Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Commemorations were held across Jaffna over the weekend to mark 43 years since the Black July pogrom, honouring the thousands of Tamils killed in the anti-Tamil violence of July 1983 and the Tamil political prisoners massacred while in state custody. At the Thanthai Selva Auditorium in Jaffna, a common flame of remembrance was lit on Saturday, 25 July, and candles were lit in memory of the…

NPC members attend training workshop in New Delhi

Members and officials of the Northern Provincial Council took part in an educational workshop in New Delhi last week.

Danish Tamils remember 2nd Lt. Maalathy

Danish Tamils remembered 2nd Lt. Maalathy in the city of Ikast this week.

Two Tamil students drown at Mullaitivu beach

A Tamil student has drowned, and another is also believed to have drowned, after swimming at a Mullaitivu beach on Wednesday.

18-year-old Anthony Claudus Vinothan Croos and 17-year-old Anton Amalraj Dinojan, both Mullaitivu locals, went missing while swimming with a group of friends.

The body of one student was recovered.

Sri Lankan Navy and local fishermen have been searching for the other.

Central Bank says Sri Lanka has 'clear plan' to deal with debt crisis

The head of Sri Lanka's Central Bank, Indrajit Coomaraswamy said this week the country had what he described as a "clear plan" to deal with the debt crisis. 

The country is due to repay over $5 billion in the next 12 months. 

"We don't see it as a (sovereign default) risk," Mr Coomaraswamy told Reuters, adding that the government had "committed itself" to using divestment proceeds "for liability management."

"We are an outlier on our debt metrics, but we've never missed a single debt repayment commitment, and we certainly don't intend to do that," he said. 

"We feel we have a clear plan to manage the situation."

Sri Lanka's economic development is 'geographically uneven' says World Bank

Sri Lanka's economic development across the provinces is "geographically uneven", the World Bank said in its 'Vision 2025: Sri Lanka's path to prosperity' document, highlighting the North-East as an "underserved community and region". 

Hindu shrine next to army camp attacked in Mannar

A roadside Hindu shrine next to an army camp in Mannar was destroyed by unknown attackers on Monday night.

IMF seeks more reforms in Sri Lanka prior to loan review

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday said it would be postponing the planned review of its $1.5 billion three year loan, until after Sri Lanka had instituted further reforms. 

The IMF urged Sri Lanka to tighten its monetary political and continue fiscal consolidation. The review is now to scheduled to take place after the government submits its 2018 budget. 

8 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan navy

In the latest round of arrests, eight Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan navy personel on Tueday. 

The fishermen were allegedly fishing off the coast of Thalaimannar. 

The arrest comes just days after representatives from the Indian and Sri Lankan government held talks in an attempt to resolve the issue. 

Tamil Nadu Information Technology Minister M Manikandan said the state government would raise the latest arrest with New Delhi, PTI reported. 
 

Jaffna Uni students hold hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners

 

Students at the University of Jaffna held a hunger strike demonstration today to show their solidarity with the detained political prisoners who have been hunger striking in protest at their ongoing detention by the Sri Lankan authorities. 

TNA calls for immediate release of Tamils detained under PTA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is to put foward an adjournment motion calling for the immediate release of Tamils detained under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

“The Sri Lankan State has made several commitments both domestically and internationally that the said Law will be repealed, and that a new Law will be enacted in keeping with acceptable domestic and international norms. The Sri Lankan State is yet to fulfil this commitment, but that does not derogate from the Sri Lanka State’s commitment that the said Law should not remain on the Statute Book," the motion reads.