Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
Sri Lanka's United National Party (UNP) has accused the National People's Power (NPP) government of attempting to undermine Buddhism and interfere in the affairs of the Buddhist clergy, as controversy continues over proposed reforms aimed at addressing misconduct within the Buddhist Sangha. The dispute comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Buddhist institutions following allegations of…

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Energy signs private contracts to help meet electricity demand

The Ministry Of Power and Renewable energy stated that they have signed private energy contracts to deal with the shortage of electricity that the island is currently facing.

The ministry’s media spokesperson, Sulakshana Jayawardena said that whilst the government was working to generate a smooth supply of electricity, private energy contracts were also being singed to ensure the grid has a stable supply of electricity reports Adaderana.lk.

President implements development programme in home town Polonnaruwa

The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena has implemented a development programme in his home town of Polonnaruwa, to 'avoid the injustice caused to the people of the Polonnaruwa district". 

The project, which is aimed at 'uplifting the rural economy', will is to be completed over three years, Colombo Page reported. 

The programme includes the development of educational, health and drinking water facilities in the region. 

Swiss woman raped in Anuradhapura

A 22 year old woman from Switzerland was reportedly raped in Anuradhapura by a three-wheel driver on July 27. 

According to the Sunday Times when the victim presented at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for medical assistance, there was only a male Judicial Medical Officer working at the time and therefore she declined an examination. 

"In disgust" the paper reported, the woman left Sri Lanka along with three of her friends the following day. 

A man was arrested on July 30 and produced in court, the paper added. 

Sri Lankan minister presents Hambantota Port agreement to senior Buddhist clergy

Sri Lanka's Minister of Port and Shipping, Mahinda Samarasinghe on Saturday presented the Hambantota Port agreement to senior Buddhist clergy, assuring them the government was not handing over parts of the island to China. 

The port is being leased for 99 years, the minister told the prelates. 

Sampanthan celebrates 40 years of Ranil

The TNA leader, R Sampanthan celebrated 40 years of Ranil Wickremesinghe's parliamentary career this week during a ceremony in parliament to mark the occasion. 

“Premier by nature is calm and stable person and a person who cannot be ruffled easily. We are felicitating him on his outstanding achievement of being 40 years in Parliament but the concern is his future. He and President Maithripala Sirisena should work together to come up with a political solution to the national question,” Mr Sampanthan qas quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

Sri Lankan army chief pledges to protect ‘brave war heroes’ and punish ‘murderers’

The Chief of Sri Lanka’s army has pledged he would protect those who “fought bravely” in the military and that “murderers” would be punished, in a speech in Kandy this week.

"Those who fought the war will not be punished,” said army chief Mahesh Senanayake.

“Not a single soldier who fought bravely has been punished, nor will they be allowed to be penalised because we have not committed any offences".

Sri Lankan troops ‘clean up’ Mallavi hospital

Hundreds of Sri Lankan soldiers and Civil Security Department members were involved in cleaning up shrubs and wild plants from around Mallavi hospital last month.

5 soldiers charged with 1997 Siruppiddy murders granted bail

Five Sri Lankan soldiers remanded in connection with the 1997 abduction and murder of two Tamil youths in Siruppiddy have been granted bail on the order of the Court of Appeal.

The five suspects had their remand extended after eleven other suspects in the case were acquitted at the Attorney-general’s advice in March.

Selvaratnam Jeyaseelan and Nagamany Soundararajan of Madduvil North, Chavakachcheri, were abducted on 28th October 1997 while on the way to a relative’s wedding.

The men are suspected to have been murdered by soldiers based in the Vatharavathai camp in the Puttur, Siruppiddy area.

Hundreds of STF troops and police deployed in Thunnalai crackdown

Over 200 Special Task Force troops and police officers have been deployed to the Vadamaradchi town of Thunnalai, resulting in two arrests and the seizure of several vehicles.

Last month a Tamil man from Thunnalai was shot and killed by Sri Lankan police, resulting in protests and tensions boiling over between locals and police across the Vadamaradchi region.

Weapons allegedly used by LTTE found in Mannar

Seven unexploded mortar shells and a range of other weapons allegedly used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been discovered at an abandoned outpost in Mannar, reports Adaderana.lk.

Officials of Adampan Police said the weapons were recovered using intelligence from Sri Lanka’s Air Force.