North must be declared drought-affected says NPC

The North must be declared drought affected and farmers and agricultural workers be given compensation to prevent starvation, the Northern Provincial Council has urged. In the NPC’s 82 nd sitting, members called for emergency action to be taken to prevent starvation and also to provide clean water to the people of the North. Extreme drought in the region has caused widespread failure of rice crop cultivation, the council stated.

USAID supports clean water project in South and North-East

USAID has implemented a project to provide clean water to communities that are impacted by disasters and chronic kidney disease in southern Sri Lanka and in the North-East. The $1 million program builds on the previous USAID projects that have provided access to drinking water in communities that are especially prone to droughts and floods, as well as communities and hospitals that are impacted by chronic kidney disease. “The United States is committed to helping all Sri Lankan families have access to reliable sources of clean drinking water,” said US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap. The...

Sri Lankan president commemorates rebellion against Brits

Sri Lanka’s president attended a ceremony that marked the Uva - Wellassa rebellion today, an uprising by Kandyan chiefs against British rule. The ceremony was held after Maithripala Sirisena annulled an 1818 British gazette notification that branded the Sinhala chiefs who led the uprising as traitors. During the ceremony , plaques engraved with the names of the chiefs were presented to the heads of museums and to the chief lay custodian of the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth in Kandy,

Sri Lankan military hands out milk packets to female former fighters

The Sri Lankan army handed out packets of milk to female former fighters, at a military arranged ceremony in Jaffna last week. The programme was organised by the Sri Lanka Army 7th Battalion (7 SLAWC) and headed by Major Geetha Rankothge Commanding Officer. The ceremony saw female Sri Lankan soldiers hand out packets of milk to the Tamil former cadres, who were present alongside their children. The Sri Lankan military said the initiative was organised with the “sheer intention of enhancing mutuality among civilians”. The official military website went on to post pictures of the ceremony, held...

Tamil cultural center under way in Toronto

A project is underway to create a cultural center for the Tamil community in the city of Toronto, reports Tamilculture.com . The aim is, “To create a cultural landmark for the Tamil Canadian community and serve as a state-of-the-art community hub for the residents of the City of Toronto,” said organizers. The cultural center is to be managed by Ideal Developments and is expected to cost $20 million. The 50 000 square foot facility is to include an auditorium, general purpose hall, pre-school education, childcare facility, cultural museum, library, multipurpose rooms and more.

World Tamil Conference massacre remembered

Victims of the massacre by Sri Lankan police at the 1974 World Tamil Conference, held in Jaffna, were remembered today. Nine civilians including a teacher, three students and a doctor were killed when police violently attempted to break up a cultural event at the conference. A memorial service was held at the massacre’s remembrance monument in Jaffna.

SLFP wants executive presidency, demerger of North-East and foremost place for Buddhism

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party called for the retention of the island’s executive presidency, alongside the continued demerger of the Northern and Eastern provinces and the foremost place on the island to be granted to Buddhism, in a series of decisions regarding constitutional reform, at a meeting of minister last week. The Sunday Times reported that during the meeting, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva briefed his colleagues on the latest developments regarding the constitution, after which it was decided, "The unitary status of Sri Lanka should be protected and no changes should be made to...

Jaffna library membership on the rise

The Jaffna Library recorded an increased number of new members in 2016. The public library's head librarian, Mrs S Sathasivamurthy, reported that membership had increased in all areas except in the children's section. The library has for decades been at the centre of Tamil cultural life, leading to it being set ablaze by state security forces and state-sponsored mobs in 1981. It has often hosted foreign dignitaries visiting the North-East.

Special action to guard Buddha statues in Trinco

Special action will be taken to guard Buddha statues in Trincomalee, the Uthayan reports. The Eastern Province's governor, Austin Fernando, led a special discussion with Buddhist monks from Trinco's viharas, stressing the need to place special protections on the Buddha statues around the district. The decision comes after unidenitified persons carried out co-ordinated vandal attacks on Buddha statues in four different spots in Trincomalee.

Tamil Nadu CM writes to Modi seeking release of arrested fishermen

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam wrote another letter to the prime minister, Narendra Modi, seeking the release of ten fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lanka navy on Monday. The renewed call for action comes just days after Sri Lanka agreed to release 51 fishermen who are currently detained. “Unfortunately, even before the sense of relief following the release of the 51 fishermen could fully set in and the released fishermen reached our shores, the Sri Lankan navy has yet again resorted to its harsh and unjust tactic of apprehending Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu...

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