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…

Despite waiver, SL still can’t buy oil from Iran

The Ceylon Petroleum Company has stated that Sri Lanka still has not been able to obtain any crude oil from Iran, despite being granted a waiver from US sanctions.

Fears for 3 detained at Joseph camp

Whilst seven students are reported to have been released today, three students are believed to have been arrested and detained at Joseph camp in Vavuniya, notorious for reports of torture.


Protests against Jaffna uni arrests continue in London

Tamils in London protested on Monday against the on-going intimidation and arrest of Jaffna University students.

Canadian MP expresses concern over Jaffna Uni incidents

The Canadian MP for Kitchener Centre, Stephen Woodworth, reiterated his concerns over the human rights situation in the North-East, drawing attention to the recent incidents at the University of Jaffna.

In a statement, Woodworth said:

India concern over Sri Lanka’s tax raise for vehicle imports

Indian officials have expressed concerns about recent moves by Sri Lanka which increased duty on Indian vehicle import into the country.

Sri Lanka has increased the duties for imports of vehicles from India, while giving exemptions to imports from Japan, reported the Sunday Times last month.

The paper also reported that a Chinese company was given clearance to set up a car plant.

Jaffna uni lecturers protest against student arrests

Photographs EelamNews

Lecturers from the University of Jaffna, protested in solidarity with their students on Friday, against the arrests and intimidation of several students over the commemoration of Remembrance Day on 27th November.

 

Sampanthan speaks for himself

Sampanthan outlines his views on militarisation of the North-East in the Sri Lankan parliament on Friday:

Here's a video of his address, extracts reproduced below:

Yet again, another attack by SL Navy

8 Tamil Nadu fishermen were injured after yet another attack by the Sri Lankan Navy, allegedly taking place off the coast of Talaimannar.

The fishermen alleged that the Sri lankan Navy personnel fired shots in the iar before proceeding to snap nets on at least 5 boats. The fishermen have now returned to Rameswaran and with some admitted into hosiptal.

The attacks come as the Sri Lankan Navy celebrated its 62nd anniversary. On their website they announced that they remained,

Australia siding with genocide writes former diplomat

Bruce Haigh, a former Australian diplomat who served in Sri Lanka and a member of the Refugee Review Tribunal, has written, slamming Australia for being complicit in the genocide of Tamils and called for the country to cut sporting ties with the country.

His comments come as the Sri Lankan cricket team begin their tour of Australia. 

Extracts have been reproduced below. See the full piece here.

"Who would have thought that in 17 years, Australia could have gone from being a leading champion in the global fight to end the racial discrimination of apartheid to siding with the corrupt and venal government of Sri Lanka in the genocide of Tamils."

"Australia has become complicit in the genocide of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority. Asylum seekers that arrive in Australia are being given no opportunity to make a statement of claims. Acting on the advice of the Sri Lankan government, they are being returned to Sri Lanka on the basis that they have no claims. Any claim they make is regarded as spurious."

Australian refugee orgs call for boycott of SL cricket team

Australians call for a boycott of the Sri Lankan national cricket team’s tour of Australia due to the country's poor human rights record, reported the Brisbane Times.

The Tamil Refugee Council and Refugee Action Collective in Victoria have been pushing for a boycott ahead of the first Test, due to take place this week.