Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Environmentalists and civil society activists protested at Galle Face in Colombo on 17 June against proposed heavy mineral sand mining along the eastern coastline from Oluvil to Pothuvil, warning that the project threatens the land, fisheries and livelihoods of Tamil and Muslim communities across the Eastern Province. According to the People's Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), exploration…

SL's ideal demographics

For five days from the launch of the official Sri Lankan CHOGM website, a 'Sri Lanka Factsheet' claimed that Tamils accounted for just 3.9% of the population, being outnumbered by 'Indian Tamils' at 4.6% and Muslims, whose numbers were also understated at 7.2%.

The ethnicity and religion figures on the site were changed after the BBC's Charles Haviland called up the issue on twitter.

The 'fact sheet' currently reads that Tamils form 11.2% of the population, Indian Tamils 4.2% and Muslims 9.7%.

SL cricket captain says 'can't really comment' on anti-Tamil violence

Speaking after yesterday's defeat to India in Cardiff, the Sri Lankan cricket team's captain, Angelo Mathews, said that he "can't really comment" on the anti-Tamil violence by Sri Lankan cricket fans that took place on Monday.

Mathews said:
"I think it was unfortunate there was a reaction today after the Oval game, but I can't really comment."

EU will construct 25,000 homes in Northeast

The European Union has confirmed it will build 25,000 homes in the northeast of Sri Lanka next year.

The Head of Delegation, Bernard Savage, said a feasibility study is currently being carried out and a delegation would visit Sri Lanka next month to approve the project.

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka D. M. Jayaratne commended the support shown by the EU.

Tamil activists call for calm at today's protest

Tamil activists  in the UK have joined  organisers of the 'Boycott Sri Lanka Cricket' campaign in calling for calm at today's protest in Cardiff and condemning any suggestion of retaliatory violence or 'revenge'. 

In a statement released yesterday British Tamils Forum said:

SL ministers accuse #BoycottLKA activists of issuing death threats to cricketers

Sri Lankan ministers alleged today in parliament that the Tamil youth leading the 'Boycott Sri Lankan Cricket' campaign had issued death threats to Sri Lankan cricket team, reports the Daily Mirror. 

Claiming that the activists had been hired by 'certain groups to carryout various activities including death threats against Sri Lankan cricketers who are participating in the ongoing Champions Trophy one day tournament', the government said they would be investigating the matter. 

HRW slams govt's new media code

Human Rights Watch slammed the Sri Lankan government's proposed new media code as "overbroad and vague language that could have a severe and chilling effect on free".

In a statement released earlier this week, HRW said

"The proposed code comes at a time when the government has taken various measures to clamp down on Sri Lanka’s once vibrant media, including forcing some electronic media critical of the government to close down."

Weerawansa says India supporting LTTE front TNA

The leader of the National Freedom Front, a key ally in President Rajapakse’s coalition government, has claimed that india is supporting separatist forces in Sri Lanka, after the invitation extended by Delhi to the TNA.

"It was no secret that India aided the separatist forces in Sri Lanka," Wimal Weerawansa told reporters.

Protesters disrupt Sri Lanka's last match with pitch invasions

Photograph from uktamilnews.com


Tamil protesters brought the Champions Trophy semi-final India vs Sri Lanka to a halt yesterday after the pitch was invaded on two occasions by protesters carrying Tamil Eelam flags and placards.

Photograph NDTV Sports


The first protester ran on, carrying a placard reading '40,000 Commonwealth Citizens massacred by Rajapaksa' with a Tamil Eelam flag draped around his shoulders,
and dodged stewards for quite some time before he was rugby tackled to the floor.



Later in the afternoon, up to 6 protesters carrying the Tamil Eelam flag invaded the pitch, suspending play once again.



The pitch invasions took place as hundreds of Tamils joined activists from the 'Boycott Sri Lankan Cricket' campaign to stage a demonstration outside Swalec stadium in Cardiff calling on countries to suspend sporting ties with Sri Lanka, and support a call for an international, independent investigation into the mass atrocities of 2009.


TNA meets Indian PM

The TNA delegation in India met with the Prime Minister on Wednesday, after having previously called on the External Affairs Minister and the National Security Adviser.

An official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs told media:

Rajapakse’s secretary claims Jaffna people want Army

The Secretary to the Sri Lankan President, Lalith Weeratunge has claimed that the people of Jaffna have made “fervent appeals” to keep the army on the peninsula.

“Many lands have been returned, and ones that are needed for public purposes will be retained. The HSZ has shrunk by almost 60%. Many peace loving residents of Jaffna have made fervent appeals to retain the Armed Forces because of their post conflict welfare activities,” Weeratunga said in a Twitter interview today.