Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, a borough in Montreal, has passed a motion recognising May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.  The motion comes as the Tamil nation marks 16 years since the genocide at Mullivaikkal, where an estimated 169,796 people were killed by the Sri Lankan army in the final days of the armed conflict.  Tamil activist Subitha Tharmakulasagaram said the…

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga to re-enter politics

The former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, is to re-enter politics, reports asianmirror.lk.

Chandrika, with the support of several foreign diplomatic missions in Colombo, has discussed her policy framework with several key cabinet ministers who are dissatisfied with the present administration, reports suggest.

Man found dead in Navali

The body of a man was found Saturday morning, near Navali South J.136 by the Kallundai Vairavar temple, reports Uthayan.

The body, identified as that of Nagarasa Kugatheepan from Kodikaamam was found with lacerations to the neck.

Maanippai police are reportedly carrying out an investigation into the death.

Anti-Muslim riots have tarnished the name of Sinhalese Buddhists says Sri Lanka's opposition leader

The image of Sinhalese Buddhists has been tarnished by recent anti-Muslim riots said the leader of the opposition UNP party in parliament last week, reports DailyMirror.lk.

Commenting on the negative impacts of anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickramasinghe said,

“The good name of Sinhalese Buddhists has been destroyed by such actions of a few. That is why I call this a fire lit, not only against the Muslims but against themselves (Sinhalese Buddhists).”

Sri Lanka External Affairs ministry briefs India on progress in accountability and reconciliation

 The Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs, Friday, met his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in Hydrabad today, to discuss progress by his government on the issues of accountability and reconciliation, reports The Hindu.

“There was a fairly detailed presentation by Pro. Peiris about the initiatives they are taking for reconciliation and accountability, “ said the Indian ministry for external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

BBS leader to attend religious events in Australia

The head of the Buddhist organisation Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), which has been linked ot recent anti-Muslim riots, will travel to Australia in August, reports Colombo Page.

Galagodaathethe Gnanasara Thero, will participate in religious functions in Austrailia.

The announcement of the monks visit comes after his visa to the US was suspended and visa application to France was rejected.

US revokes Gnanasara visa - BBS (30 June 2014)

Former military commander reappointed as governor of Northern Province

The former commander of the Sri Lankan security forces in Jaffna has been reappointed as the governor of the Northern Province, a civilian position, by President Mahinda Rajapkasa.

Major General GA Chandrasiri was sworn in for another 5 years by the president at Temple Trees on Friday, reported Ceylon Today.

Ruling coalition monk in 'fruitful' discussions with opposition UNP

A MP of the ruling coalition Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today that fruitful discussions with the opposition party took place today.

The Buddhist monk Pathuraliye Rathana Thero, who leads the Buddhist Pivithuru Hetak National Movement of Sri Lanka whilst being a JHU MP, said that discussions were aimed at bringing the country into the right path, reports
Colombo Page.

The monk met with the leader of the opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe and other UNP MPs.

Report slams British support of Sri Lankan military

A new report has revealed the extent of British support for Sri Lanka and training of the Sri Lankan military over three decades.

The report, authored by Phil Miller, a researcher with Corporate Watch, details the closeness of the British government’s relationship with the Sri Lankan state, including the deployment of mercenaries, training by British officers of Sri Lankan forces and the supply of weapons throughout the conflict with the Tamils.

Miller’s report shows how “British collusion with Sri Lankan security forces throughout the thirty years of genocidal counter-insurgency warfare” resulted in “Sri Lanka’s brazen mass killings of Tamils on the beaches of Mullivaikal in 2009.”

NGOs armed LTTE – Sri Lankan Prime Minister

Prime Minister DM Jayaratna told Sri Lanka’s parliament on Friday that some non-governmental organisations armed and assisted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Jayaratna was commenting on the controversy over the Ministry of Defence letter, restricting NGO activities, and insisted that the government was not violating human rights by imposing the restrictions.

The prime minister claimed that the country’s intelligence services had uncovered evidence that NGOs were threatening national security through their actions.

“During the 30 year war some NGOs even armed the terrorists,” he said.

Tamil activists stop pre-emptive land survey for Sri Lankan navy appropriation in North-East

The surveying of lands owned by Tamils in the North-East to be handed over to the Sri Lankan navy, was stopped on Friday after several land owners and activists confronted the surveyors reports the Uthayan.

A case disputing the impending Sri Lankan Navy appropriation of over 183 acres of land in Vali North remains unsettled in court.