Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The Bar Association of Jaffna has issued a firm rebuke of Sri Lanka’s notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), calling not only for its immediate repeal but also rejecting any efforts to repackage repressive legislation under a different guise. This decision comes in response to a public call for comments issued by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Justice, following the government's announcement of…

Police file case against former NPC member over LTTE leader birthday commemoration

Sri Lankan police on Tuesday filed a case against the former Northern Provincial Council member, M K Shivajilingam for celebrating the birthday of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader, V Prabhakaran last year. 

Police collect information from Vavuniya landlords

Sri Lankan police this week instructed landlords in Vavuniya to register information on tenants with themselves as well as the local government agent, the Grama Sevaka. 

UNP parliamentarians call for former Army Commander Fonseka to head Law and Order Ministry

UNP parliamentarians wrote to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe calling for former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka to be appointed as Law and Order Minister to deal with Sri Lanka’s terror threats.

 A letter from 89 United National Party (UNP) Members of Parliament, called for Fonseka, who was responsible for military oversight of the final phases of Sri Lanka’s brutal war with the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam, to head the Law and Order Ministry in to secure the island.

Keppapulavu families spend third May Day on streets

Displaced families from Keppapulavu spent their third May Day on the streets, marking the 791st day of protests at the military occupation of their land. 

Jaffna District Secretariat pays tribute to Easter Sunday bombing victims

Jaffna District Secretariat paid tribute today to those killed during the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists. 

Eastern Uni to be brought under Ministry says president

Eastern university, Batticaloa is to be brought under the Ministry of Higher Education, the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena said. 

US official dies from Easter Sunday bombing injuries

<p>A US official who was wounded by the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka has died from her injuries, raising the the death toll to 258.&nbsp;</p> <p>The official, Chelsea Decaminada was seriously wounded at the Shangri-La hotel during the bombings and was flown to Singapore for further hospital treatment.&nbsp;</p> <p>"We pay tribute to Chelsea - and all those lost and injured - by partnering with Sri Lanka and nations worldwide to bring unity in the face of terrorism," the US ambassador, Alaina Teplitz said today.&nbsp;</p>

President suspends Jaffna Uni vice chancellor

The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena this week suspended the vice chancellor of the University of Jaffna. 

Mayor of Toronto marks May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

<p>&nbsp;The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, proclaimed May 18 2019 as “Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day” in a statement released today.</p> <p>The statement, said,</p> <p>“Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day is an opportunity for us to honour and memorialise those impacted by the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. The armed conflict in Sri Lanka caused the persecution of innocent people, displaced many and caused many to seek refuge elsewhere. We gather on this solemn day to remember, to commit to ensuring that such tragedy is never repeated and to continue to seek justice</p>

Sirisena tells diplomatic community to lift travel advisories

Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena, today urged states to remove their travel advisories against visiting the island. 

Speaking at the presidential secretariat today, Sirisena said the security situation in the country had come back to normal. 

A number of countries including the United States, India and United Kingdom issued advisories following the Easter Sunday suicide bombings by Islamist extremists, which killed over 250 people. 

"Within the next few days the threat of terrorism would be completely wiped out," he said.