Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Jaffna commemorates Black July victims
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…

BBS alleges Sinhalese being ‘chased away’ from North-East

Mar 8, 2016
Sinhala Buddhist organisation Bodu Bala Sena alleged that a plan was underway to “chase Sinhalese people away” from the Tamil North-East, as part of a set of proposals by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to merge the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

“The initiative was launched from March 4. The Northern Provincial Council and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is backing this move to chase Sinhalese people away and preventing the resettlement of them,” claimed BBS chief Galagodaaththe Gnanasara, whi was arrested last month for hate speech against Muslims on the island.

“There is an ongoing process of resettling Tamils in lands which were taken from the Sinhalese people forcibly. The TNA had forcibly stopped building houses in Kokilai Sinhala fishing village. Kokilai, Sampath Nuwara and Weli Oya are ancient lands of the Sinhalese,” he added.

Gold taken by military from Tamils missing, Ranil orders probe

Mar 8, 2016
The Sri Lankan prime minister on Wednesday called for a probe into 40kg of missing gold from a total of 150kg of gold taken by the Sri Lankan military from Tamils home during the armed conflict as hundreds of thousands had to flee their homes.

"There are discrepancies. There are conflicting accounts of what happened to the gold. We must investigate this," Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the AFP as saying.

Tamil political parties have long called for the looted gold to be returned to its rightful owners.



Sri Lanka military donates land to 'needy' military personnel

Mar 7, 2016

The Sri Lankan Air Force has handed over two plots of land it owns in the south of the island, to "needy, serving personnel", as distress relief.

The commander of the air force authorised the donation of the land in Ruppawattha, Matara and the deeds were handed over to the servicemen at a ceremony on February 29 in Colombo.

See more on the SLAF website here.

Army complete construction of 'model village' for displaced people

Mar 7, 2016

The Sri Lankan military has completed the construction of what it calls a "model village", built for Tamils who were displaced from nearby Keppapilavu village after the army forced them out.

Sri Lanka Army Engineers and troops serving under the Security Force Headquarters - Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT) officially completed the construction of 287 new houses at "Keppapilavu Model Village", in the Mullaithivu District, with the ceremonial opening of the remaining 19 homes and a new medical centre on February 25.

Women's Day marked in North-East with demonstrations against sexual violence

Mar 7, 2016

Marking International Women's Day, women's organisations held a demonstrations in Jaffna and Batticaloa on Tuesday, demanding an end to sexual violence against women and children. The demonstration comes after a number of incidents of sexual violence against Tamil girls by Tamil men in the North-East.

Batticaloa


Holding placards and black flags, demonstrators demanded an end to sexual violence against women and girls.

Body found in Vaharai

Mar 7, 2016
The body of a young man was found by the Vaharai coast line on Tueday.

Local police have identified the body as that of a 26 year old driver, named Rasathurai Douglas.

The body is currently at Batticaloa hospital for post-mortem examination, reported BattiNews.

Tamil protestors block military surveyors

Mar 7, 2016

Protestors in Jaffna blocked attempts by the Sri Lankan military to survey an area of land which was reportedly due to be taken over by the government on Tuesday.

Families of Tamil political prisoners launch hunger strike in Jaffna demanding their release

Mar 6, 2016

Families of Tamil political prisoners detained by the Sri Lankan security services held a hunger strike on Monday by the Muniyappar temple in Jaffna, calling for their immediate release.

Sri Lankan culture minister warns against 'lewd behaviour' in capital

Mar 6, 2016
Sri Lanka's minister of cultural affairs, S B Navinna waned against 'lewd behaviour' at Colombo's Independence Square.

“Wedding couples also use this area for photographs after getting permission. That is alright. There are warnings against lewd behaviour anyhow,” he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.

Ranil tells Hindus to overcome 'pettiness'

Mar 6, 2016
Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, marked the Hindu festival of Maha Shivarathri telling Hindus on the island to overcome the 'pettiness' of racial and religious disharmony.

"With certain elements striving to create racial and religious disharmony, let us make this a momentous occasion to overcome such pettiness and work towards a constructive engagement with all," Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by Colombo Page as saying.

"It takes much to achieve freedom, co-existence and equality in challenging times - especially when various attempts are underway to force the country back to dark times."

Gold taken by military from Tamils missing, Ranil orders probe
Sri Lanka military donates land to 'needy' military personnel
Army complete construction of 'model village' for displaced people
Women's Day marked in North-East with demonstrations against sexual violence
Body found in Vaharai
Tamil protestors block military surveyors
Families of Tamil political prisoners launch hunger strike in Jaffna demanding their release
Sri Lankan culture minister warns against 'lewd behaviour' in capital
Ranil tells Hindus to overcome 'pettiness'
Sri Lanka's civil security dept open Hindu temple in Kilinochchi
Gold taken by military from Tamils missing, Ranil orders probe
Sri Lanka military donates land to 'needy' military personnel
Army complete construction of 'model village' for displaced people
Women's Day marked in North-East with demonstrations against sexual violence
Body found in Vaharai
Tamil protestors block military surveyors
Families of Tamil political prisoners launch hunger strike in Jaffna demanding their release
Sri Lankan culture minister warns against 'lewd behaviour' in capital
Ranil tells Hindus to overcome 'pettiness'
Sri Lanka's civil security dept open Hindu temple in Kilinochchi