Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Sri Lanka earlier this month, New Delhi’s media was already hailing the visit as a diplomatic triumph. A raft of development projects had been announced and a significant new defence pact between the two governments signed. Images broadcast showed Modi beside a smiling Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arms raised aloft in symbolic…

Prevalence of drug use raises questions says Wigneswaran

The chief minister of the northern province and former Supreme Court justice, C V Wigneswaran said that the prevalence of drug use since the end of the armed conflict, led one to question whether it was intentionally being increased.

In a statement condemning the rape and murder of a school girl in Pungudutivu this week, Mr Wigneswaran said that the "many actions are being taken to erode people's sense that they must act within the law."

"It is necessary to question whether the use of drugs within Tamil students is being introduced intentionally," said Mr Wigneswaran.

Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre



Tamils in Denmark on Saturday commemorated the sixth year anniversary of the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009.

5 more arrested as anger continues over school girl murder

Five more men were arrested on Sunday evening in relation to the rape and murder of a school girl in Pungudutivu, amid ongoing public outcry.

The detention of the men prompted anger from locals who surrounded the Kurikadduvan police sentry point, where the men were being held, demanding that the men be handed over to them. 

The police had been attempting to the transport the men, aged between 23 and 31, to the Kayts police station, before locals came to know of the detention.



Sampur land release blocked by Supreme Court

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday suspended the release of land in Sampur, Trincomalee, as pledged by the government earlier this week.

The court suspended the gazette notification from President Maithripala Sirisena, ordering the release of land, held by the Board of Investment (BOI) which leased it to Sri Lanka Gateway Industries (SLGI).

SLGI petitioned against the release, complaining that it has incurred considerable amounts of money due to the various agreements it had entered.

Only last week the government announced it would be shifting a navy camp in Sampur and stopping Sri Lankan Board of Investment projects, in order to release land to resettle displaced villagers in the East.

We will prevent commemoration of LTTE - Sri Lanka Police

Sri Lanka's police has warned it will take action against anyone found commemorating dead members of the LTTE.

Speaking to the DailyMirror, Deputy Inspector General for the North, GK Perera, said the police have been placed on high alert "to prevent glorification of dead terrorists".

NPC allocates Rs 40.3 million to support ex-LTTE cadres and families of detained

The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) allocated Rs 40.3 million to support former militant cadres and families of political prisoners, announced a minister on Friday.

The NPC minister B Deniswaran, speaking at his office in Jaffna, said,

Pain of May 2009 will never go away say Jaffna Uni students

Remembering the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009, students at the University of Jaffna said it was their duty remember those who had been massacred.

"The great wound this has caused in our hearts is not one that will go away, however many generations go by.  It will continue to live in the hearts of our descendants," the university's student union said in a statement released on Thursday.

"On the last day of this week which carries the pain and loss of our kith and kin, it is our duty to light lamps in our hearts and with heartfelt emotion remember our lost loved ones. It is our right to hold in our hearts and remember those who died for us."

The university's attempts to commemorate those who were killed by lighting candles in previous years took place amid military bans on all remembrance activity and a heavy military presence.

Sinhala students attack govt officer for playing national anthem in Tamil

Photograph Tamilwin


Sinhalese students at the Eastern University's in Batticaloa, attacked a local government officer on Saturday for playing the Sri Lankan national anthem in Tamil.

The development officer, 29 year old Paththakutti Suman, who works at Eravur government office, has been admitted to Senkaladi hospital with multiple injuries.

Witnessing the attack, Tamil students attempted to intervene, reported BattiNews, also sustaining injuries.

Former peace negotiator ready to testify against Sri Lanka at international war crimes tribunals

Former Norwegian peace facilitator Erik Solheim said he “would go before the International Criminal Court or any recognised International Tribunal to give evidence against Sri Lanka on alleged war crimes.”

In an interview with Ceylon Today, Mr Solheim confirmed that he was “ready to share all what he knows with the credible national or International Tribunal on the final phase of the war events.”

Commenting on the upcoming release of the UN investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL), Mr Solheim said,

“Don’t expect it to be soft. It is important to condemn all war crimes in equal terms. Very clearly both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE committed unacceptable atrocities.”

Buddhist conference to be held in Jaffna to aid reconciliation says Sri Lankan PM

Sri Lanka’s prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the International Young Men’s Buddhist Conference will be held in Jaffna on the 20th of May to improve the relationship between the Buddhist and Hindu religions.

Speaking from Temple Trees, the conference will be held in Jaffna for the first time in its history, with at least 60 of the 300 delegates will be representing Buddhist Associations in South India, reports ITNnews.lk.