Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake used his Poson Full Moon Poya Day message to call for the revival of Buddhist values, as he moved to further position himself alongside the island's powerful Buddhist clergy. Marking the Buddhist festival, Dissanayake said that it was on a Poson day that Buddhism was brought to the island, describing it as a moment that sparked both "a spiritual…

Muslim businessman missing after lodging fraud complaint with CID

A Muslim businessman was reported missing on Sunday after reports that he had recently complained to the CID about frauds committing by other business people amounting to Rs 70 million, the Daily Mirror reported. 

The 29 year old man, named as Mohammed Sakeem Sulaiman was reported missing by his family. 

Bambalapitiya police have launched an investigation into his disappearance. 

Sri Lanka's presidential commission recommends amnesties for human rights abusers

A Tamil mother holds a photograph of her missing son at a protest outside Sri Lanka's presidential commission sitting in Jaffna last year.

Sri Lanka’s presidential commission to investigate disappearances across the island has recommended amnesties for those accused of human rights abuses in its final set of recommendations, reports the

Sri Lanka hires yet another US lobby firm

The Sri Lankan government has hired yet another lobby firm based in the United States, reports the Sunday Times.

The firm, Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg (ST&R), has reportedly been hired with the blessings of Sri Lanka’s Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema to “educate officials on a non-existent peace process, increase economic ties and market access”. The firm is charging a monthly fee of US$ 30,000.

Sri Lankan army denies closing camps in East

The Sri Lankan army has denied reports that it will be closing down camps in the Eastern province.

Hiru News reported the Ministry of Defence as stating “there is no truth” to a report that 64 camps were set to be withdrawn from the Eastern province. It went on to label such reports as “misinformation” adding that there would be no reduction in the number of camps in in Trincomalee, Amparai and Batticaloa.

Camps are to been maintained “as part of a holistic plan to ensure national security” it said.

Rajapaksa rubbishes Chandrika’s ‘75%’ claim of victory

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa criticised his predecessor Chandrika Kumaratunga this week, rubbishing her claim that “75%” of the war against the LTTE had been completed under her government.

"The aristocrats can make all sorts of claims, but the people of this country know the truth,” said Mr Rajapaksa. “They are the best judges."

Ms Kumaratunga made the comments in 2014, when she questioned “How can one deny it?”

Any prosecutions will be under existing laws says Ranil

Despite widespread criticism over Sri Lanka's historic lack of judicial process over state crimes committed against the Tamil people, the prime minister on THursday defended the country's legal system, stating that any prosecutions to emerge from the Office of Missing Persons would occur under the present laws. 

Stating that "the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) will lead to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, "truth should not lead to retribution. We should put the past behind us. We have a future ahead."

Tamils march in Mullaitivu demanding action over disappearances

Families of those missing marched in Mullaitivu on Thursday, protesting against the enforced disappearances of their loved ones and demanding action. 

Puducherry Chief Minister calls for release of arrested Indian fishermen

Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy wrote to India’s external affairs minister this week, calling for the release of four fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy.

Mr Narayanasamy, who met with Minster Sushma Swaraj in Delhi last week to discuss the issue of the Sri Lankan military arresting fishermen, called for steps to be taken to release the men.

‘Sri Lanka’s biggest wealth is Buddhism’ declares president

Photograph: ColomboPage

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena declared Theravada Buddhism the island’s biggest wealth, at a Buddhist religious festival in Kandy this week.

After 30 years, Sri Lankan military release girls’ school playground

After 30 years of military occupation, the Sri Lankan armed forces have released a Tamil school playground that it had taken over.

The Rambaikulam Girls’ school playground in Vavuniya has been occupied by the Sri Lankan Air Force since March 12, 1986.

The military took over the playground “in view of terrorism,” reports The Island and despite the end of the armed conflict more than 7 years ago, it had continued to be under military occupation. After a request by the principal of the school, the playground has now been released.