Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka and Pakistan hold defence talks amid rising Indo-Pakistani tensions
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…

OMP bill designed to 'persecute' armed forces says Rajapaksa

Jul 19, 2016
The former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa said the government's Office of Missing Persons Bill was designed to "persecute" Sri Lanka's armed forces and said that MPs who vote for it would be responsible for betraying the country and armed forces.

“In the midst of all the political and economic chaos in the country, the government has placed before parliament draft legislation to set up an OMP. This is one of several institutions to be established ‘to deal with the past’ in terms of the UNHRC resolution that the Yahapalana government co-sponsored with the Western powers in September last year,” he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying in a statement.

EU discusses implementation of resolution with Sri Lanka

Jul 19, 2016
The European Union discussed the implementation of the UN Human Rights Council resolution with Sri Lanka this week at the 20th meeting of the EU - Sri Lanka Joint Commission, which took place on July 19th in Brussels.

"The parties noted the progress made and indicated that further measures would be pursued and progress would continue for the implementation of the resolution," the EU said in a statement following the meeting.

"Progress with regard to the release of land and the normalisation of the life in the North and East of the country, the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the release or prosecution of detainees held under the PTA, and the establishment of the transitional mechanisms for truth, reconciliation, justice and reparations were also discussed."

Former Tamil local council member released after detention at Colombo airport

Jul 19, 2016

Sinhala Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan police threaten Tamil fishermen

Jul 19, 2016

Sinhala Buddhist monks, accompanied by Sri Lankan police and Sinhalese fishermen, threatened a group of Tamil fishermen in Mullaitivu on Tuesday, as tensions continued to flare in the region between the two groups.

The Tamil fishermen, who were setting up to dry their daily catch in Kokkilai, were approached by a group of Sinhalese fishermen on Tuesday. Accompanied by a local Buddhist monk and Sri Lankan police officers, the Sinhalese group proceeded to threaten the Tamils and destroying their equipment they said.

Jaffna prison inmates launch hunger strike

Jul 18, 2016
Inmates at Jaffna prison have launched a hunger strike this morning, according to latest reports.

At least 18 inmates are reported to have joined the hunger strike, with reports that an even larger number had commenced the protest this morning.

Daily Mirror and Adaderana report police officials as stating that the prisoners involved in the protest are being held on drug smuggling charges.

Tamil IDPs postpone protest after reassurances from TNA leader

Jul 18, 2016

Displaced Tamil villagers in Mullaitivu have postponed a planned hunger strike after assurances from Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan that they would soon be returned to their rightful land.

A hunger strike was initially planned by IDPs in Keppapilavu for Tuesday, to protest against the Sri Lankan military grab of hundreds acres of land belonging to Tamil villagers.

Approximately 524 acres of land has been occupied by the Sri Lankan military since 2009, leaving villagers stranded in temporary resettlement.

Jaffna University to begin reopening as officials start inquiry into clashes

Jul 18, 2016

Jaffna University vice chancellor Prof Vasanthi Arasaratnam said that teaching is set to resume at the university on Wednesday, after she announced the appointment of a committee to investigate clashes between Sinhala and Tamil students on the weekend.

The university will begin a phased return to teaching with the medical faculty, 'Sithar' medical unit, engineering faculty and agricultural faculty resuming normal activities from Wednesday.

Buddhist clergy back Sirisena's rejection of foreign judges

Jul 18, 2016
Sri Lanka's powerful Buddhist clergy backed the president's rejection of foreign judges within a war crimes inquiry.

The chief secretary of the Asgiriya Buddhist chapter, Dr Medagama Dhammananda said "there was no need for the Government to succumb to international pressure concerning the matter."

UN tourism conference criticised for ignoring human rights

Jul 18, 2016

The UN World Tourism Organisation has been criticised for organising a conference in an Eastern resort notorious for human rights violations and the displacement of locals.

The UNWTO conference entitled "Tourism: a Catalyst for Development, Peace and Reconciliation" held in Passikudah was dubbed a 'farce' by Sri Lanka Campaign.

The Society for Threatened Peoples recently detailed in a report that tourism development in war-affected parts of the East result in human rights violations.

TNA shocked by Jaffna uni violence

Jul 17, 2016
The Tamil National Alliance said it was "deeply shocked to learn of the clashes that took place at the University of Jaffna on Saturday 16.07.2015".

Clashes erupted between Tamil and Sinhala students at Jaffna University last week, after arguments over an attempt by Sinhala students to push for a Kandyan dance act to be leading the university event for new students.

"We regret that several students have sustained injuries and that the Sinhala students had to be evacuated from the University and Jaffna as a precautionary measure," the TNA said in a statement on Sunday.

"The TNA appeals to all students not to permit any recurrence of such incidents or anything that will hinder genuine reconciliation amongst communities in our country."

EU discusses implementation of resolution with Sri Lanka
Former Tamil local council member released after detention at Colombo airport
Sinhala Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan police threaten Tamil fishermen
Jaffna prison inmates launch hunger strike
Tamil IDPs postpone protest after reassurances from TNA leader
Jaffna University to begin reopening as officials start inquiry into clashes
Buddhist clergy back Sirisena's rejection of foreign judges
UN tourism conference criticised for ignoring human rights
TNA shocked by Jaffna uni violence
Jaffna uni closes faculties after student clashes
EU discusses implementation of resolution with Sri Lanka
Former Tamil local council member released after detention at Colombo airport
Sinhala Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan police threaten Tamil fishermen
Jaffna prison inmates launch hunger strike
Tamil IDPs postpone protest after reassurances from TNA leader
Jaffna University to begin reopening as officials start inquiry into clashes
Buddhist clergy back Sirisena's rejection of foreign judges
UN tourism conference criticised for ignoring human rights
TNA shocked by Jaffna uni violence
Jaffna uni closes faculties after student clashes