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…

Sri Lanka's Navy pledges to 'preserve hard-won peace' in New Year

Jan 1, 2016
Sri Lanka’s Navy pledged to ‘preserve’ the ‘hard-won peace’ on the island, reports Colombo Page.

In a New Year address to Navy personnel, the Commander of the Navy Ravindra Wijegunaratne, called on all Navy personnel to perform their duties and extend their assistance to the development of the country.

Former Sri Lanka Navy commander admits having knowledge of underground torture cells  (22 Nov 2015)

Sri Lanka Army Commander reiterates commitment to national security on New Year's day

Dec 31, 2015
The commander of Sri Lanka’s Army Lieutenant General Crishante De Silva said the army’s primary commitment was to ensure national security in a New Years Message.

Speaking to the army on New Year’s day Mr De Silva said,

700 acres in Vali North returned after 25 year army occupation

Dec 31, 2015

Some 700 acres of land in Valikamam North, which has been under army occupation for over 25 years, was released to owners on Tuesday.

Lands from the High Security Zone were released to owners, including the remainder of army-held land in Valalai, completely freeing the village of army occupation.

Enormous task of solving 'national question' and 'reconciliation' says TNA leader

Dec 31, 2015
The leader of the Tamil National Alliance, R Sampanthan stressed that there was an “enormous task of achieving a meaningful solution to the national question, beneficial development and lasting peace and reconciliation."

Calling on the citizens of Sri Lanka to give their fullest support Mr Sampanthan added,

“It is through solidarity that we can build a prosperous country while acknowledging ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and other unique features of each community.

Full text reproduced below.

Sri Lanka's PM lauds 'triumph over adversity'

Dec 31, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka had “triumphed over adversity” in his New Year message.

Mr Wickremesinghe stressed that there was promise of developing an era "that understands and comprehends the true meaning of freedom from oppression."

See full text below.

TNA urges remaining land and political prisoners to be released in New Year

Dec 30, 2015

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called on the Sri Lankan government to release remaining lands held in the New Year.

Welcoming the release of 701 acres of land occupied by the military in Valikamam North and East earlier this week, the TNA recalled a promise made by the president during a visit to Jaffna two months ago to release lands that could be immediately released by the end of 2015.

Fresh arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy

Dec 30, 2015
A group of Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan navy for allegedly violating the Trincomalee, in the third such incident this month.

The 29 fishermen and three boats were detained by the Sri Lankan navy at a military camp in Trincomalee.

The arrest come as the issue of the continued arrest of Indian fishermen was brought up in the Lok Sabha, with another 45 fishermen remaining in Sri Lankan custody.

New constitution prepared by June 2016 with public referendum says govt

Dec 30, 2015

The new constitution would be prepared during the first six months of 2016 and a public referendum held said the government's chief whip, minister Lakshman Kiriella.

"We as a government had reduced the powers of the executive as we pledged and we had set up independent commissions too. To reduce the powers of the executive further and to further strengthen the democracy we need a new Constitution and that should be approved in a referendum," Mr Kiriella told journalists on Wednesday, reported Ceylon Today.

Sri Lankan government ‘not interested’ in bridge to India states Minister

Dec 30, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella stated his government was not interested in India's proposed plans to build a bridge between Tamil Nadu and the Tamil homeland in the North-East of the island.

Ruling out the possibility of the bridge project materialising, Mr Kiriella denied that the proposal was even discussed with the Sri Lankan government.

The minister went on to emphasise that talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Delhi did not include the bridge project. Earlier the minister had said “we are against it because people of Sri Lanka are opposed to it”.

Sri Lanka is ‘examining possibility’ of IMF loan says CB governor

Dec 30, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said the government was in “informal consultations” with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the possibility of a further loan.

“Yes we are examining the possibilities and the government are in informal consultation with the IMF,” confirmed Mr Mahendran.

However the governor stated, “our reserves are comfortable at this point”. “We have over four and a half months of imports, admittedly some of that is borrowed but the country is in no dire need of emergency funding,” he added.

His comments come as Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake stated Sri Lanka is “not dictated by IMF policy”.
Sri Lanka Army Commander reiterates commitment to national security on New Year's day
700 acres in Vali North returned after 25 year army occupation
Enormous task of solving 'national question' and 'reconciliation' says TNA leader
Sri Lanka's PM lauds 'triumph over adversity'
TNA urges remaining land and political prisoners to be released in New Year
Fresh arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy
New constitution prepared by June 2016 with public referendum says govt
Sri Lankan government ‘not interested’ in bridge to India states Minister
Sri Lanka is ‘examining possibility’ of IMF loan says CB governor
Sri Lanka blacklists and fines company responsible for organising Enrique concert
Sri Lanka Army Commander reiterates commitment to national security on New Year's day
700 acres in Vali North returned after 25 year army occupation
Enormous task of solving 'national question' and 'reconciliation' says TNA leader
Sri Lanka's PM lauds 'triumph over adversity'
TNA urges remaining land and political prisoners to be released in New Year
Fresh arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy
New constitution prepared by June 2016 with public referendum says govt
Sri Lankan government ‘not interested’ in bridge to India states Minister
Sri Lanka is ‘examining possibility’ of IMF loan says CB governor
Sri Lanka blacklists and fines company responsible for organising Enrique concert