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…

UN does not see Tamils as partners in accountability process – Tamil Civil Society Forum

Jul 28, 2015

The Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) has condemned the plans for a domestic accountability mechanism in Sri Lanka, as detailed in a UN memo obtained by Channel 4.

In a statement, the group said they “condemn and reject these moves hatched in secrecy to establish a domestic mechanism solely negotiated between the Government of Sri Lanka and the UN”.

The TCSF further said that the UN “clearly does not see the Tamil people as being partners” in the accountability process on the island, despite human rights chief Zeid Hussain’s repeated call for consultations with victims in establishing a mechanism.

TNPF condemns UN plan as ‘mockery of justice’

Jul 28, 2015

The Tamil National People’s Front today criticised the UN plan for a purely domestic incquiry, as revealed by Channel 4 News last night.

Vote for parties that espouse Tamil national principles says NPC councillor

Jul 28, 2015
Sri Lankan parties that states they will not share powers with Tamils and the only political solution is a unitary state should be boycotted at the election, said the Northern Provincial Councillor, M K Shivajilingham on Wednesday.

"Every vote caste for the Vettilai symbol of the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) will bring back the rejected Mahinda Rajapaksa to power," said Mr Shivajingham, whilst speaking at the Jaffna Press Club (JPC) on Wednesday.

Mr Shivajilingham is standing against Mr Rajapaksa at the upcoming general election in Sinhala district of Kurunegela, in an act to demonstrate the Tamil people's opposition to both Sinhala majority parties.

"Similiarly, votes cast for the United National Party (UNP) will also undermine the Tamil people's strength," Mr Shivajingham added.

UNP reiterates rejection of federal solution

Jul 28, 2015

The UNP rejected the possibility of a federal solution to the long-running ethnic conflict, the latest southern party to do so.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera said the policy of the party and its alliance the UNF was to devolve powers to the provinces in consultation with all concerned and within a united and undivided Sri Lanka, Colombo Gazette reported.

“We will not agree to a Federal solution,” Mr Perera said insisted.

The minister further stressed that there was no new or past agreement with the TNA with regards to the elections.

Sri Lanka’s most pressing problems are both structural and systemic - Taylor Dibbert

Jul 28, 2015
A more subtle war still rages across the historically Tamil northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, said Taylor Dibbert, writing in The Diplomat on Tuesday.

Commenting on a report released by the International Truth and Justice Project that outlined ongoing account of torture and sexual violence against the Tamil community under Sri Lanka’s new government, Mr Dibbert said,

“This report is a stark reminder that, irrespective of what happens during the upcoming election, many of Sri Lanka’s most pressing problems are both structural and systemic; the Sinhala-dominated state has discriminated against Tamils for decades.”

Full piece reproduced below.

Everybody should consider this as a one country' says President in Kilinochchi

Jul 28, 2015
Photograph Colombo Page


The  Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena, currently on a visit to Kilinochchi said that "everybody should consider this as a one country," reports Colombo Page.

"The demographic divisions of the country such as North, South, East, and West are only in maps," Mr Sirisena told those gathered at the opening of a supermarket in the town, which was the former administrative capital of Tamil Eelam.

Sri Lanka continues 'multifaceted assault of terror' on Tamils under new government

Jul 27, 2015

Abductions, torture and sexual abuse of Tamils by Sri Lanka's security forces continue under the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena, according to a new report released on Tuesday, which calls on the UN to refer its reports to the International Criminal Court for further action against those responsible for the crimes.

Location of a secret torture camp in Trincomalee - International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka report

The report, by the International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka (ITJP), says 100 so-called "white-van" abductions occurred between 2009 and 2015, one from as recent as this month, and describes torture and sexual violence by military forces and police against Tamils in locations across the North-East and Colombo.

ITJP in its report published 41 locations on the island where victims say they were tortured since the end of the armed conflict, revealing the GPS coordinated for the notorious intelligence detention facility in the Trincomalee Naval Dockyard. The locations include 15 military camps, 15 police stations, 10 "Rehabilitation Camps" and Menik Farm internment camp.

UK diplomats warned not to fly with Sri Lankan air force company

Jul 27, 2015
British diplomats in Sri Lanka have been advised against travelling with a Sri Lankan air force operated company, after it was revealed it had been functioning with an expired air safety certificate.

The Sunday Leader reported that Helitours, the commercial wing of the Sri Lankan air force, has an expired Air Operating Certificate (AOC) which had been previously issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).

Since then staff at the British High Commission have subsequently been advised against flying with the company by the UK Foreign Office.

Sri Lanka studies building navy base at Hambantota port

Jul 27, 2015
The Sri Lankan cabinet approved a feasibility study to examine the prospect of building a naval dockyard at the Chinese-built Hambantota port on the south of the island.

Sri Lanka's Minister of Ports Arjuna Ranatunga made the announcement, which will allow him to negotiate with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), who initially put forward the proposal for the building and repair of navy ships.

Hambantota Port was built at a cost of $1.5 billion, financed through a loan from EX-IM Bank of China. Work is currently underway on the second phase of development at the port, at a cost of $808 million. It was built by CHEC, who also won a $1.4 billion contract to construct the Colombo ‘Port City’, a project that has been stalled by the current government.

SLMC reiterates desire to re-establish Tamil homeland by re-merging Northern and Eastern provinces

Jul 27, 2015
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress welcomed calls to create a homeland for Tamil speaking people by re-merging the Northern and Eastern province, reports Ceylon Today.

Speaking to press, the SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali, said,

“We welcome the stance of the Tamil National Alliance in its election manifesto to create a home land of Tamil speaking people, by re-merging the North and East. This decision shouldn’t be mere talk but both Muslim and Tamil leaders should jointly discuss about the stance to win over the demand.”

Reiterating that this had been a continuous stance of the SLMC, Mr Ali added,
TNPF condemns UN plan as ‘mockery of justice’
Vote for parties that espouse Tamil national principles says NPC councillor
UNP reiterates rejection of federal solution
Sri Lanka’s most pressing problems are both structural and systemic - Taylor Dibbert
Everybody should consider this as a one country' says President in Kilinochchi
Sri Lanka continues 'multifaceted assault of terror' on Tamils under new government
UK diplomats warned not to fly with Sri Lankan air force company
Sri Lanka studies building navy base at Hambantota port
SLMC reiterates desire to re-establish Tamil homeland by re-merging Northern and Eastern provinces
Internal UN document details plan for “domestic probe” in Sri Lanka
TNPF condemns UN plan as ‘mockery of justice’
Vote for parties that espouse Tamil national principles says NPC councillor
UNP reiterates rejection of federal solution
Sri Lanka’s most pressing problems are both structural and systemic - Taylor Dibbert
Everybody should consider this as a one country' says President in Kilinochchi
Sri Lanka continues 'multifaceted assault of terror' on Tamils under new government
UK diplomats warned not to fly with Sri Lankan air force company
Sri Lanka studies building navy base at Hambantota port
SLMC reiterates desire to re-establish Tamil homeland by re-merging Northern and Eastern provinces
Internal UN document details plan for “domestic probe” in Sri Lanka