Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka and Pakistan hold defence talks amid rising Indo-Pakistani tensions
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, met with Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in Islamabad this week on the sidelines of the 5th Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue, the Sri Lankan government announced. The meeting took place on Tuesday 29 April, the second day of the three-day dialogue, which aims to enhance defence cooperation…

Consultation needed before changing preference to Buddhism in Sri Lanka constitution warns Party leader

Jan 3, 2016
The leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peraruma (MEP) party accused the Sri Lankan government of omitting constitutional clauses affirming a Unitary State and the primary place of Buddhism at the request of the Tamil National Alliance.

Speaking at a media briefing, MP Dinesh Gunawardane, said,

Pakistan PM to visit Sri Lanka to sign trade MoUs

Jan 2, 2016
Pakistan’s prime minister Navaz Sharif will visit Sri Lanka next week to sign a series of bilateral agreements reports Colombo Page.

Mr Sharif is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on a 3  day visit and sign an agreement between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the Sri Lankan Export Development Board to promote trade relations between the two governments.

Sri Lanka aims to enhance its export of tea and rubber to Pakistan, whilst Pakistan will look to increase its export of rice Sri Lanka.

Suspected torture cells found in former High Security Zone houses

Jan 2, 2016

Suspected army torture cells have been uncovered by locals in two houses in the former High Security Zone of Valikamam North.

Wire mesh to protect state buses in North

Jan 2, 2016
Sri Lankan state buses operating in the North are having wire mesh protection added to the windscreen and rear windows following a spate of attacks against the vehicles, the Sunday Times reported.

Over 50 buses have been damaged by stones thrown threw the windows, the Sri Lankan Transport Board's Jaffna depot manager, Sellathurai Gunapalasingham, was quoted by the paper as saying.

Mr Gunapalasingham said the mesh protection was being introduced after police failed to act on complaints received. Drivers, conductors and even passengers have been wounded.

Sri Lankan army denies torture camp in Vali North

Jan 2, 2016
The Sri Lankan army on Sunday rejected reports of a military run torture camp in Valikamam North.

"The army did not run torture camps or secret detention camps," the Sri Lankan military's media spokesperson said.

"We had no need to run torture camps," he added.

Sirisena promises all IDPs land within 6 months

Jan 2, 2016
The Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena promised to provide land to all internally displaced persons in camps within the six months.

"This is an unacceptable situation. I want to end this problem once and for all," Mr Sirisena told AFP in an interview.

"For many people the main issue was lack of land and that is something we will resolve in the next six months," he added.

"It is an ambitious target, but I will see that all the internally displaced people are given land to build homes."

See more here.

Tamil People's Council to draft solution for ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

Jan 2, 2016
The Tamil People’s Council formed in Jaffna last month will submit a proposal to the ethnic conflict by the end of January, reports Colombo Page.

Member of the Tamil national Alliance (TNA) Suresh Premachandran who forms a part of the Council, said, the proposal will be presented to the residents of the North and East for feedback by the end of January.

Wigneswaran clarifies Tamil People's Council motives (28 Dec 2015)

Over 100k Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka remain in Tamil Nadu

Jan 2, 2016
Over 100,000 Tamil refugees from the North-East of Sir Lanka remain in Tamil Nadu 6 and a half years after the armed conflict between the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan government reports the Hindu.

The Treasurer of the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR) in Tamil Nadu, speaking to the Hindu, said,

“The government of India should come with a generous package to supplement the efforts of Sri Lankan government in facilitating the return of the refugees.”

New Year prayers in Jaffna for political prisoners and IDPs

Jan 1, 2016


Prayers were said in Jaffna for the released of political prisoners, the return of IDPs to their homes and for ongoing sufferings of the Tamil people to be alleviated on Friday as the new year dawned.

10th anniversary of 'Trinco 5' killings, still no justice

Jan 1, 2016

Photograph Tamilnet

Today marks the 10 years since the murder of five Tamil students, committed by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force, whilst they spent an afternoon on the beach in Trincomalee.

A memorial service was held in Trinco to remember the students that were killed by Sri Lanka's special forces.

Speaking at the event, the Trinco-based rights activist Jathindra called on the people to be proactive in their struggle for justice. Such memorial events should not only be for remembrance but also to unify Tamils in their actions, he said.

Pakistan PM to visit Sri Lanka to sign trade MoUs
Suspected torture cells found in former High Security Zone houses
Wire mesh to protect state buses in North
Sri Lankan army denies torture camp in Vali North
Sirisena promises all IDPs land within 6 months
Tamil People's Council to draft solution for ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka
Over 100k Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka remain in Tamil Nadu
New Year prayers in Jaffna for political prisoners and IDPs
10th anniversary of 'Trinco 5' killings, still no justice
Sri Lanka's Navy pledges to 'preserve hard-won peace' in New Year
Pakistan PM to visit Sri Lanka to sign trade MoUs
Suspected torture cells found in former High Security Zone houses
Wire mesh to protect state buses in North
Sri Lankan army denies torture camp in Vali North
Sirisena promises all IDPs land within 6 months
Tamil People's Council to draft solution for ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka
Over 100k Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka remain in Tamil Nadu
New Year prayers in Jaffna for political prisoners and IDPs
10th anniversary of 'Trinco 5' killings, still no justice
Sri Lanka's Navy pledges to 'preserve hard-won peace' in New Year