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Vaiko calls for Eelam referendum, a day after leaving Modi alliance

Dec 8, 2014

The General Secretary of the MDMK party, Vaiko, called on for the European Union to support the "need for a referendum" on an independent Tamil Eelam, a day after leaving the BJP led alliance in protest at the government's conduct towards Eelam Tamils.

Speaking to the EU ambassador Joao Cravinho, who is currently visiting Tamil Nadu, Vaiko was quoted by the Economic Times as saying, "the help and contribution of European Union countries in holding a referendum on the Tamils issue in Sri Lanka is very essential."

On Monday, the MDMK walked out of the NDA, stating that the Modi government was "being insensitive" and "betraying the interests" of Tamils in the North-East and Tamil Nadu, The Hindu reports.

We bought weapons used to destroy LTTE' says UNP

Dec 7, 2014

The opposition United National Party's National (UNP) Youth Front President and Parliamentarian Ruwan Wijewardene said that all weaponry used by the Sri Lankan government in order to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, was bought whilst the UNP was in power.

Speaking in Colombo, Wijewardene said that the UNP, which was last in government from 2001 until 2004, had acquired all of the arms and ammunition used during the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009.

Winning votes: Sinhalese v Tamils

Dec 7, 2014

Photograph Nilshan Fonseka

Launching his presidential campaign, Mahinda Rajapaksa featured on the front pages of an array of Sri Lankan newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Whilst the Tamil newspapers celebrated apparent reconciliation and 'development' in the North-East, with a photograph of Mahinda Rajapaksa at the opening of the Yaal Devi train and the caption - 'Do you remember this historic day?' , the Sinhala language newspapers exalted the war victory over the Tamil armed resistance group, the LTTE.

Carrying headlines about the Sri Lankan military's victory over the LTTE, such as 'Nation rescued from terrorists' and 'Final bit of land rescued from LTTE', the Sinhala language newspapers featured a photograph of Rajapaksa knelt down worshiping the 'motherland', following his arrival back to Sri Lanka a day before he declared victory on May 19th.

Former UNP Gen Secretary crosses over to Rajapaksa

Dec 7, 2014

Photograph Colombo Page

The former General Secretary of the main opposition party, UNP has crossed over to the government side, publicly endorsing the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa for the presidential election next month.

MP Tissa Attanayake pledged his support this morning at Temple Trees, shortly after Rajapaksa submitted his nomination for the presidency, reports Colombo Page.

The Democratic Party parliamentarian, Jayantha Ketagoda, has also crossed over to the government side.

Tamil Civil Society Forum formally launched

Dec 7, 2014

TCSF convenor -
Bishop of Mannar, Dr. Rayappu Joseph

A network of Tamil civil society activists based in the North-East, have formally launched a collective organisation - the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF).

The TCSF, which includes over sixty activists at present, held its first Annual General Meeting on November 15.

"The primary objective of the forum is to create, provide space and act as a medium for articulation and expression of the views of its membership on contemporary issues of social, political, economic and cultural interests to the Tamil people living in the island of Sri Lanka," the TCSF said.

Rajapaksa to visit India on astrologer's advice

Dec 7, 2014

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to visit the Tirumala Venkateswara temple in India, on the advice of his astrologer ahead of the Sri Lankan presidential polls next month.

The visit is set to spark protests from Tamil groups across Tamil Nadu with MDMK general secretary Vaiko announcing a black-flag demonstration against Rajapaksa in Tirupati.

PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss also commented on Rajapaksa's trip, saying,

“Nothing can hurt us, Tamils, more than this honour to this murderer, letting him worship at Tirupati with full temple honours despite his role in destroying over 2000 Hindu temples in Eelam.”

Fifa chief calls on Mahinda ahead of Jaffna stadium opening

Dec 6, 2014

(news.lk)

The president of Fifa Sepp Blatter visited Sri Lanka last week, meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa, before travelling to the North-East to inaugurate a new football stadium on the Jaffna peninsula.

"I was last in Sri Lanka in 2005 and I am delighted to be back again in your beautiful country. This is my third visit to Sri Lanka and I see a tremendous amount of development has taken place. The opening of the Jaffna Stadium is a significant achievement and Fifa is confident that this will serve to further develop football in Sri Lanka," said Blatter.

"Your President HE Mahinda Rajapaksa renewed his assurance to support the development of local football when we met him and of course FIFA and AFC will always stand behind you, guiding and channeling our resources to help Sri Lanka develop the game and bring its social benefits to your youth," he added.

Presidential election not addressing Tamil concerns says TNA

Dec 6, 2014

Sri Lanka's presidential election does not address Tamil concerns, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson Suresh Premachandran said on Sunday, stating that neither Mahinda Rajapaksa nor the common opposition candidate, Maithripala Sirisena were seeking to find solutions to problems faced by the Tamil people.

“We know that there is corruption, we know there is a family rule. We know those things must be removed. But at the same time Tamils are facing different issues,”
Premachandran told a press conference in Vavuniya at the weekend, the Sunday Leader reports.

"Tamils are facing various issues. There are hundreds of people who still can't go back to their own lands because Army is occupying them," the Deccan Chronicle quoted him as saying.

"There are hundreds of political prisoners. Even after 5 years (of the end of war), people are still in camps".

Tamil family removed from Perth despite protests

Dec 6, 2014

Forced removal: The tearful Tamil father taken to the airport, after being removed from the Redcliffe detention centre. Pictures: Alf Sorbello/PerthNow

A Tamil family seeking asylum in Australia has been removed from a detention centre in Perth, in order to be taken to the government's detention centre in Nauru.

Protestors attempted to blockade the driveway of the detention centre in Redcliffe, but were dragged away by police, reported PerthNow.

US dismisses 'baseless' Sri Lankan bribery allegations

Dec 5, 2014

The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka released a statement dismissing claims by a Sri Lankan government minister that he was offered a bribe by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J Sison.

Sri Lanka's Rehabilitation Minister Gunaratne Weerakoon claimed the US Embassy in Colombo were offering bribes and were “pumping money” into defeating incumbent Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential polls.

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Vaiko calls for Eelam referendum, a day after leaving Modi alliance

We bought weapons used to destroy LTTE' says UNP

Winning votes: Sinhalese v Tamils

Former UNP Gen Secretary crosses over to Rajapaksa

Tamil Civil Society Forum formally launched

Rajapaksa to visit India on astrologer's advice

Fifa chief calls on Mahinda ahead of Jaffna stadium opening

Presidential election not addressing Tamil concerns says TNA

Tamil family removed from Perth despite protests

US dismisses 'baseless' Sri Lankan bribery allegations

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