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…

23 Indian fishermen arrested by SL Navy

Jul 21, 2012
Reports have alleged that 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested and 5 boats seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, in yet another frequently occurring attack on Indian fishermen.

The fishermen were fishing near the Katchatheevu Island in the Palk Strait when attacked, with reports that 20 other boats were also assaulted and had their nets confiscated.

Tamils protest against Sri Lanka's participation in the Olympics

Jul 21, 2012

Published 23:15 BST

Marching in Stratford, by the site of the London 2012 Olympics, London Tamils remembered the events of Black July 1983 and protested against Sri Lanka's inclusion in the Olympics on Sunday.

The protest also marks the beginning of a 21-day hunger strike by activist, Gobi Sivanthan, by Stratford High Street station.

Uthayan editor interrogated by CID

Jul 20, 2012

The editor of the Jaffna based Uthayan newspaper was interrogated for four hours by Sri Lanka's intelligence services - the CID, on Thursday, reported the news site Lanka Truth.

See here.

Only criminals are abducted in white vans says Gotabhaya

Jul 20, 2012

According to an article published by LankaTruth on 18th July, when asked by a Sri Lankan newspaper about white van abductions, Sri Lanka's no nonsense defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, replied that 'only criminals are abducted by white vans'.

Clarifying the definition of "criminal", Gotabhaya explained 'only those who had raped ten or fifteen women has been taken in white vans'.

Ruling and opposition parties in Sri Lanka disregard election laws

Jul 20, 2012

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), an election monitor in Sri Lanka has accused the ruling UPFA and its ally the SLMC, and the main opposition UNP of violating election laws, by campaigning from vehicles on the final day of nominations, reported ColomboPage on Friday.

Sri Lanka receives final IMF tranche, looks for further bailout

Jul 20, 2012
The International Monetary Fund has delivered the final instalment of a $2.6 billion loan, as Sri Lanka looks to seek out further loans from the fund to bolster their country’s foreign reserves.

Announcing the completion of Sri Lanka’s longest engagement with the IMF and the single largest loan ever obtained by the country from a multilateral institution, the Central Bank said,

Gota’s catering services

Jul 20, 2012
The Ministry of Defence have announced their latest “commercial venture”, opening up catering services in the south of the country, as the military continues to expand its role in civilian affairs.

Having opened in Battaramulla on Thursday, Rakna Lanka Catering Services is looking to expand and open many more outlets.

Former LTTE members subjected to interrogation

Jul 20, 2012

Suspected LTTE members, who were taken into Sri Lankan government’s arbitrary arrest in 2009 and released after 'rehabilitation', continue to be harassed by Sri Lanka’s intelligence services – the CID, reports Uthayan and TamilNet.

According to reports, 'rehabilitated' members have been identified by CID operatives, interrogated and even severely beaten.

Last week, in Nadangkandal, CID operatives on motorbikes stopped two 'rehabilitated' LTTE members, before taking him to a school were he was severely beaten, reports Uthayan.

Sri Lanka owes over $15 billion in foreign loans

Jul 19, 2012
Sri Lanka has repayments of over $15 billion to make to foreign lenders for loans taken out in the last 15 years, according to a document submitted to parliament on Thursday.

Lenders include China, to whom Sri Lanka will have to repay $4.9 billion for loans worth $2.96 billion, and the Asian Development Bank who will be repaid $4.64 billion after Sri Lanka borrowed $3.35 billion.

The average repayment period for the Chinese loans is 12.2 years, while the ADB loan average repayment period is 21 years.

Risking death to be free from Sri Lanka

Jul 19, 2012

The Sydney Morning Herald examines why hundreds of Tamil asylum seekers are risking their lives and fleeing Sri Lanka.

See here for full report, extracts reproduced below:

Tamils protest against Sri Lanka's participation in the Olympics
Uthayan editor interrogated by CID
Only criminals are abducted in white vans says Gotabhaya
Ruling and opposition parties in Sri Lanka disregard election laws
Sri Lanka receives final IMF tranche, looks for further bailout
Gota’s catering services
Former LTTE members subjected to interrogation
Sri Lanka owes over $15 billion in foreign loans
Risking death to be free from Sri Lanka
Body washed up on Mathakal beach, Jaffna
Tamils protest against Sri Lanka's participation in the Olympics
Uthayan editor interrogated by CID
Only criminals are abducted in white vans says Gotabhaya
Ruling and opposition parties in Sri Lanka disregard election laws
Sri Lanka receives final IMF tranche, looks for further bailout
Gota’s catering services
Former LTTE members subjected to interrogation
Sri Lanka owes over $15 billion in foreign loans
Risking death to be free from Sri Lanka
Body washed up on Mathakal beach, Jaffna