Australia deports asylum seekers on government chartered jet to Colombo

A group of asylum seekers have been deported from Australia to Colombo aboard a government-chartered flight on Monday, fuelling speculation that a boat was intercepted by Australian forces last week as it fled from Sri Lanka. The Australian reports that the early morning flight saw approximately 20 people – thought to be asylum seekers – boarding the flight with guards accompanying them on to the plane. Residents of Christmas Island reported seeing an Australian navy vessels towing a small boat to the shore last week. A spokesperson for Australia's Immigration Minister however declined to...

Sri Lanka to shut diplomatic missions of 'no use'

Sri Lanka will shut several diplomatic postings abroad including a series of missions in Europe announced Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday morning, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ravi Karunanayake said, "we will have to close down some missions as those have found to be of no use lately." "The government has decided to go for commercial based diplomacy and link to the world through establishing commercial based diplomatic ties with various countries across the globe. We are not in a position to reveal the names of these...

Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated across North-East

Muslims across the North-East celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday, marking the end of a month of fasting from dawn to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan.

SL police threats against protesting Mannar priest condemned by Catholic Diocese

The Mannar Catholic community has condemned police threats made against the parish priest of Iranai Matha Church for joining and supporting the land-return protests of Iranaithivu villagers. Reverend Father Arul Selvan was threatened by a police officer while supporting a road-block protest undertaken by the people of Iranaithivu, on their 54th day of protest, on Friday. The Manner Diocese Catholic Union reiterated in a statement on Sunday thats its priests had always been united with the people and their struggles. “No-one can forget that our priests even gave their lives during the war,...

No prosecutions as Sri Lanka's supreme court orders compensation for family of disappeared

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court ordered the state to pay RS 1 million to the parents of two men who disappeared whilst being held in custody of Batticaloa police in October 2008. The court further ordered the Officer-in-(OIC) of the Batticaloa police station, to pay the families Rs 50,000 for failing “to provide equal protection of law to their missing sons who were subject to torture.” The compensation order was in relation to the disappearance of Selvarajah Gunaseelan and K Kugadas of Batticaloa. The bodies of the two grocery shop assistants were found tied to concrete posts at Polamunai beach...

TG View: Dissecting the British Tamil vote - UK General Election 2017

The British General Election of 2017 has thrown up some surprising results. When the election was first called, few could have predicted the outcome. The ruling Conservative Party lost their majority in parliament and the Labour Party clawed back a massive deficit in the polls. The pundits were amiss with their predictions and many, including Prime Minister Theresa May, were left wrong footed by the results. Analysts from across the political spectrum have begun examining the vote and revisiting their engagement with the electorate, with questions being asked of how the Conservatives lost such a comfortable majority. Amongst the key demographics whose voting intentions will be closely scrutinised in the weeks to come, will be Britain’s ethnic minority groups. With many constituencies across the country having been heavily contested and hanging in the balance between the country's major parties, their role was crucial. British Tamils, who have a considerable presence in many of these constituencies, particularly in London, are one such influential group.

Malathy Tamil Academies of Denmark celebrate student sporting achievements

Tamil schools in Denmark celebrated their students’ sporting achievements with their annual sports festival last week.

Mangala Samaraweera omitted from Sri Lanka's committee to coordinate UN resolution

Sri Lanka’s former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera has been excluded from the government body tasked with implementing the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on promoting accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. A Cabinet Memorandum obtained by Colombo Telegraph, indicates that Sri Lanka’s prime minister proposed the following ministers to form the committee under his leadership: Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Ports & Shipping Sagala Ratnayaka, Minister of Law & Order and Southern Development Dr Wijayadasa...

Sri Lanka rejects UN rapporteur's report on independence of judiciary

Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe accused the UN Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers of violating “the country’s sovereignty.” Rejecting the findings of the Rapporteurs report, Mr Rajapakshe said, “we are surprised by the allegations made by her who was in Sri Lanka for only seven days." "Her knowledge on the judicial systems of various countries is questionable. This report will tarnish Sri Lanka’s image and violate the country’s sovereignty. Ms Pinto in her report alleged that the Constitutional Council is no independent as all appointments are made by...

NPC members officially rescind no-confidence motion, Wigneswaran takes on dismissed ministers' portfolios

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi's Northern Provincial Council members took back the letter of no-confidence against Chief Minister Wigneswaran from Governor Reginald Cooray today. The rescinding of the motion which was dubbed 'the people's victory' by Jaffna-based newspaper Valampuri, follows mass protests last week in support of C. V. Wigneswaran across the Northern Province. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Wigneswaran confirmed with Governor Cooray that he would take on the agriculture and education ministerial portfolios until new ministers had been decided.

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