Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Commemorations were held across Jaffna over the weekend to mark 43 years since the Black July pogrom, honouring the thousands of Tamils killed in the anti-Tamil violence of July 1983 and the Tamil political prisoners massacred while in state custody. At the Thanthai Selva Auditorium in Jaffna, a common flame of remembrance was lit on Saturday, 25 July, and candles were lit in memory of the…

Sri Lankan navy constructs permanent fences at Mullivaikkal camp


The Sri Lankan navy is erecting permanent fences around its camp in Mullivaikkal, despite calls for the Sri Lankan military to release land it is occupying to its owners.

The camp, named the Gotabhaya Camp, was constructed on 671 acres of private land belonging to Tamils in Mullivaikkal East, that was illegally acquired by the navy shortly after the end of the armed conflict in 2009.

Asylum seekers deported by Australia arrested in Sri Lanka

The 12 asylum seekers who fled Sri Lanka and reached the Cocos Islands on Monday were all arrested on arrival at Colombo airport after being deported by Australian authorities on Thursday night.

The group, which is believed to include children and an infant as young as one, were handed over to Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department, reported Colombo Page.

The Australian government has refused to respond to concerns raised about the forced return, stating "we do not comment on operational matters".

Tamil UNP minister pledges to build memorial in Mullivaikkal

The UNP's State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran has pledged to build a memorial hall in Mullivaikkal, despite government opposition to public Tamil remembrance of the war dead.

“In remembrance of the 100,00 people who were massacred in the war, a memorial hall will be constructed at Mullivaikal with the support of Northern Provincial Council. I will accomplish this within the next five years.” the Tamil MP for Jaffna said.

“Nobody can oppose the construction of the memorial hall in remembrance of our deceased relatives. I do not care, even if I am dismissed.” she added.

Buddhist monk threatens protestors in Amparai

A protest held in Amparai earlier today, highlighting ongoing arrests and abductions by the government, was interrupted by a mob led by a Buddhist monk, Ceylonews reports.

Protestors urged the government to stop terrorising the North-East with the detentions, urged the release of those arrested and to stop abducting those it wants to detain.

UN Special Rapporteur visits Sri Lankan torture site

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment has visited an infamous torture site used by the Sri Lankan military, reports The Island.

Special Rapporteur Juan Mendez visited Camp Joseph at the Sri Lankan Vanni Security Forces Headquarters during his tour of the island.

JHU calls for govt to 'react' to NPC's federalism resolution

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on Thursday praised the Western Provincial Council's adoption of a resolution opposing the Northern Provincial Council's resolution calling for a federal solution and urged other provincial councils to do the same.

Chief Buddhist monk urges Sirisena to safeguard Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka's most revered Buddhist monks of the Mahanayake chapter on Thursday wrote an impassioned plea to the president, Maithripala Sirisena, urging him to safeguard his predecessor, Mahinda Rajapaksa by maintaining his security.

Western Province passes resolution opposing Tamil call for federalism

Sri Lanka's Sinhala dominated Western Provincial Council on Thursday passed a resolution opposing the previous resolution passed by the Tamil dominated Northern Provincial Council calling for a federal solution to the decades long ethnic conflict.

Presidential commission on missing persons wants to extend term

The presidential commission on missing persons has requested President Sirisena to extend its mandate in order to complete inquiries in the east, after it had finished its investigation in the North last week.

The commission was initially due to run until May 15, with the report due to be released in July.

Reports of the commission encouraging relatives to accept their loved ones have died have been ongoing, with evidence that officials
offered chickens in exchange for accepting a death certificates.

President and PM will never allow anyone to influence national security says minister

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said the “President, Prime Minister and the Government will never allow anyone to influence national security or sovereignty of the country,” at a military ceremony on Saturday.

The minister added that the Sri Lankan government had “gained the confidence of the international community” and praised called on the attendees to “rise as one”.