Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing". Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the…

Kilinochchi unions protest against exploitation and violence against workers

A protest calling to protect workers’ rights and end exploitation of workers took place in Kilinochchi on Sunday.

The demonstration by labour unions in Kilinochchi called for an end to violence against workers, as well as gendered and sexual violence against female workers.

Tamils protest against corruption in Sri Lanka transport board

Tamils in Jaffna held a protest today against corruption and administrative mismanagement in Sri Lanka's transport board's Northern province's office. 

Protesters accused senior staff of making false allegations against employees who whistleblow on corruption in the department. 

Demanding that such a culture of retribution against whistleblowers must end, protesters called for the regional manager to be replaced. 

Transparency International SL calls for bribery allegations to be investigated

<p>Transparency International Sri Lanka called for Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to investigate allegations of bribery made by President Sirisena.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a filmed interview last week Sirisena said the appointed prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has large sums of money had been solicited and offered to MPs.&nbsp;</p> <p>The TISL has passed on a copy of the president's statement to CIABOC, <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_18B/Dec11_1544536187CH.php">Colombo Page</a> reports.&nbsp;</p>

Sri Lankan parliament adjourned until Dec 18

<p>Sri Lanka's parliament was adjourned today until December 18 by the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.&nbsp;</p> <p>The country has been in a state of political turmoil since October when the president sacked the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa.&nbsp;</p> <p>Prior to the adjournament, the UNP member Sajith Premadasa tabled a motion of confidence in the UNP leader, Wickremesinghe.&nbsp;</p> <p>The motion comes amid calls for Sajith to put himself forward as a contender for the leadership of the party.&nbsp;</p>

500 Tamils forcibly disappeared in three days, after surrendering to army in 2009

A new study has estimated that over 500 Tamils were forcibly disappeared in just three days, after surrendering to the Sri Lankan army in May 2009.

The disappeared include an elderly Tamil Catholic priest Father Francis Joseph, LTTE cadres and civilians who all surrendered to Sri Lankan troops at the time. The study commented that this event “was extraordinary by the number of people disappeared in one location and in a very brief period”.

Mother of disappeared journalist dies still in search of son

The mother of a Tamil journalist disappeared in 2007 died on Sunday, following the death of her husband less than a month earlier. The couple had been actively seeking answers for the disappearance of their son, Subramaniam Ramachandran, until their last days.

Ramachandran, a local correspondent for both the Yaal Thinakkural and Valampuri newspapers was disappeared in February 2007 inside a Sri Lankan army camp in Vadamarachchi.

British gun carriages refurbished and back in action for Sri Lankan military

The Sri Lankan army announced that it had modified and refurbished two gun carriages that it had initially bought from the United Kingdom in 1986.

Sri Lanka’s military recruitment continues

The Sri Lankan army announced that 131 new recruits had completed their training last month, as the military continues to expand its numbers despite calls for demilitarisation.

Militarisation: More military seminars for Tamil schoolchildren

The Sri Lankan military organised yet another series of seminars for Tamil schoolchildren last month, as it continued with its militarisation of the North-East.

Despite opposition to military presence in schools, soldiers have ramped up their activities with Tamil schoolchildren across the North-East.

Case filed against Ranil looking to strip him of seat as MP

<p>A court case has been filed against Ranil Wickremesinghe, accusing him of part ownership in a company that does business with the Sri Lankan government, which could see him potentially lose his seat as a parliamentarian.</p> <p>Wickremesinghe is accused of owning 1.33 percent of equity in Lake House Printers &amp; Publishers, a publicly listed company, that reportedly supplies cheque&nbsp;books to two state-banks. In effect, this means Wickremesinghe’s company engages in business with the government, which would disqualify him from holding a seat as an MP.</p>