Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan minister’s driver assaults Tamil fisherman during visit
A fisherman in Keppapulavu, Mullaitivu, was assaulted during a visit by Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister, Ramalingam Chandrasekaran, as tensions flared during the Minister’s local government election campaign on 24 April. Chandrasekaran, who was touring the North-East with National People’s Power (NPP) candidates, visited Keppapulavu where he met with representatives of the Keppapulavu Fishermen…

No chemical emissions from weapons says Ranil

Jun 8, 2016
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday assured parliament that no chemical emissions from weapons had affected civilians during the armed conflict.

Sri Lankan president vows to ‘eradicate the LTTE ideology’

Jun 8, 2016

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena vowed to “eradicate the LTTE ideology” in calling for a separate state, in comments made to a gathering in Colombo this week.

Mr Sirisena told a crowd that calls for a separate state still exist both on the island and internationally, pledging that his government will take action to "eradicate" it.

“I want to eradicate the LTTE ideology (of a separate state) completely both locally and internationally,” said Mr Sirisena.

Sri Lanka to issue 'certificate of absence' for missing

Jun 7, 2016
The Sri Lankan cabinet on Tuesday passed draft legislation to issue a 'certificate of absence' for people missing during the armed conflict, reported Colombo Page.

Closing window of opportunity in Sri Lanka warns Pasumai Thaayagam

Jun 7, 2016
Sri Lanka’s window of opportunity for reconciliation will close if it fails to act on accountability and militarisation, said the Pasumai Thaayagam Foundation in a written statement to the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

In a statement endorsing the findings of an investigative report by People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), Pasumaya Thaayagam said,

TNA to brief UN on Sri Lanka

Jun 6, 2016
A delegation from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is to brief the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ahead of the upcoming Human Rights Council session, on progress made in Sri Lanka on the implementation of the resolution passed last year, TNA spokesperson MA Sumanthiran told Tamil journalists this week.

British head of diplomatic service discusses political settlement with TNA

Jun 6, 2016
The head of the British diplomatic service, Simon McDonald and the secretary at the UK Department for International Development visited Sri Lanka on Wednesday held discussions with the Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan regarding political settlement and the challenges facing Tamils in the North-East.



The visiting diplomats also met with the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and other government officials, discussing the government's progress on reconciliation and implementation of reforms.

Meeting with the minister for prison reforms, rehabilitation, resettlement and Hindu religious affairs, MA Swaminathan, the UK diplomats discussed land-returns and the return of IDPs.

Sri Lanka must not ‘squander good will’ says Amnesty International

Jun 6, 2016
The Sri Lankan government must not “squander the good will” of those who have “waited decades for their human rights demands to be addressed” said Amnesty International, in a written statement released last week.

The statement, which was submitted to the 32nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council taking place this month, said the “vast majority of alleged abuses before, during, and after Sri Lanka’s armed conflict has not been effectively investigated”.

It also called on the international community to monitor “progress and implementation” of a United Nations resolution that Sri Lankan co-sponsored, which calls for an accountability mechanism with international judges to prosecute perpetrators of mass atrocities.

“Perpetrators have not been prosecuted and torture in police custody persists with impunity,” said the human rights organisation.

UK officials arrive in Sri Lanka

Jun 5, 2016
Two UK officials arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday, for discussions on reconciliation and human rights, as well as wider areas of cooperation between the two countries, the British High Commission said.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's permanent under-secretary, Simon McDonald and the permanent secretary at the UK Department for International Development, Mark Lowcock will meet with the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R Sampanthan.

Sri Lanka tightens defence cooperation with Russia

Jun 5, 2016
Sri Lanka agreed to increase its defence ties with Russia following a meeting between Russia's deputy defence minister, Anatoly Antonov and Sri Lanka's defence secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi, on Sunday.

Looking to the future, cooperation will extend to the training of Sri Lankan military officers at Russian institutions.

"Within the meeting the Russian Deputy Defence Minister pointed out the future directions of the Russian-Sri Lankan cooperation including the one in the field of preparation of military officers in the educational institutions of the Russian Defence Ministry," the Sri Lankan ministry of defence, said in a statement.

Sri Lanka's foreign minister encourages French businesses to invest in 'business paradise'

Jun 5, 2016

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samarweera highlighted Sri Lanka’s potential to be a investment paradise during an investment meeting in Paris, reports Colombo Page.

Sri Lankan president vows to ‘eradicate the LTTE ideology’
Sri Lanka to issue 'certificate of absence' for missing
Closing window of opportunity in Sri Lanka warns Pasumai Thaayagam
TNA to brief UN on Sri Lanka
British head of diplomatic service discusses political settlement with TNA
Sri Lanka must not ‘squander good will’ says Amnesty International
UK officials arrive in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka tightens defence cooperation with Russia
Sri Lanka's foreign minister encourages French businesses to invest in 'business paradise'
EU development strategy aims at ‘implementation of UNHRC Resolution’
Sri Lankan president vows to ‘eradicate the LTTE ideology’
Sri Lanka to issue 'certificate of absence' for missing
Closing window of opportunity in Sri Lanka warns Pasumai Thaayagam
TNA to brief UN on Sri Lanka
British head of diplomatic service discusses political settlement with TNA
Sri Lanka must not ‘squander good will’ says Amnesty International
UK officials arrive in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka tightens defence cooperation with Russia
Sri Lanka's foreign minister encourages French businesses to invest in 'business paradise'
EU development strategy aims at ‘implementation of UNHRC Resolution’