Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, met with Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in Islamabad this week on the sidelines of the 5th Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue, the Sri Lankan government announced. The meeting took place on Tuesday 29 April, the second day of the three-day dialogue, which aims to enhance defence cooperation…

Gotabaya Rajapaksa flies to Bhutan as new Sri Lankan president takes office

Days after Basil Rajapaksa, founder of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), left for the United States on election day, former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has also departed the country, heading to Bhutan.

This development follows the SLPP General Secretary's denial that any members of the Rajapaksa family were fleeing the country. Gotabaya Rajapaksa reportedly arrived in Kathmandu on Monday, traveling via Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan.

Sri Lankan parliament to be dissolved

It is being widely reported that Sri Lanka’s parliament would be dissolved today with snap parliamentary elections scheduled for as early as December. The move comes following the victory of Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Sri Lanka’s 9th Executive President. Despite his victory, Dissanayake lacked the majority in parliament that would help him govern the country for the next five years. 

Sri Lanka’s new president vows fresh probe into Easter Attacks amid controversial appointment

Newly elected President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has assured the Archbishop of Colombo that he will do his utmost to uncover the truth behind the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019, pledging to launch a fresh investigation.

Dissanayake met Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and made this pledge shortly after being sworn in as the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka. 

TNPF leader tells new Sri Lankan president to embrace devolution

Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has called on newly elected Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake to embrace devolving power to the Tamil nation. 

All change in Sri Lanka?

Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has officially been appointed Sri Lanka’s next president. It marks a remarkable turnaround for a party that staged two violent insurrections against the Sri Lankan state. Indeed, it was a result that left many observers around the world somewhat taken aback by the direction Sri Lanka may be heading in. For those on the island, however, this is not a surprise.

 

Newly elected Sri Lankan president discusses 'defence priorities' with security forces commanders

Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with the commanders of the security forces to discuss "defence priorities" shortly after he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's president. 

The newly elected president met with accused war criminal and Chief of Defence Staff Shavendra Silva, army commander Vikum Liyanage, navy commander Priyantha Perera and air force commander Udeni Rajapaksa to reportedly discuss national security and defence priorities. 

Western diplomats congratulate Sri Lanka’s president-elect 

Following Anura, Kumara Dissanayake’s victory at Sri Lanka’s presidential elections earlier this week, diplomats from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, France and Germany have issued statements of congratulation for the president-elect. 

Tamils donate blood to commemorate Thileepan's sacrifice 37 years on

A blood donation drive was held in Nallur, Jaffna today to mark 37 years since Lt Col Thileepan's fast unto death. 

The Thiyaga Thileepan Memorial Organising Committee held the donation drive at a memorial dedicated to Thileepan in Nallur, where many Tamils, both old and young donated their blood. 

Another accused Sri Lankan war criminal appointed as Defence Secretary

In one of his first acts as president of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed accused war criminal Sampath Thuyacontha as the new Secretary of Defence – a military figure who boasted of causing “chaos” during the Mullivaikkal genocide.

Thuyacontha was the Wing Commander of the No 09 squadron, a helicopter gunship squadron that conducted nearly 400 missions during the genocide.

Sri Lankan adventure park apologises for programme named after site of Tamil genocide

An adventure park in Hanwella, Sri Lanka has apologised for naming a new paintball programme after a site of Tamil genocide.

After fierce criticism on social media, Che Adventure Park said it has made a mistake and has removed the post on all social media platforms. It said it “was shared with no intention of causing harm or offence to any race or religion”.