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…

‘Structures of Tamil Eelam’ - a glimpse back at the de-facto state

Tamil youth in Switzerland have released a book documenting life in the Vanni during the ceasefire, as part of attempts to commemorate periods of self rule throughout Tamil history.

PTK traders mark May Day with black flags and closed shops in wake of bomb blasts

Traders in Puthukudiyiruppu marked May Day with a business strike in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Mullaitivu town’s business community raised black flags and kept storefronts shut on May Day to protest the government’s failure to prevent the terror attacks which killed over 250 people in Batticaloa and Colombo on Easter Sunday.

President tells media not to cover security operations

The Sri Lankan president today told the media not to cover search operation by the security forces. 

In a press release issued by the president's media division the media was told not to broadcast footage, arguing that the media publicity was unwarranted and inconviencing communities. 

Since the Easter Sunday bombings which killed over 250 people, armed military personnel and police have searched and raided homes, businesses and public premises, including in the North-East. 
 

2 arrested over Negombo clashes

Two men have been arrested over violent clashes between Sinhala and Muslim groups in Poruthota, Negombo yesterday. 

War crimes accused commander heads Colombo’s operational command

Sri Lanka has appointed Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage, a man accused of overseeing war crimes a decade ago, as head of the Overall Operational Command in Colombo in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks last week.

Sirisena pledges to ‘eradicate terrorism’ ahead of presidential elections

Sri Lanka’s president vowed to “eradicate terrorism” and press ahead with presidential polls scheduled for later this year, in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings last week.

“Elections cannot be postponed, therefore before the elections I will bring about stability and I will eradicate terrorism,” Maithripala Sirisena told Reuters.

Sirisena went on to acknowledge that “25-30 suspects” from the bombings remain at large, calling them “active members”. “We have already identified all active members of the group and it’s a case of now arresting them,” he added.

Curfew in Negombo after reported clash between Sinhalese and Muslim group

Sri Lanka has declared a curfew in Negombo, after a reported clash between a Sinhalese and Muslim group in the town earlier today.

Armed Sri Lankan troops were deployed to the scene as crowds began to gather along Thakkiya Road in Poruthota.

Man arrested in Vavuniya as Sri Lankan military searches homes and temple

The Sri Lankan military arrested a man in Vavuniya earlier this week, after troops conducted search operations across several villages and homes, including of a Hindu temple.

Homes in Kovilkulam and Kovilputhukulam were searched by heavily armed Sri Lankan soldiers, as operations continue across the North-East. Vehicles were also stopped and searched throughout the week.

Tamil civil society condemns Easter Sunday attacks and calls for ‘open hearts and homes’ for Muslims

Tamil civil society groups condemned the Easter Sunday attacks targeting Christians in Sri Lanka last week, as well as calling for “empathy and solidarity” with Muslim groups who face persecution on the island.

The statement, signed by eight different organisations, said the groups “express our wholehearted solidarity and support to our Christian communities, targeted in this cowardly act of violence by extremists”.

UK offers to help Sri Lanka establish intelligence agency

The United Kingdom has offered to help Sri Lanka set up a central intelligence body similar to the Joint Terrorism Analysing Centre in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists supportive of Islamic State.