Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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…

Sri Lanka stocks down, as UNHRC resolution nears

Brokers in Sri Lanka’s stock exchange have said that speculation around an impending UNHRC resolution is affecting investor confidence, despite an increase in foreign inflows.

Analysts said that most investors were waiting for the outcome of the resolution, which could have an impact on Sri Lanka’s economy, Reuters reported.

Today's turnover was Rs804.5mn ($6.16mn), less than this year's daily average of about Rs980.3mn.

New Zealand urged to support international inquiry

The Green Party’s human rights spokesperson and Member of Parliament Jan Logie has called on the New Zealand government to support an international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka, as the lack of accountability "puts the lives of people today at risk, as well as future peace in the region.”

Speaking on the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, Logie said,

“The Human Rights Council session presents an opportunity for New Zealand to push for accountability and protection of human rights action in regard to the worrying situation in Sri Lanka… Our representatives at the United Nations should be doing all they can to support an independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lankan torture victim was denied interview by Australian police

A Sinhalese deportee, who said he was tortured on his return to Sri Lanka, was denied an interview with Australian police who were in Colombo, according to a cable released under a Freedom of Information law request by The Guardian.

The police declined the opportunity to interview the man, to avoid interfering with any ongoing Sri Lankan investigation.

DMK manifesto calls for referendum amongst Tamils in North-East and diaspora

The election manifesto of the Dravida Munettra Kazhagam (DMK) pledged to push the central government for a referendum, held amongst the Tamil of the North-East of Sri Lanka, and migrant Tamils living abroad, to decide on a permanent political solution.

The manifesto also said the party would press for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment on the island and that it would appoint Tamil speaking envoys to countries with large diaspora populations.

Chandrika tells govt democratic values best way to save Sri Lanka from international pressure

The former President Chandrika Kumaratunga said the government should adopt "democratic values" in order "save Sri Lanka and its people from international pressure", reports the Daily Mirror.

Responding to a question by a journalist regarding the possibility of her intervening to 'help Sri Lanka overcome any strictures' at the UN Human Rights Council, Ms Kumaratunga replied,

“Good governance underscored with democratic values were the best way to save Sir Lanka and its people from international pressure."

Primacy of Accountability

Last week's opening of the UN Human Rights Council's 25th session gave rise to strong and welcome calls from key member states for an international inquiry into Sri Lanka’s mass atrocities. That Sri Lanka is not going to investigate the horrific crimes for which its leaders are responsible and that accountability depends entirely on an international mechanism of inquiry is now indisputable. Yet the initial draft text of a resolution on Sri Lanka – the third such resolution in as many years – has evoked a variety of responses from those who have been campaigning for accountability and justice for the past five years, ranging from cautious welcome to deep disappointment and dismay. There is clear and overarching agreement: the resolution is weak, and needs to be strengthened.

Cameron urges other HRC members to back resolution

Updated 17:40 GMT

The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that Britain is supporting an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, reported The Guardian.

A spokesperson for David Cameron said that Sri Lanka had failed to meet the deadline set by the PM to conduct a thorough and credible inquiry and that the UK would support the UN High Commissioner’s call for an independent, international investigation.

"Ahead of the vote, we are working hard to secure support from other countries. The PM has personally written to a number of leaders whose countries are on the human rights council this session calling on them to support this resolution which would help to deliver progress on reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka."

Tamils demonstrate outside UNHRC, demanding international investigation

Update 23:46 CET

Thousands of Tamils from across Europe have been demonstrating in front of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling on the international community to launch an independent, international investigation into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka.


By 17:30,
as more and more demonstrators arrived and the numbers of Tamils swelled, Swiss police officers arrived attempting to confine the demonstration.

Commission of Inquiry is needed - Northern Provincial Councillor tells UNHRC diplomats

Addressing diplomatic missions at an informal public session on the draft resolution tabled on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, Northern Provincial Councillor, MK Shivajilingam, called for an "independent international investigative mechanism in the form of Commission of Inquiry in the resolution this time, to investigate all the violations and crimes committed against the Tamil people prior to, during, and after the war".

"Only a Commission of Inquiry can ensure the necessary mandate, resources and direction needed for this," he told the diplomatic missions who had gathered to debate and discuss the draft resolution's text. 

Sri Lankan police to be armed for 'self-defence' says Police Dept.

Sri Lankan police officers, including traffic patrolmen, are to be armed with a pistol or revolver, said the police spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana, reports the Colombo Page.

Speaking today, the spokesperson said that Sri Lanka's Police Department made this decision due to alleged rising violence they faced in duty, and that the officers had been instructed to only use the firearm in 'highly necessary occasions for their self-defence'.