Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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‘Where is the LTTE?’ Lawyer challenges terror charges against jailed Tamil rapper
  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

Eastern uni students demand end to sexual violence against women

Feb 25, 2016
Students at Eastern University protested on Friday against incidence of rape taking place.



Holding placards outside the university's main entrance, the students demanded that those responsible for the crimes must be brought to justice.

Man detained over Vavuniya rape

Feb 25, 2016
A 35 year old man has been detained for questioning over the rape of a 14 year old school girl in Vavuniya.

The man has been named as Balasingham Janarthan.

The victim was found hanging in her home after being sexually assaulted.

The incident has sparked protests across the North-East condemning the rising incidence of sexual violence against women within the community, and demanding perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Hunger striking Tamil political prisoners admitted to prison hospital

Feb 25, 2016
Three Tamil political prisoners out of the 16 that are fasting unto death fainted and were admitted to prison hospital on Thursday.

J Sebastian, T Manoharan and S Thayaparan were all admitted to their prison hospitals after fainting reports Tamil Diplomat.

Tamil National Alliance MP Dr Sivamohan visited and confirmed that they were still alive on Thursday.

Tamil Political Prisoners restart hunger strike (23 Feb 2015)

UN Special Rapporteur on Torture likely to visit Sri Lanka

Feb 25, 2016
Reports have surfaced that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture is likely to visit Sri Lanka this year.

According to the Sri Lanka director at the International Crisis Group (ICG) Alan Keenan, Special Rapporteur Juan Mendez may visit Sri Lanka in the near future.

Mr Mendez was formerly the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and Special Adviser to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Sri Lanka continues 'multifaceted assault of terror' on Tamils under new government (28 Jul 2015)

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce supports India Sri Lanka trade agreement

Feb 25, 2016
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce reiterated its support towards the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India in a statement issued on Friday.

The Chamber noted concern at the level of opposition to the trade agreement with India surfacing in Sri Lanka’s press.

First annual US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialgoue held in Washington

Feb 25, 2016

Sri Lanka's first annual partnership dialogue with the United States concluded in Washington DC earlier today.

In a media release, the US State Department said,

"Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon led the U.S. delegation for discussions on democratic governance, development cooperation, people-to-people ties, economic cooperation, security cooperation, international and regional affairs, and other issues of mutual interest.

Former army commander sworn in as Sri Lankan minister

Feb 24, 2016
The former army commander during the end of the armed conflict, Sarath Fonseka, was sworn in today as the regional development minister, following an appointment by the ruling UNP led coalition.


Mr Fonseka remains a highly controversial figure. An UN report released last year details widespread and systematic allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Sri Lankan military while he was in charge.

Fonseka accuses HRW Asia head of violating his human rights

Feb 24, 2016
The former army commander, Sarath Fonseka, last week accused Human Rights Watch's Asia division's head, Brad Adams as violating his human rights.

Mr Fonseka was sworn in today as the regional development minister, after he was given the UNP national list seat last week.

“Human Rights Watch Asia Head is violating my human rights,” Mr Fonseka told the FT.lk in an interview last week.

"He [Adams] must make sure that he ensures the human rights of everybody. If he does not know how to respect the human rights of the Army Commander who is a Field Marshal and also a Parliamentarian as decided by the President and the Prime Minister of the country, who is he to point the finger like that and brand me as a criminal? First he has to respect my human rights so that is my simple answer to Brad Adams."

Sri Lanka to implement British law in new financial Colombo hub

Feb 24, 2016
Sri Lanka’s finance minister Ravi Karunanayake announced that a newly proclaimed ‘Colombo International Financial Centre’ will be governed by British law.

Speaking at a Business forum in Colombo, Mr Karunayaka said,

“We want to position Sri Lanka as a mini-financial centre. This  why we want to have a Colombo international Finance Centre, showcasing the Hong Kong model with a British legal system. In the next couple of months you will see the exchange controls being completely opened up not to the extent of the capital markets being opened up – because you need a certain safety when we integrate ourselves.

Northern Province administers hartal in protest of rape and murder of school girl

Feb 23, 2016
The Northern Province came to a standstill on Wednesday as a mass hartal was administered in support of protests against the rape and murder of a school girl in Vavuniya last week.
Man detained over Vavuniya rape
Hunger striking Tamil political prisoners admitted to prison hospital
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture likely to visit Sri Lanka
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce supports India Sri Lanka trade agreement
First annual US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialgoue held in Washington
Former army commander sworn in as Sri Lankan minister
Fonseka accuses HRW Asia head of violating his human rights
Sri Lanka to implement British law in new financial Colombo hub
Northern Province administers hartal in protest of rape and murder of school girl
Torture and impunity in Sri Lanka persisted in 2015 - Amnesty International
Man detained over Vavuniya rape
Hunger striking Tamil political prisoners admitted to prison hospital
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture likely to visit Sri Lanka
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce supports India Sri Lanka trade agreement
First annual US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialgoue held in Washington
Former army commander sworn in as Sri Lankan minister
Fonseka accuses HRW Asia head of violating his human rights
Sri Lanka to implement British law in new financial Colombo hub
Northern Province administers hartal in protest of rape and murder of school girl
Torture and impunity in Sri Lanka persisted in 2015 - Amnesty International