

Hand grenade found inside Jaffna Uni complex

A hand grenade was found on Friday at the site of the Parameswaran temple, located inside the university complex. 

The grenade, which is understood to be faulty, was found by workers, who are currently renovating the temple. 

Police arrest 2 youths in Jaffna

Two Tamil youths were arrested on September 12 by police for allegedly possessing cannabis. 

The youths, who were detained at the police station for questioning, are believed to be from Alvai, Vadamaradchchi. 

Police accuse them of being in possession of 1kg of cannabis. 

North-East marks 31 years since Thileepan commenced fast unto death

Tamils across the North-East today marked 31 years since Lt Col Thileepan began his fast unto death, demanding the Indian government upheld its promises to the Tamil people. 

Over 100,000 people gathered at the Nallur temple in Jaffna on September 15, 1987 to hear his words as he began the hunger strike. 

Sri Lankan rupee drop continues and hits a fresh low

Sri Lanka’s rupee continued its fall, dropping to a fresh low on Friday, amidst a shaky outlook for the economy.

The rupee hit a fresh low of 163.60 per dollar, according to Reuters data, ending at 163.60/70 per dollar.

The latest fall comes after a gauge published by Nomura this week showed Sri Lanka is most at risk of an exchange rate crisis, as fears over currency crunches continue to build in emerging market economies.

 

 

Thileepan memorial cleaned ahead of commemorations

The memorial for Lt. Col. Thileepan was cleaned this week in preparation for commemorative events later this month. 

The memorial, located in Nallur, Jaffna, had previously been destroyed by the Sri Lankan military. 

Earlier this year, the Jaffna Municipal Council decided that they would renovate it, with plans that the monument will be rebuilt to its former design, which originally included a 23-foot pillar.

Wanted Admiral flies to Mexico, Sumanthiran calls for international justice

Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran criticised Sri Lanka’s president after Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, who is wanted over his involvement in the murder case of Tamil youths, was allowed to fly to Mexico last week.

Wijegunaratne, Sri Lanka’s current chief of defence staff (CDS), is wanted over his involvement in helping the main suspect in the abduction and murder case of 11 Tamil youths evade arrest. Despite being wanted for questioning, he was allowed to fly to Mexico and is not expected to return until the end of the month.

Port City to function under its own laws - Harsha

Sri Lanka's state minister of national policies and economic affairs, Harsha De Silva said this week the Chinese funded Port City development in Hambantota would have a financial centre functioning under its own new laws. 

“We’re in the process of finalising the Port City legal framework but nothing we do in the Port City will be contra the constitution,” De Silva said, attempting to assure that the City would remain within the current constitutional framework. 

Sri Lankan president pledges to protect ‘pride of the security forces’ at UN

Sri Lanka’s president dismissed claims that he had begun to reduce the size of the military and instead vowed to protect the “pride of the security forces” at the United Nations later this month.

Maithripala Sirisena is due to meet with the UN Secretary General António Guterres as well as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet at the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly later this month.

Police arrest Tamil youths in Kodikaamam

Sri Lankan police on Wednesday arrested four Tamil youths in Kodikaamam for allegedly hijacking a police vehicle. 

The police reportedly tried to arrest the youths after they were involved in a quarrel at a wedding on September 11. 

The youths however are alleged to have escaped by hijacking the police vehicle, which was later found abandoned around 1km away. 

Sirisena warns police chiefs not to take action against military

Sri Lanka's president, Maithiripala Sirisena today warned this week warned police chiefs not to take action against the military "in a manner that would cause embarassment to them", Ceylon Today reports. 

Sirisena made the order on Tuesday, which comes after the chief of defence staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is wanted over his involvement in helping the main suspect in the abduction and murder case of 11 Tamil youths evade arrest.