Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Finance Ministry's Media Director arrested over ammunition

The media director of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Ali Hassan, was arrested today accused of being in possession of ammunition. 

Sri Lankan police reported 93 rounds of 12-bore gun ammunition were found in his possesion. 

Hassan was arrested at his home in Malwana, and the area was searched by the military and police. 

The arrest of a government official follows that of a Muslim Hansard officer last week, who was accused of helping one of the suicide bombers responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks. 

Archaeology Dept dumping temple ruins in well say Trinco residents

Sri Lanka's Department of Archaeology is dumping the ruins of an ancient Pillaiyar temple situated near the seven hot springs in Kanniya into a well, and building a Buddha statue in its place, residents in Trincomalee told the Tamil Guardian. 

Mullaitivu farm worker injured by explosive

A farm worker in Mullaitivu was injured yesterday when an explosive detonated in Neththaliyaru, Visvamadu West. 

Ranil establishes 'Palmyra Fund' for North-East

Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday announced the establishing of the 'Palmyrah Fund' to develop the North-East. 

Sri Lanka signs East Container Terminal deal with India, Japan

After months of delays, Sri Lanka on Tuesday signed an agreement with India and Japan to develop the East Container Terminal at Colombo Port. 

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.