Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

EDITORIAL - A shaky bridge across the Palk Strait
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Sri Lanka earlier this month, New Delhi’s media was already hailing the visit as a diplomatic triumph. A raft of development projects had been announced and a significant new defence pact between the two governments signed. Images broadcast showed Modi beside a smiling Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arms raised aloft in symbolic…

Protest against UN Human Rights chief planned in Sri Lanka

Feb 3, 2016
A protest is set to take place against UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein as he visits the island later this week.

Posters have appeared calling on protestors to gather at Lipton Circus in Colombo on Saturday, when UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein lands on the island.

The High Commissioner will be holding talks with government officials and will visit Jaffna, where he will speak with Tamil representatives during his visit.

Former Sri Lankan president and Buddhist monks decry ‘Tamil national anthem’

Feb 3, 2016
Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed attempts to sing the ‘Sri Lankan national anthem’ in Tamil, stating that it was part of an attempt to appease the Indian government.

Mr Rajapaksa added that he would be boycotting the ‘Independence Day’ commemorations in Colombo, alongside members of the joint opposition.

The former president was joined by the chief Buddhist monk of the Malwatte Chapter, who also spoke out against singing the song in Tamil.

Black flags raised in Jaffna to mark Sri Lankan Independence Day

Feb 3, 2016

Black flags were hoisted at Jaffna University to mark Sri Lankan Independence Day today, as a symbol of protest against the ongoing repression in the Tamil homeland.

Tamil families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu mark independence day with protest

Feb 3, 2016
Tamil families of the disappeared held a protest in Mullaitivu to mark Sri Lanka’s independence day.
Photograph: Tamil Guardian

Marching from the Mullaitivu people’s bank to the Mullaitivu district secretariat, the protestors chanted slogans condemning the island’s celebration of independence day whilst Tamils were yet to obtain their freedom.

Sri Lanka's president receives death threats in light of BBS arrest

Feb 3, 2016
Sri Lanka’s CID has launched an investigation into death threats aimed at Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena said police on Thursday.

The Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara said that the number of messages had increased in the wake of the arrest of Bodu Bala Sena leader Gnanasara Thera.

The Police spokesman told press that “the presidential secretariat has complained to the police about this matter and the investigations have been now handed over to the CID.”

Families of the disappeared mark Independence day with protest in Batticaloa

Feb 3, 2016
As part of protests that took place across the Tamil North-East to coincide with Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, families of the disappeared in Batticaloa took to the streets demanding answers from the Sri Lankan state.
 
Banners questioned which communities actually experienced freedom in Sri Lanka.

TNA welcomes singing of Sri Lanka's national anthem in Tamil

Feb 3, 2016
The Tamil National Alliance welcomed the singing of Sir Lanka’s national anthem in Tamil, as a ‘giant step’ towards reconciliation, reports eocnomoynext.

Tamil National Alliance spokesperson MA Sumanthiran, said,

“It may be a small symbolic thing, but a very important step in telling the Tamil speaking people that they are equal members of this country and that the state recognises that. It is in fact a giant step from that perspective. I hope more substantial issues that remain to be resolved will be resolved from that perspective.”

Though the leader of the Tamil National Alliance R Sampanthan attended Sri Lanka's independence day celebrations, the TNA official party policy has been to boycott Sri Lanka’s independence day events.

Speaking to Ceylon News, the Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian that won the most votes during parliamentary elections MP S Sritharan said,

“Until the Tamils achieve dignified status in the country, they do not consider Sri Lanka’s independence as their own.” We as a party, did not make any decision on attending Sri Lanka’s 68th independence day functions. The situation has still not arisen for us to take part in that.”

UN warns Australia asylum policy risks contravening international law

Feb 3, 2016
The UN this week expressed concern that Australia's policy of transferring asylum seekers to off-shore detention facilities, contravenes international human rights law in letter and spirit.

Expressing concern about the Australian High Court's decision on the deportation the spokesperson for the High Commissioner on Human Rights, Rupert Colville, said, “broader aspects of Australia’s policy on the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers arriving without prior authorisation, significantly contravenes the letter and spirit of international human rights law.”

"We believe that transferring these 267 individuals to Nauru could further damage their physical and mental health, and would put Australia at risk of breaching its obligation not to return any person to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under the Convention against Torture,” Mr Colville added.

Sri Lanka anthem in Tamil confirms hierarchical relationship of Sinhala Buddhists to others - TCSF

Feb 3, 2016
The singing of Sri Lanka’s national anthem in Tamil confirms the hierarchical relationship of Sinhala Buddhists and other communities on the island said the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) spokesperson.

 Guruparan Kumaravadivel questioned whether the singing of Sri Lanka’s national anthem in Tamil could be marked as progress in comments given to Ceylonews.

Speaking to the news outlet, the spokesperson said,

Families of the disappeared call for justice in Mannar

Feb 3, 2016

 

Tamil villagers in Mannar staged a demonstration calling for the Sri Lankan government to account for the massive number of people who have disappeared across the North-East.

 

Holding the protest alongside other demonstrations in the North-East, relatives of the disappeared said the Sri Lankan government must give them answers to account for their loved ones.

Former Sri Lankan president and Buddhist monks decry ‘Tamil national anthem’
Black flags raised in Jaffna to mark Sri Lankan Independence Day
Tamil families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu mark independence day with protest
Sri Lanka's president receives death threats in light of BBS arrest
Families of the disappeared mark Independence day with protest in Batticaloa
TNA welcomes singing of Sri Lanka's national anthem in Tamil
UN warns Australia asylum policy risks contravening international law
Sri Lanka anthem in Tamil confirms hierarchical relationship of Sinhala Buddhists to others - TCSF
Families of the disappeared call for justice in Mannar
Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya angered by Independence Day celebrations
Former Sri Lankan president and Buddhist monks decry ‘Tamil national anthem’
Black flags raised in Jaffna to mark Sri Lankan Independence Day
Tamil families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu mark independence day with protest
Sri Lanka's president receives death threats in light of BBS arrest
Families of the disappeared mark Independence day with protest in Batticaloa
TNA welcomes singing of Sri Lanka's national anthem in Tamil
UN warns Australia asylum policy risks contravening international law
Sri Lanka anthem in Tamil confirms hierarchical relationship of Sinhala Buddhists to others - TCSF
Families of the disappeared call for justice in Mannar
Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya angered by Independence Day celebrations