Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The arithmetic of a grave
This week, the number of skeletal remains uncovered at Chemmani reached a stark record of 387. With that figure, a patch of earth on the edge of Jaffna town became the largest mass grave ever uncovered on the island, surpassing the 376 remains recovered at Mannar. Recent days alone have seen the bodies of several children exhumed, alongside beads and bangles. These are the contents of the…

NPC condemns proscription of diaspora groups

Apr 28, 2014
The Northern Provincial Council condemned the Sri Lankan government's proscription of fifteen diaspora organisations and over 400 individuals, calling for the ban to be withdrawn, in a resolution passed yesterday.

"We've stated that this [proscription] is an attempt to make the groups out to be terrorists [and] we condemn this," NPC member M.K. Shivajilingam told Tamil Guardian.

"The diaspora groups are acting democratically within their own respective countries, and we have included this [in the resolution] also," he said.

Rajapaksa asked Zuma for help with peace – South Africa’s Special Envoy

Apr 27, 2014
South Africa’s Special Envoy to Sri Lanka said his government agreed to become involved in the island’s “struggle for peace” after President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s requested President Jacob Zuma’s assistance when he visited Colombo last year.

In his first public comments on his role, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, also Deputy President of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), said South Africa’s post-Apartheid success in building a new nation that embraced democracy and human rights had endeared the country to many others around the world, including Sri Lanka.

Cyril Ramaphosa addressing crowds at Mount Edgecombe. Photograph Tamil Guardian

“Our country used to be the pariah of the world, and today we are the darling of the world... Some of those that have come to respect us greatly are countries like Sri Lanka,” he said in a speech on April 18th, at Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu Natal.

“When our president went to Sri Lanka, [President Rajapaksa] said: 'President Zuma please could you assist us to find permanent peace amongst our people here in Sri Lanka?'."

“He said he would like South Africa to play a critical role in helping to cement the people of Sri Lanka together,” Mr. Ramaphosa told an audience largely of South Africans of Tamil descent at a 'Hindu Easter' event by the Shri Mariammen Temple.

Military denies search operation at Jaffna Uni student residence

Apr 27, 2014
The Sri Lankan military spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, denied reports that troops had conducted a search operation at the men's residence of the University of Jaffna last Friday.

“It is a baseless allegation done for a fishy reason," Brigadier Wanigasooriya told The Nation.

Hugo Swire meets NGOs to follow up on UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka

Apr 27, 2014
Photograph @HugoSwire

NPC calls for Prevention of Terrorism Act to be repealed

Apr 27, 2014
The Northern Provincial Council called for Sri Lanka's draconian anti-terror law to be repealed, in a resolution passed today, reported BBC Tamil and the Uthayan.

Accusing the Sri Lankan government of misusing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in order to repress the Tamil people, the TNA's NPC member Dr Sivamohan, when proposing the resolution, highlighted the PTA's overwhelming use in the North and East of the island.

NPC demands end to military presence within Jaffna Uni grounds

Apr 27, 2014
The Northern Provincial Council passed a resolution demanding that the military presence within the grounds of Jaffna University, in a series of resolutions passed today, the Uthayan reported.

Condemning the military's search operation at the men's residence of the university last week, NPC members said that the military's presence was disrupting university life.

"The education of students is being affected because of the presence of troops, police and military intelligence officers," TNA NPC member T. Linganathan, said as he put forward the motion.  

Graduates protest against unemployment, demand NPC takes action

Apr 27, 2014
Photograph Uthayan

Sri Lankan army to investigate soldiers…for contract killings

Apr 27, 2014

The Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake has ordered a probe into the alleged involvement of soldiers in a contract killing in Wellawa, according to Colombo Gazette.

Three soldiers are alleged to have murdered the husband of a woman, who paid them Rs 2mn, and were remanded by Kurunegala Court.

The Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police will conduct an investigation into the involvement of the three soldiers.

Military trying to control Tamil youths through recruitment says NPC Minister

Apr 27, 2014
The Sri Lankan military's targeted recruitment of Tamil youths to ancillary civilian posts is aimed at keeping the youth under military control, the Northern Provincial Council's Agricultural Minister, Ponnudurai Ayngaranesan, was quoted by BBC Tamil as saying.

As part of the recent recruitment drive, troops handed out flyers listing a variety of job opportunities at an event on Sunday at Jaffna Kokuvil Hindu College.

Advertising to men aged 18 to 32, and women aged 18 to 30, the flyers promised salaries of 25,000 - 30,000 Sri Lankan rupees, for civilian jobs including nurses, teachers for English, Tamil and dance, singers, musicians, dancers, computer technicians, farming supervisors, farmers, electricians, carpenters, building masons, painters, patch workers, mechanics, drivers, builders, and artists.

Sympthetic NGO' to be dispatched to OHCHR probe by Sri Lanka

Apr 26, 2014

The Sri Lankan will send a “friendly and sympathetic” NGO to watch Sri Lanka’s interest at the probe by the OHCHR, mandated at last month’s UNHRC session, reported The Sunday Island.

Diplomatic sources told the paper that although the Sri Lankan government had rejected the resolution, it would send the NGO to represent its interests during the probe.

Rajapaksa asked Zuma for help with peace – South Africa’s Special Envoy
Military denies search operation at Jaffna Uni student residence
Hugo Swire meets NGOs to follow up on UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka
NPC calls for Prevention of Terrorism Act to be repealed
NPC demands end to military presence within Jaffna Uni grounds
Graduates protest against unemployment, demand NPC takes action
Sri Lankan army to investigate soldiers…for contract killings
Military trying to control Tamil youths through recruitment says NPC Minister
Sympthetic NGO' to be dispatched to OHCHR probe by Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka to monitor funding of foreign NGOs
Rajapaksa asked Zuma for help with peace – South Africa’s Special Envoy
Military denies search operation at Jaffna Uni student residence
Hugo Swire meets NGOs to follow up on UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka
NPC calls for Prevention of Terrorism Act to be repealed
NPC demands end to military presence within Jaffna Uni grounds
Graduates protest against unemployment, demand NPC takes action
Sri Lankan army to investigate soldiers…for contract killings
Military trying to control Tamil youths through recruitment says NPC Minister
Sympthetic NGO' to be dispatched to OHCHR probe by Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka to monitor funding of foreign NGOs