Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

EDITORIAL - A shaky bridge across the Palk Strait
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…

Sri Lankan minister warns against commemorating LTTE

May 12, 2015
A Sri Lankan government minister warned people from holding memorial events for cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as Sri Lanka prepares to commemorate 6 years since the end of the armed conflict this month.

“Anyone trying to commemorate the LTTE which was a terror group will not be approved by the government,” said minister Karu Jayasuriya.

“There are elements who want to misuse the new democratic freedom in the country to show that terrorism could rise its head again," he added.

Sivaram remembered by journalists in Tamil Nadu

May 12, 2015

Journalists in Chennai marked 10 years since the death of Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam 'Taraki' Sivaram by holding an event to celebrate his life this week.

Organised by the Centre of Media Persons for Change (CMPC), young journalists from across the state discussed their experiences and paid tribute to the life of the slain Tamil journalist, screening a documentary on Sivaram entitled “You can't kill an idea”.

Manikandan, chief of the CMPC, led discussions at the event, which also marked May Day and World Press Freedom.

Beginning of Mullivaikal remembrance week marked, under watch of security forces

May 11, 2015

Photos: @uthayarasashali

Several members of the Northern Provincial Council marked the deaths tens of thousands of Tamils, in the run up to May 18, the day the armed conflict between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Tigers ended.

Declaring the days between May 12 and 18 as remembrance week, NPC members on Tuesday travelled to Mullivaikal, on the coast of Mullaitivu, to remember the dead.

According to sources, police and intelligence officers behaved in an intimidating manner, suddenly amassing at the location, but did not cause any disruptions.

We will remember our dead on May 18 – NPC Chairman

May 11, 2015

The chairman of the Northern Provincial Council, CVK Sivagnanam on Tuesday reiterated the Tamil people’s right to remembrance of those who died during the armed conflict.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Sivagnanam said as the government has changed its annual war victory day, marked on May 18, to a remembrance day, all dead, including fighters, scholars and civilians, should be able to be remembered without fear.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa files rights violation petition against his arrest

May 11, 2015

Sri Lanka’s former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa filed a fundamental rights violation petition to Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court requesting that it blocks any attempts by the government to arrest him.

The move comes after Mr Rajapaksa was called in for questioning by the government initiated bribery commission on Monday, regarding allegations of corruption. He has been called to appear again in front of the commission by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on May 20.

Sampanthan has confidence in Maithri

May 11, 2015

The head of the Tamil National Alliance has expressed his confidence in President Maithripala Sirisena’s ability to present a political solution based on autonomy for the Tamil people in their traditional homeland to the Sinhala people.

“We have high hope that President Maithiripala Sirisena would speak to the Sinhala community with an open mind seeking support to find a sustainable political solution to the six decade old Tamil problem,” Sampanthan said at an event in Batticaloa.

The leader of the TNA further said his party was not asking for a separate state or a federal solution within Sri Lanka.

Tamil Nadu youth call for boycott of Sri Lankan products

May 11, 2015

Dozens of youth in India called for a boycott of all Sri Lankan products, at a demonstration held in Tamil Nadu this week.

The Tamil Youths and Students Federation organised a protest in Chennai, calling for Sri Lankan products to be banned from the country due to the government massacres of Tamils in 2009 and the ongoing human rights violations on the island.

“Even the state government has passed a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly calling for ecconomic sanctions on Sri Lanka,” said co-ordinator V Prabhakaran, accusing Sri Lanka of carrying out genocide.

UN working group on enforced disappearances confirms Sri Lanka visit

May 11, 2015
The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances confirmed that it will visit Sri Lanka later this year.

The working group will visit the island from 2-12 August, and has already met with Tamil diaspora groups in Geneva.

A team of five independent experts are expected to visit the island, reports Colombo Page.

The working group had previously made several requests to the Sri Lankan government for access to the ground and received no reply.

Sri Lanka's energy minister denies fuel shortage in country

May 11, 2015
Sri Lanka's minister for power and energy, Patali Champika Ranawaka, on Monday  denied reports that there is a fuel shortage in the country, reports Colombo Page.

Also rejecting reports that Ceylon Petroleum Corporation was incurring losses, Mr Ranawaka, pledged that Sri Lanka will begin natural gas production by the end of this year.

Sri Lankan president thanks Pakistan for support at UNHRC

May 11, 2015
Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena praised Pakistan's support in favour of Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council last year during a meeting with Pakistan's new High Commissioner, Major General (Rtd) Syed Shakeel Hussain.

"Your Ambassador in Geneva fought for us as if he was fighting for his own country," said Mr Sirisena, reported Colombo Page.

"Not only the Government of Sri Lanka but the entire nation is grateful to Pakistan for the enormous assistance provided to Sri Lanka to defeat the terrorists."

Sivaram remembered by journalists in Tamil Nadu
Beginning of Mullivaikal remembrance week marked, under watch of security forces
We will remember our dead on May 18 – NPC Chairman
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa files rights violation petition against his arrest
Sampanthan has confidence in Maithri
Tamil Nadu youth call for boycott of Sri Lankan products
UN working group on enforced disappearances confirms Sri Lanka visit
Sri Lanka's energy minister denies fuel shortage in country
Sri Lankan president thanks Pakistan for support at UNHRC
Sri Lankan security forces intimidate patients at Mullaitivu medical welfare camp
Sivaram remembered by journalists in Tamil Nadu
Beginning of Mullivaikal remembrance week marked, under watch of security forces
We will remember our dead on May 18 – NPC Chairman
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa files rights violation petition against his arrest
Sampanthan has confidence in Maithri
Tamil Nadu youth call for boycott of Sri Lankan products
UN working group on enforced disappearances confirms Sri Lanka visit
Sri Lanka's energy minister denies fuel shortage in country
Sri Lankan president thanks Pakistan for support at UNHRC
Sri Lankan security forces intimidate patients at Mullaitivu medical welfare camp