Sri Lanka hails EU decision to appeal judgment on LTTE terror ban

The Sri Lankan government has welcomed the decision by the European Union to appeal October's judgement by the General Court of the European Union, to annul the European Council's measures taken against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was designated as a terrorist organisation in 2006. In a statement , the country's Ministry of External Affairs said that activities by the LTTE continued in Europe and added the government remained committed to providing further assistance to the EU in regards to this matter. "The action taken by the Council of the European Union demonstrates commitment for the fight against terrorism at a time when this threat is increasingly posing a significant challenge to global peace and stability, necessitating a collective and vigorous international effort to counter," the MEA statement said.

India 'satisfied' with Sri Lanka diplomatic relations

The Indian government is satisfied with bilateral ties with Sri Lanka, its National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, said to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, according to the Sri Lankan government's official news portal . Doval, who is visiting the island for the Galle Dialogue, organised annually by the Ministry of Defence, "expressed much satisfaction on the quality and range of relations between Sri Lanka and India", and discussed ways to expand these ties during the meeting with Rajapaksa. The National Security Advisor also met with defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, leaders of the Tamil...

Eelam Refugees in Tamil Nadu blocked from observing Maaveerar Naal

Eelam Tamil refugees at a camp in Thoppukollai, Tamil Nadu, were blcked from observing a day of remembrance on November 27th, with Indian police pre-emptively arresting 84 people last week. The refugees protested against the decision to block and religious ceremonies being performed on the 17th of November, by the camp authorities. Hundreds of refugees demonstrated against the decision, staging a protest on the Alangudi-Pudukottai highway. The Hindu reported that after dispelling the protest using “mild force”, a total of 84 people were arrested, including 42 women. Authorities reportedly...

Maaveerar Naal remembrance event held in Indonesian prison

Tamils being detained in a prison in Indonesia held a remembrance event to mark Maaveerar Naal on the 27th of November, reports Pathivu . Inmates lit candles and laid flowers in remembrance of those who gave their lives for the Tamil struggle.

Presidential candidate Sirisena signs MoU with opposition parties

The common opposition candidate for next month’s presidential elections, Maithripala Sirisena, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with several parties and civil society groups. The signing, under the patronage of member of the Buddhist clergy, Maduluwawe Sobitha, took place earlier today in Colombo. Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike, UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and Democratic Party chief Sarath Fonseka were amongst the signatories who signed the MoU. See full text of the MoU here . Sirisena began his election campaign on Sunday, with a rally in his constituency of Pollonurawa, alongside Wickremasinghe.

BBS denies backing Mahinda

The Bodu Bala Sena’s General Secretary Galagoda Gnanasara denied that the organisation had decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa in next month’s presidential elections. Speaking to media on Monday, Gnanasara said the BBS never stated that it would support the incumbent or his government. “What we have stated is that there is an international conspiracy to destroy Sri Lanka and we have stressed the need of defeating that. It is the people who should make the final decision. We are only raising awareness on the conspiracy,” Gnanasara said. Only last week Gnanasara pledged “unconditional support” to the president.

Maithripala signs MoU with JHU

President Rajapaksa's former coalition partner, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the opposition candidate for the forthcoming presidential election, Maithripala Sirisena, reported Colombo Gazette . The JHU had put forward some proposals to the opposition candidate, which were rejected by Mahinda Rajapaksa, causing the party run by Buddhist monks to leave the ruling UPFA coalition. Earlier today Sirisena signed an MoU with other opposition parties, including the UNP.

Western countries want to bring dummies into power - Mahinda

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed today that western countries were intent on bringing dummies into power around the world, adding they were trying to do the same in Sri Lanka, reported the DailyMirror . “We should not allow dancing to the tune of western powers. See the situation in the Middle East. In such a situation, a country will plunge further and you can’t expect a development in such countries,” the president said. Rajapaksa said a country cannot be developed with an unstable government and that the current stability showed the country is on the right path towards...

Common opposition candidate's 'trilingual policy'...

At the common opposition candidate's inaugural rally in Polonaruwa, efforts to portray a 'trilingual policy' failed as the main sign on stage read with multiple errors in Tamil. The sign should have read: ஒரு வானத்தின் கீழ் ஒரே விளை நிலமாக எமது நாடு.

Maaveerar Naal observed across Europe

Dortmund, Germany Maaveerar Naal was commemorated by Tamils across mainland Europe, with families gathering in various cities to remember their dead. We've included a selection of photographs European cities below.

Pages