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…

Peiris: UN inquiry is a 'travesty of justice'

Aug 17, 2014
Sri Lanka's minister of external affairs reiterated the government's refusal to take part in the UN inquiry into mass atrocities stating that the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) was a "travesty of justice".

Speaking at Sri Lanka's Defence seminar on Monday, G.L. Peiris said "evidence for the investigation is being clandestinely collected by people in Sri Lanka" and claimed that witnesses were being paid to submit evidence, the Colombo Gazette reports.

Body of Tamil woman discovered in Northeast

Aug 17, 2014

The body of a 63-year old Tamil woman was discovered by Point Pedro police, reported the

Further delays likely to government disappearances commission

Aug 17, 2014
The Sri Lankan government's disappearances commission is likely to be further delays, said its chairman, Maxwell Paranagama.

The commission is still processing data gathered since it began a year ago, Paranagama told The Nation.

Last week, Paranagama claimed civil society organisations had falsely inflated numbers of missing persons from the North of the island.

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Central Bank of Sri Lanka hires US lobby firm

Aug 17, 2014

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank (CBSL) has signed a deal with a US-based lobbying firm to promote the country in the US, including to the government, reported the Sunday Times.

The agreement with Liberty International Group LLC, worth $760,000, runs until July 2015 and will look to ensure the US receives “clear and accurate information” about Sri Lanka.

The deal was signed on behalf of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank by Deputy Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Liberty International Group President Connie Mack.

According to the contract, obtained by the Sunday Times, the PR agency is required by the CBSL to meet three “statutory stability objectives”, namely creating, “A political environment in the United States of America (US) that is more conducive to enhancing Sri Lanka’s long-term political and economic aspirations; a comprehensive information platform where decision-makers in the US receive clear and accurate information about Sri Lanka’s current achievements and future plans; and a higher volume of private sector investment in Sri Lanka from the US”.

Government delays mass grave exhumation for second time

Aug 17, 2014
Sri Lankan officials, for a second time, delayed an exhumation dig at a suspected mass grave that is thought to contain the bodies of over 100 Muslims, killed during the ethnic conflict on the island, reports the AFP.

A local police official said that the exhumation had been delayed as there were problems transporting forensic experts from Colombo to the east of the island where the mass graves are suspected to be.

Fishing boats will not be released says SL minister

Aug 16, 2014
The Sri Lankan minister for fisheries said the 63 fishing boats impounded since June this year during the arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen, would not be released.

“I don’t think it is possible to release the boats,” Senaratne told the New Indian Express.

The Sri Lankan government earlier released over 94 detained Indian fishermen following a pledge made by President Rajapaksa to do so as an act of good will on India's independence day.

Muslims a threat to Sri Lanka says BBS leader

Aug 16, 2014
The leader of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), a Buddhist monk Galagoda Gnanasara said the Muslim community poses a threat "not only to Sri Lanka, but to India as well", in an interview to Outlook India.

"They [Muslims] are a minority in number but if you look at their economic power and their international network, they are not a minority," said Gnanasara.

"We are aware that the majority of Muslims are innocent, but once they come under the influence of Muslim extremists, they can easily fall into smuggling, illegal weapon handling and even terrorist activities," he added.

Dismissing local and international concerns about Buddhist mob violence against the Muslim community and places of worship, Gnanasara said:

Deceptive' Presidential Commission on Missing Persons an attempt to mislead people - TNA

Aug 16, 2014
The Presidential Missing Persons Commission, is a ‘deceptive move to mislead the Tamil people and international community', said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson, commenting on the Commission’s press brief in Mannar. 

Condemning the Chief Commissioner’s claims that the disappeared were all dead, Suresh Premachandran, in a post on social media, said,

Minister urges workers to eat rice flour as wheat prices rise

Aug 16, 2014

A Sri Lankan government minister has told estate workers to eat rice flour items instead of using wheat flour, as the price of wheat continued to rise.

The Sunday Times reports that Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said estate workers should avoid eating roti, traditionally made from wheat flour, proposing subsidised rice flour be provided instead.

His remarks come as the Sri Lankan government introduced a hotline for consumers to call and complain about retailers who are charging higher than the government controlled price for rice. The Consumer Affairs Authority has so far raided 400 vendors who had sold goods at higher than the set limit, reports ColomboPage.

The government had earlier banned wheat products from various public institutions, including hospital, prison and school canteens, with Sinhala nationalists labelling wheat as part of an international conspiracy against the country.

Locals fearful after armed troops deployed across Kilinochchi

Aug 15, 2014
Residents in Kilinochchi report an intensified military presence in Kilinochchi, with armed military personnel deployed across the region.

Armed troops are currently stationed at villages in the suburbs of Kilinochchi town, with some collecting details of family members in house to house operations, and soldiers patrolling within Kilinochchi town centre on bicycles, Global Tamil News reports.
Body of Tamil woman discovered in Northeast
Further delays likely to government disappearances commission
Central Bank of Sri Lanka hires US lobby firm
Government delays mass grave exhumation for second time
Fishing boats will not be released says SL minister
Muslims a threat to Sri Lanka says BBS leader
Deceptive' Presidential Commission on Missing Persons an attempt to mislead people - TNA
Minister urges workers to eat rice flour as wheat prices rise
Locals fearful after armed troops deployed across Kilinochchi
23y Tamil girl recruited into SL army dead
Body of Tamil woman discovered in Northeast
Further delays likely to government disappearances commission
Central Bank of Sri Lanka hires US lobby firm
Government delays mass grave exhumation for second time
Fishing boats will not be released says SL minister
Muslims a threat to Sri Lanka says BBS leader
Deceptive' Presidential Commission on Missing Persons an attempt to mislead people - TNA
Minister urges workers to eat rice flour as wheat prices rise
Locals fearful after armed troops deployed across Kilinochchi
23y Tamil girl recruited into SL army dead