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…

More skeletons found, total rises to 53 - Uthayan

Jan 27, 2014
A further five human remains were found on Tuesday morning, reported the Uthayan, bringing the total number of remains found at the mass grave in Mannar to 53.

As excavations continue, on Monday the Northern Provincial Council, called for an internationally run investigation into the mass grave in Mannar.

Earlier this month the Bishop of Mannar, who has called for an international investigation into the mass grave due to the lack of credibility associated with any internal process, said that the holes in many of the skulls were believed to be from gunshot wounds.

Sri Lanka's LLRC does not meet international standards - FCO

Jan 27, 2014
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, today outlined that Sri Lanka’s domestic Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed to address accountability issues did not meet international standards.

Responding to questions raised on Sri Lanka, the British Minister of State at the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO), Hugo Swire, said,

“We have also highlighted that any domestic process should be credible independent and transparent to be accepted by the international community. We do not believe that any of the processes established to date by the Sri Lankan Government – such as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission – meet these standards.”

Canada deports Tamil mother, leaving family behind

Jan 27, 2014

Canadian authorities have deported a Tamil mother to Sri Lanka earlier this week, forcing her to leave her family behind in Canada.

US envoy to visit NE and London before discussing SL resolution

Jan 27, 2014
The Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal, will visit Sri Lanka between January 31 and February 2 to discuss issues including post-conflict reconciliation, justice and accountability issues, the US Department of State announced today.

Biswal’s visit will also include a trip to the North-East to meet Northern Provincial Council officials and civil society leaders.

The US envoy will also travel to London to speak to British officials, before finally heading to Geneva for meetings regarding a US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka scrambles against UN resolution

Jan 26, 2014

Sri Lanka’s Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga held over 90 meetings in the past week in Geneva, reported the Daily Mirror, as he led attempts to try and thwart a resolution at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council Session in March.

Weeratunga, who will be leading the Sri Lankan delegation this March, reportedly met with at least 90 permanent country representatives based in Geneva, before flying off to Washington to meet with the US State Department.

Sitsabaiesan ‘right to be concerned’ says NDP Leader

Jan 25, 2014
The head of the Canadian NDP Party has said MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan was “right to be concerned” after she reported facing political intimidation on a private visit to her place of birth, in the the North-East of Sri Lanka.

Responding to accusations by Canada’s Sri Lankan High Commissioner that Sitsabaiesan had tried to embarrass Sri Lanka, NDP leader Tom Mulcair defended the Tamil Canadian MP, adding that Sri Lanka's

Gotabhaya slams 'interfering' diplomats

Jan 25, 2014

The Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has accused the US Ambassador in the country, Michelle Sison, of interfering in domestic affairs and overstepping her mandate, after it emerged that the ambassador had met NPC Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan, along with Chief Minister Wigneswaran and TNA MP Sumanthiran.

Rajapaksa said that foreigners would only make matters worse, so any solution to the problem would have to be found domestically.

Ceylon Teachers' Union condemn increasing Army interference in Vanni schools

Jan 25, 2014
The Sri Lankan Army's interference in schools in Vanni has increased said the Ceylon Teachers' Union to the Education Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, reported the Uthayan.

Demanding that action be taken to stop this, the CTU's General Secretary, Joseph Stalin, said that since the re-opening of schools in Vanni, the army's interference is directly disrupting the students' education.

Drawing attention to incidents such as the Sri Lankan military hosting events in the school grounds whilst lessons are happening, Stalin said this must be stopped, and students must be able to learn without any interference.

Australian student raped by tourist guide in South

Jan 25, 2014
An Australian student in Sri Lanka was raped by a tourist guide in the Southern town of Ambalangoda, reports the Colombo Page.

The student was part of a group of 15 taking part in an educational activity.

SL spends over US $100,000 a month lobbying the US

Jan 25, 2014
The Sri Lankan government spends US $ 66,000 a month hiring Thompson Advisory Group LLC (TAG), a US lobbying firm, reports the Sunday Times.
Sri Lanka's LLRC does not meet international standards - FCO
Canada deports Tamil mother, leaving family behind
US envoy to visit NE and London before discussing SL resolution
Sri Lanka scrambles against UN resolution
Sitsabaiesan ‘right to be concerned’ says NDP Leader
Gotabhaya slams 'interfering' diplomats
Ceylon Teachers' Union condemn increasing Army interference in Vanni schools
Australian student raped by tourist guide in South
SL spends over US $100,000 a month lobbying the US
Disappeared man found dead in Pannai sea
Sri Lanka's LLRC does not meet international standards - FCO
Canada deports Tamil mother, leaving family behind
US envoy to visit NE and London before discussing SL resolution
Sri Lanka scrambles against UN resolution
Sitsabaiesan ‘right to be concerned’ says NDP Leader
Gotabhaya slams 'interfering' diplomats
Ceylon Teachers' Union condemn increasing Army interference in Vanni schools
Australian student raped by tourist guide in South
SL spends over US $100,000 a month lobbying the US
Disappeared man found dead in Pannai sea