Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sinnathurai commemorating Maaveerar Naal in London, 2022. Selvachandran Sinnathurai, the father of Lieutenant Shankar, the first fighter from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to be killed in the Tamil armed struggle, passed away in London earlier this month. Lieutenant Shankar holds a significant place in Tamil history as the first cadre to sacrifice his life in the early…

Canada urges time-bound strategy to implement Sri Lanka's resolution

Canada urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure a time-bound plan to implement the UN Human Rights Council co-sponsored resolution 30/1. 

"While noting positive initial first steps, Canada urges the government with the technical support from the OHCHR to set a time-bound strategy for full implementation of Resolution 30/1," Canada said in a statement. 

"We call on Sri Lanka to meet its domestic and international human rights obligations to ensure a peaceful, reconciled and prosperous future for all Sri Lankans."

Tamil journalist detained and harassed by Sri Lankan Army while reporting in Mullaitivu

A Tamil journalist was detained by the Sri Lankan army and subject to threatening and abusive language by an army official while reporting on the army’s plans to appropriate land in Mullaitivu.

The journalist who had been working in Alampil, were residents have reported that the Sri Lankan Army is attempting to permanently seize the land of a destroyed LTTE cemetery was stopped and questioned by soldiers.

When the journalist refused to hand over his camera to be searched, he was taken aside and interrogated by a higher ranking officer who implied that his days were numbered and also subjected him to verbal abuse.

Army attempts to appropriate destroyed LTTE cemetery, angering Mullaitivu residents

Attempts by the Sri Lankan Army to permanently appropriate the land of a destroyed LTTE cemetery have angered locals in Mullaitivu.

Notices about the seizure by the village officer have gone up in parts of Alampil where the Thuyilum Illam, residents said.

Alampil residents have stated that they will resist any move to build permanent army structures on the site.

“We have nowhere to mourn our children,” one resident whose daughter was buried at the Thuyilum Illam said. “Now they want to to taunt us by building a camp on top of their bodies.”

UN: Sri Lanka yet to display willingness to address impunity

The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore on Wednesday reiterated the High Commissioner's call on states to exercise universal jurisdiction to ensure justice in Sri Lanka, stating that "authorities have yet to demonstrate with the willingness or the capacity to address impunity for gross violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law."

UNHRC resolution co-sponsors: 'much still remains to be done to implement Sri Lanka’s commitments'

The co-sponsors of Sri Lanka's UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Wednesday expressed disappointment that the "pace of progress has been slow", adding that "much still remains to be done to implement Sri Lanka’s commitments". 

The United States, UK, Macedonia and Montenegro also highlighted ongoing reports of human rights abuses by Sri Lankan security personnel. 

UK MPs debate Sri Lanka: 'pace of progress disappointingly slow'

The UK's Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mark Field said Sri Lanka's "pace of progress has been disappointingly slow and that much remains to be done" in a dedicated Commons debate on the issue yesterday. 

Joint Opposition hand over no-faith motion against Ranil

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition today handed over a no-condidence motion against the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Dinesh Gunawardane of the Joint Opposition told reporters that several government MPs had also signed the motion. 

“We expect the Speaker to give maximum priority to this motion as per Parliamentary tradition,” he added. 

The former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa did not sign the motion, reported the Daily Mirror. 

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Where is our Rector?' - protests in Jaffna as Sri Lankan President visits disappeared priest's former school

The Sri Lankan President was met by protestors in Jaffna on Monday where he had travelled for the inauguration of a new school building.

Sri Lankan army officer remanded over hate speech on social media

A Sri Lankan army officer was remanded today for allegedly spreading hate speech via the social media platform, Facebook. 

The soldier was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on March 17. 

His bail application was rejected by Colombo chief magistrate, Lal Ranasinghe Bandara, Colombo Page reported.

STF intelligence officers accused of Ariyalai murder have remand extended

Two Special Task Force intelligence officers accused of murdering a Tamil man in Jaffna last year have had their remand extended by the Jaffna magistrate.

The case of the Ariyalai murder of 24-year-old Don Bosco Rikman was taken up at Jaffna magistrates court on Tuesday.

The two officers’ remand was extended until April 3rd citing ongoing investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department.

Requests by the STF to release a three-wheeler and motorcycle held in connection with the murder were also rejected by the judge.