Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The Toronto City Council unanimously passed a motion on May 22 for the city to work with the Tamil community to build a Tamil Genocide Monument in Scarborough. The motion was brought forward by Parthi Kandavel, city councillor for Scarborough Southwest, and seconded by fellow councillor Josh Matlow, representing Toronto-St. Paul’s. It requests the city to identify a potential site in a City of…

No-confidence motion drafted against minister over polls postponement

A no-confidence motion is being drafted against Sri Lanka's Minister of Local Governments and Provincial Councils, Faizer Mustapha regarding the postponement of the local elections. 

The motion is being led by the UNP MP for Badulla district, Chaminda Wijesiri who informed parliament of the motion on August 9 and commenced the drafting process on Sunday. 

Sri Lanka to present modified Inland Revenue bill this week

The Sri Lankan government is to present the modified draft Inland Revenue bill this week. 

The bill which was re-drafted after the country's Supreme court deemed certain provisions violated the constitution. 

The government had "re-drafted the Bill knocking off the clauses that were deemed to be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution", the State Minister of Finance Eran Wickamaratne was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

Jaffna University remembers Sencholai Massacre victims

The victims of the Sencholai Massacre, 53 Tamil schoolgirls and 3 teachers killed by Sri Lankan air force bombs 11 years ago, were remembered today at the University of Jaffna.

Mullaitivu NPC representative Ravikaran holds vigil for Sencholai Massacre victims

The provincial council representative for Mullaitivu, T. Ravikaran, held a vigil at his constituency office this morning, for the victims of the Sencholai Massacre.

 

 

"If they are LTTE, identify and slaughter them" says UNP MP and minister Vijayakala Maheswaran

Vijayakala Maheswaran, the UNP parliamentarian and State Minister for Women’s and Children’s Affairs, has remarked that identifying and slaughtering LTTE cadres would not be questioned.

Speaking at a presidential scheme event at the Karaichchi Divisional Secretariat in Kilinochchi on Sunday, the minister spoke at length on the importance of keeping the current ‘good-governance’ government in power and said the previous regime had killed children and the elderly, and should not be allowed to return to power by the international community.

Colombo artists urge Sri Lankan government to fulfill promises

Sri Lankan artists are to begin a Sathyagraha campaign this week urging the government to fulfill the promises it made to the public. 

"The certain significant marks of the previous regime is visible in the present government and it is the public's duty to force the present government to get back into the right track," film director Dharmasiri Bandaranayake was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. 

"the Sathyagraha campaign is being conducted to get the government into the proper track," an actor, Nishshanka Diddeniya added. 

Body found in Trincomalee

The decomposed body of a man was found on Saturday within at Mani Arasan lake in Kinniya, Trincomalee, Batti News reports. 

The identity of the man remains unknown. However, local police have said a missing persons complaint was filed three days earlier after a cowherd did not return home. 

Police are reportedly investigating the death. 

Sri Lankan police launch intelligence unit for organised crime at STF premises

The Sri Lankan police have established a special police unit focussed on gathering information for organised crimes, Colombo Page reported. 

The unit will be located within the premises of the Special Task Force. 

Members of the public who provide 'accurate information' related to organised crimes and drug trafficking will be provided a financial reward, the paper added.  

Government pledges 2500 houses in Mullaitivu

The Sri Lankan government has pledged to build 2500 houses in Mullaitivu district as part of the 'Samata Sevana' national housing scheme. 

The chairman of the Housing Development Authority was quoted by Colombo Page as saying the houses would be complete within two months and will cost Rs 12.5 million. 

One thousands houses are being built in Vavuniya, the paper stated. 

Unnikrishnan Jaffna concert cancelled after threats from Douglas Devananda supporters

A concert set to take place in Jaffna featuring Tamil Nadu-based singer Unnikrishnan was cancelled after threats from supporters of EPDP leader, Douglas Devananda.

Posters saying the singer had insulted Douglas and could not “sing on our soil” until he had apologised, were pasted on promotional walls all over Jaffna town.

Organisers cancelled the Jaffna concert planned for Friday night, fearing disturbances from EPDP supporters.