Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed a campaign rally in Vavuniya this week, making a series of pledges ranging from land restitution to “national reconciliation”, ahead of local government elections next month. Dissanayake announced that all lands marked by the Sri Lankan Forest Department using Google Maps—including farmlands and reservoirs—would be re-evaluated and…

Swedish Foreign Minister meets with Tamil civil society

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallström met with Tamil civil society activists in Jaffna on Tuesday, as part of her visit to the North-East.

Accompanied by Harald Sanberg, Sweden's Ambassador to India, Ms Wallström visited Kopay in Jaffna to inspect houses that have been built as part of the Sri Lankan government’s much criticised housing project.

Tamil activists also called on the foreign minister, who previously held the post of Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict, to help alleviate problems faced by Tamil female headed households in the North-East.

ITAK youth leader Sivakaran arrested by TID

The leader of ITAK's youth wing, Subramaniyam Sivakaran was arrested on Wednesday morning by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID).

Mr Sivakaran, who is also the editor of a Tamil newspaper called Puthiyavan, was detained at the paper's offices in Mannar and taken to Vavuniya.

The activist, in a recent interview to TamilNet, had condemned the recent arrests and abductions by the TID and compared the Sirisena-regime to that of Mahinda Rajapaksa for its deployment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Former Sri Lankan policemen admits organised sexual assault whilst facing trial in UK

A former Sri Lankan police officer who migrated to London and worked as a masseuse was jailed after sexually assaulting a female client.

The former Sri Lankan police officer's defence lawyer, told the British court that “While he was in employment of the military police he was required to deal with opponents of the Sri Lankan government, which involved the organised sexual assaults and humiliation of the opponents of the regime.”

See full report here.

Sri Lanka must immediately release Sivakaran and other Tamils held under the PTA - PEARL

People for Equality and Relief in Lanka PEARL, expressed deep concern at Sri Lanka’s latest set of arrests and detentions under its draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

In a statement released on Wedneesday Pearl said,

“PEARL is  deeply concerned by Sri Lanka’s latest arrest and detention under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of Subramaniyam Sivakaran, a Tamil activist and journalist from the North-East. Sivakaran was arrested in Mannar by the Terrorism Investigation Department on Wednesday, April 27.The arrest came days after he publicly criticized the PTA and the continued detention of Tamils under the Act.
 
“Abductions and arrests of many Tamils across the North-East, although commonplace for decades, have been greatly increasing in recent weeks. The Sri Lankan state continues to deploy its notorious “White Vans” to abduct Tamils, who in some cases later turn up in police or military custody. Although the current government recognized the flawed nature of the PTA and pledged to review and repeal it, the law remains in force and security forces continue to use it to detain Tamils. The existence and application of the PTA also facilitates abuses in custody, like torture and sexual violence.”

TNA condemns abductions by TID

The Tamil National Alliance condemned the arrest of Sivakaran, the leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi's (ITAK) youth wing, after he was detained by TID officers.

"This is not the only case, in the past few days, many arrests have taken place," the TNA said in a statement in Tamil.

"Many of these arrests were not conducted properly, but were of the kind that the persons are kidnapped and later arrested. This is the most serious matter regarding these arrests."

NPC resolution calling for re-merger of North-East should be considered by government - Sumanthiran

The recent NPC resolution calling for a re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces in a federal setup should be discussed in parliament, the Tamil National Alliance spokesperson MA Sumanthiran told the Island.

FSP warns Tamils against federalism

The Frontline Socialist Party has warned Tamils that they should not harbour hopes for a federal setup in the North East.

Propaganda Secretary Pubudu Jagoda said at a press conference that the TNA was fishing in "troubled waters".

"The TNA’s objective is clear. It is using its federalism demand to attract popular support and to swell the number of the supporters. We hope that Tamil people will not fall for such tactics," he said.

UK non resident defence advisor visits Sri Lanka

The newly appointment British non resident defence advisor, Captain Stuart Borland visited Sri Lanka last week, where he met with the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and commanders of the army, navy and air force.

Captain Borland, who was appointed last year following a meeting between the British prime minister, David Cameron, and the Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM).

Sri Lankan army accuses TNA leader of trespassing into army camp

The Sri Lankan army has accused the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan of entering an army camp in Kilinochchi without prior permission.

The army's commander, Lt. General Chrishanta De Silva lodged a complaint over the alleged incident.

“This should not have happened," the minister Mahinda Samarasinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying to press on Monday.

"If and when a VIP wants to visit a camp of the Armed forces, he or she must get prior approval from the Head Quarters of the respective force and the base commander makes necessary arrangements on the advices of the Head Quarters,” he added.