Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Under the banner of the “Clean Sri Lanka” campaign, the Sri Lankan military’s 542nd Brigade conducted a canal-cleaning operation on Sunday, 25 May, in Uyilangkulam, Mannar, a region that has been subjected to militarisation, displacement, and land appropriation. The operation, led by Major Victor Fernando, targeted irrigation canals running from Kattukkarai Lake to Iluppaikulam, Mathottam…

India's NIA team heads for Sri Lanka, travel advisory relaxed

Members of India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) is on its way to Sri Lanka, CNN News 18 reported today. 

The visit follows the Easter Sunday suicide bombings by Islamist extremists supportive of Islamic State, which left over 250 people dead. 

Soon after the bombings it emerged that India had warned the Sri Lankan government about the attacks. 

"We have our own FIR against ISIS modules. The visit is not to assist Sri Lanka with their probe but to see if an exchange of information and evidence gathered by us and them can be mutually beneficial,” a senior NIA official was quoted by the news site as saying. 

Sri Lankan police assault Tamil journalist in Mullaitivu

A Tamil Guardian journalist, K. Kumanan, was assaulted by the police officer in charge of the Kokkilai police station in Mullaitivu after he went to Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple to report on the lack of progress in fulfilling a court order to remove CCTV cameras. 

The officer was reported to have verbally abused him; thrown his camera; taken photos of him; and has physically assaulted him.

Sri Lankan military’s Psychological Operations wing holds meetings on ‘Muslim fundamentalism'

The Sri Lankan military’s Psychological Operations department held a series of public meetings in the last week, reportedly “in view of the recent upsurge of violence and the birth of Muslim fundamentalism”.

Sinhalese Mullaitivu settler arrested for obstruction after assaulting village officer

A Sinhalese settler in Mullaitivu was arrested on the charges of obstructing a government official from carrying out his duty, after he assaulted the Kokkilai West village officer.

The incident occurred on May 14 when a confrontation occurred between the village officer’s team of officials and Sinhalese settlers about a government housing scheme that was to be built in Mugathuvaram.

The village officer was assaulted and had his motorcycle keys and work diary snatched from him.

While the officer filed a police complaint the next day, police failed to take action for a week.

Sirisena - Sri Lanka's security is 99% ensured

Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena yesterday urged the international community to relax travel advisories, stating the security situation was 99% ensured. 

Sri Lanka’s tourism continues to tumble in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry continued to suffer, despite government efforts, in the wake of the devastating Easter Sunday attacks last month.

Voice of America reports industry experts as saying hotel occupancy rates across the island have fallen by at least 85 percent. “Most beaches, eateries and stores in popular tourist areas are now empty,” it added.

Men now patrolling Sri Lanka ‘an enormous risk to rule of law’ - ITJP & JDS

Sri Lanka’s military commanders who have been put in charge of the recent ramp up in security across the island pose “an enormous potential risk to rule of law”, said the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) in a joint dossier released last week.

The Sri Lankan military reported that 10,000 extra troops have been deployed as emergency rule was re-enacted, grating the security forces wide ranging powers of detention. 

UNP welcomes presidential pardon of Bodu Bala Sena leader

<p>UNP parliamentarian and health minister Rajitha Senaratne welcomed the presidential pardon of Gnanasara Thero, leader of the extremist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), adding that the UNP&nbsp;was of the same sentiment.&nbsp;</p> <p>Speaking on the presidential pardon, Senaratne said,</p>

Three arrested over WhatsApp group

Sri Lankan police have arrested three people yesterday over a WhatsApp group which allegedly shared extremist content. 

The group, entitled 'Dharga town Breaking News' included 100 members. The three suspects, aged 20 - 23, are all believed to be from Dharga town. 

The administrator of the group, a 23-year-old resident of Lotus Road, arrived in the country after being employed abroad, the police reported. 

Twenty-five people left the group today, the Sunday Times reported  

Jaffna Uni students protest for charges to be dropped

Students at the University of Jaffna continued their campaign to have their student leaders cleared of terrorism charges with a protest on Thursday.

Following the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists, the president and secretary of the university’s student union were arrested when a photograph of LTTE leader V Prabhakaran was found in their office during a search operation of the campus. A canteen manager was also arrested and detained when a photo of Thileepan was found in the dining area.