Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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A.G. Alexraja The Jaffna Bar Association has written to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing "complete disbelief and shock" over the transfer of Jaffna High Court Judge A. G. Alexraja, while the Northern Province Governor's Office has denied any connection to the move. In a letter dated 30 May, the Jaffna Bar Association said Judge Alexraja, who was appointed to the High…

Thousands attend Maaveerar Naal in Switzerland

Thousands of people attended Maaveerar Naal commemorations in Switzerland last month, as Tamils across the word remembered the lives lost in the Tamil freedom struggle.

Sri Lankan army provides ‘educational assistance’ to Tamil schoolchildren in Poonakari

Soldiers from the 661 Brigade in the 66 Division of the Security Force Headquarters (Killinochchi) gave away school accessories to children in Pooneryn on Monday.

Troops received sponsorship from National Tourist Guide Lecturers’ Association and the ‘Kind Heart’ Association.

TNA urges government to relocate chief Buddhist monk from East

The Tamil National Alliance urged the government to relocate chief monk Ampitiye Sumanarathana from the Eastern Province after tensions on Sunday.

Seenithamby Yogeswaran, TNA’s Battacloa District Parliamentarian, asked the government why it has failed to take any action against Sumanarathana for his hate speech against Tamils and Muslims.
Further, he explained how Sumanarathana’s ongoing behaviour has disrupted the community.

Sirisena clears name of Sinhala chiefs branded traitors by British empire

The Sri Lankan president cleared the names of Sinhala chiefs who were previously branded 'traitors' by the then British governor in 1818. 

"After 198 years, I cleared the names of Wellassa heroes including Monarawila Keppetipola," tweeted Mr Sirisena. 

Norwegian ferry operator to provide India-Sri Lanka service

The Norwegian ferry operatory, Norled AS, MMBL Pathfinger Group and Aitken Spence are to establish a ferry service linking Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka, SLBC reported. 

The first stage of the operation would link Tuticorin to Colombo, before providing a service connecting Talaimannar to Rameshwaram. 

A further stage would provide a service between Colombo to Kochi, in Kerala. 

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Extremist Buddhist monk invited by president to religious leaders meeting

Photograph @mhmhisham

The extremist Sinhala Buddhist monk and leader of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Gnanasara was invited by the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena to attend a meeting as a 'religious leader' this week. 

UNP MP receives death threats over constitutional reform

A parliamentarian with the United National Party has reportedly received death threats over his involvement in the constitutional reform process, as the party called for “maximum devolution of powers within a united Sri Lanka”.

Jayampathy Wickremaratna said that he received death threats over the phone and his since lodged complaints with the police.

‘No one can tell us about troops in North-East’ declares Sri Lankan minister

A Sri Lankan government minister stated that no one has “the right to tell how many soldiers should be kept in the north or in the east,” in a defiant address to parliament this week.

‘No compromise’ on national security pledges Sri Lankan president

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said that he would “not leave any room to weaken the military” as he pledged to ensure security across the island remained at full strength.

Speaking to Parliament yesterday, Mr Sirisena was quoted by Colombo Gazette as stating that “there will not be any compromise on National security”.

He went on to note that whilst international relations were important, his government would need to be prepared to face “any international threat”.

Ranil 'apology' for Jaffna Library burning criticised

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's 'apology' for the destruction of the Jaffna Library in 1982 has been criticised, after it was initially praised by many as a step towards reconciliation.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Mr Wickremesinghe said in Sinhala: "“The public library in Jaffna was burnt during a United National Party (UNP) Government in 1981. We know it was wrong and tender an apology for it,” he said.

“You too should tender an apology for the wrong things which your Government did," he said to the joint opposition.