The rise of drug smuggling in the Tamil North-East is degrading education, culture and development in a manner that seems “well planned” and aims to eradicate Tamil society, said Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran. Speaking at a teachers’ conference at Vembady Women’s College in Jaffna, Justice Wigneswaran told the audience that despite the presence of 15,000 Sri Lankan army soldiers in Jaffna, illegal drug smuggling has continued to increase. “At whose behest is this happening?” he questioned, noting that there were even greater numbers of air force, navy and police personnel. “We understand that the sale of these narcotics is mainly focussed on school children, with an aim to destabilise the education of our students,” he continued.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his visit to Jaffna at an election rally in Tamil Nadu this week, as he showcased his efforts to help Tamils in the North-East. Addressing rallies in Chennai and Hosur, Mr Modi spoke on the issue of Tamils in the North-East, stating "I was the first PM to visit Jaffna and wipe their tears”. He also spoke of an Indian housing scheme for displaced Tamils, saying “In the last 20 years, for the homes that were lost - 50,000 houses are to be given; 30,000 houses are already given”. Mr Modi visited the North-East last year, stating he was there to help "wipe the tears from the eyes of those who suffered".
Sri Lanka’s president declared open War Heroes Commemoration Month, on Friday, at is offices in a flag raising ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony with the Ministry of Defence, Mr Sirisena said, “The present Government is committed to ensure the welfare of the war heroes’ families and to protect the privileges of security personnel.” The president opened the 'War Heroes' commemoration month as Tamil activists who had previously organised commemoration events for the massacres of 2009 in the North-East were temporarily detained, and as several former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadres were...
Ninety-one people were arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on Saturday as they held a black flag protest condemning the Congress party's failure to safeguard Tamils in Sri Lanka as the armed conflict ended in 2009. The protesters, members of the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhakam (TPDK) held the demonstration hours before the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi was due to visit an election rally. The protesters accused the Congress party of being a "mute spectator" as thousands of Tamils were killed by the Sri Lankan government "in the guise of eliminating the LTTE", reported NDTV .
The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Monica Pinto, met with members of the Tamil People's Council in Jaffna on Thursday, including Professor Chitrambalam, Mr. Janarthanan and Council member and Jaffna University Teachers Union President Dr Thirukumaran. Highlighting the injustices suffered by the Tamil people during the armed conflict, members of the Tamil People's Council, called on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to establish an independent impartial inquiry immediately.
Sri Lanka’s armed forces continue to pray at a Buddhist vihara which was constructed on occupied land in Jaffna, lamented Tamil villagers amidst fears that the structure would become permanent. The Sri Lankan military had built a Buddhist vihara on the land in Valikamam North, which until recently was occupied by the army. After the release of 5.2 acres of the land back to Tamil civilians though, the Sri Lankan military regularly encroaches the area, in order to access a military constructed Buddhist vihara. The military’s continued checkpoints along the main road at Keerimalai – Naguleswaram...
The Sri Lankan navy is erecting permanent fences around its camp in Mullivaikkal, despite calls for the Sri Lankan military to release land it is occupying to its owners. The camp, named the Gotabhaya Camp, was constructed on 671 acres of private land belonging to Tamils in Mullivaikkal East, that was illegally acquired by the navy shortly after the end of the armed conflict in 2009.
The 12 asylum seekers who fled Sri Lanka and reached the Cocos Islands on Monday were all arrested on arrival at Colombo airport after being deported by Australian authorities on Thursday night. The group, which is believed to include children and an infant as young as one, were handed over to Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department, reported Colombo Page . The Australian government has refused to respond to concerns raised about the forced return, stating "we do not comment on operational matters".
The UNP's State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran has pledged to build a memorial hall in Mullivaikkal, despite government opposition to public Tamil remembrance of the war dead. “In remembrance of the 100,00 people who were massacred in the war, a memorial hall will be constructed at Mullivaikal with the support of Northern Provincial Council. I will accomplish this within the next five years.” the Tamil MP for Jaffna said. “Nobody can oppose the construction of the memorial hall in remembrance of our deceased relatives. I do not care, even if I am dismissed.” she added.
A protest held in Amparai earlier today, highlighting ongoing arrests and abductions by the government, was interrupted by a mob led by a Buddhist monk, Ceylonews reports. Protestors urged the government to stop terrorising the North-East with the detentions, urged the release of those arrested and to stop abducting those it wants to detain. The protest, organised by the Association of Families of Disappeared, was making its way towards the Amparai District Secretariat office when a mob led by a local monk stopped and threated the participants. At least one of the men was wearing a t-shirt...