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…

Sri Lanka's civil security dept open Hindu temple in Kilinochchi

Mar 5, 2016

Sri Lanka's Civil Security Department opened a Hindu temple in Kilinochchi on Saturday as well as laying the foundation stone in another temple in Vishwamadu.

See here for more photographs.

Sri Lankan govt uses war-time security checks in Colombo

Mar 5, 2016
The Sri Lankan government has reintroduced war-time security checks and road blocks in Colombo, reportedly to deal with organised crime and narcotics trade.

“The objective is to prevent serious crime and drug smuggling as well as to catch those committing serious crime,” the police spokesperson, Ruwan Gunasekara was quoted by the Guardian as saying, adding that over 100 police stations in Colombo had been ordered to introduce road blocks.

The government was elected in 2015 to power pledging good governance and transparency.

Sri Lankan navy arrests 29 Indian fishermen

Mar 5, 2016
The Sri Lankan navy on Saturday arrested a total of 29 Indian fishermen in two separate incidents.

Officials at the Indian consulate stated that 20 men were arrested near Puttalam together with the impounding of three fishing boats. In a separate incident, 9 fishermen were arrested near Mannar.

According to the New Indian Express, 64 Indian fishermen are detained in Sri Lankan custody, as well as 84 Indian boats currently with authorities.





Tamils in Jaffna rally in support of Inner City Press

Mar 4, 2016

Tamil demonstrators gathered in front of a United Nations office in Jaffna last week to rally behind Inner City Press journalist Matthew Lee, after he was reportedly ejected from a UN meeting and his press pass revoked.

Northern Provincial Councillors Ananthy Sasitharan and M.K. Shivajilingam led a protest in support of the independent journalist. In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Ms Sasitharan said she was concerned to learn that the revoking of Mr Lee's press pass took place “without due process”.

100% sure army did not war crimes says Fonseka

Mar 4, 2016
The former Sri Lanka army commander Sarath Fonseka, said he was 100% sure the army as a whole did not commit any war crimes in the final stages of the armed conflict, as he "was monitoring each and every progress day and night".

Adding that there were allegations such as the white flag case, Mr Fonseka, who recently joined the ruling UNP led coalition government as a minister, said there should be an inquiry into the case.

"The Army as a whole did not commit any offense like that. I am 100% sure since I was monitoring each and every progress day and night. But there were allegations, such as the White Flag case. There were people who were trying to link me to this episode and put me to jail. I think that there should be a proper inquiry on the White Flag issue," he told Nation.lk in an interview published on Saturday.

"I can give the assurance for 99.9% for the Army that nothing like that would have happened. But if one odd man somewhere has committed anything without the knowledge of the others or the authorities, he should be punished."

Sri Lankan navy arrests 17 asylum seekers

Mar 4, 2016
The Sri Lankan navy on Satruday arrested 17 asylum seekers who had attempted to flee the country in order to reach Australia, the Colombo Page reported.

Working on a tip off by Sri Lankan intelligence personnel, the navy made the arrest 40 nautical miles off Galle lighthouse.

"Due to the deployment of Sri Lanka Navy's regular patrols and its strong network of intelligence it is impossible to break the shackles of the Navy and flee free," the navy warned.

See here for more.

IMF delegation to visit Sri Lanka in March - Daily Mirror

Mar 4, 2016
A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be visiting Sri Lanka in mid March in order to undertake a "forensic audit on the arrears and other liabilities of the government," the Daily Mirror reported.

The delegation is as a result made by the government to examine the economy and better manage the country's debt.

"While our debt servicing payment have increased due to the contingent liabilities, the opportunity of servicing or refinancing the debt has become difficult due to the downturn of global economy," the Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was quoted as saying as he submitted a Cabinet paper on this at a special meeting on Friday.

See more here.

Sri Lanka FM reaffirms commitment to UNHRC resolution

Mar 3, 2016
Reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution (UNHRC) on reconciliation, accountability and human rights, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister expressed openness to international assistance.

Addressing the 20th Meeting of the Governing Council of the Community of Democracies in Geneva, Mangala Samaraweera said,

“We co-sponsored, with other members of the UN Human Rights Council, the Resolution titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ as a manifestation of our firm commitment to uphold the human rights of our people, and take measures for truth-seeking, justice, and reparations aimed at ensuring non-recurrence…. Sri Lanka requires the support and assistance of all her friends in the international community.”

Vali North IDPs protest in Jaffna demanding resettlement

Mar 3, 2016

Displaced Tamils from Valikaamam North, who have remained in IDP camps for over 25 years began a hunger strike on Friday, in protest at the failure to resettle them.

Swiss Refugee Council warns against refugees returning to Sri Lanka

Mar 3, 2016
The Switzerland based NGO, the Swiss Refugee Council this week warned against returning asylum seekers back to the island, due to 2015 reports that returnees were arrested or abducted.

Responding to the Sri Lankan foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera's pledge that it was safe for those, mainly Tamils, who fled Sri Lanka to return to the island, the Sri Lanka expert at the NGO said, "in our view, this step comes too early."

Speaking to Swiss public radio on Thursday, Adrian Schuster said, “We have received reports that in 2015 returning people were arrested or abducted in Sri Lanka."

Sri Lankan govt uses war-time security checks in Colombo
Sri Lankan navy arrests 29 Indian fishermen
Tamils in Jaffna rally in support of Inner City Press
100% sure army did not war crimes says Fonseka
Sri Lankan navy arrests 17 asylum seekers
IMF delegation to visit Sri Lanka in March - Daily Mirror
Sri Lanka FM reaffirms commitment to UNHRC resolution
Vali North IDPs protest in Jaffna demanding resettlement
Swiss Refugee Council warns against refugees returning to Sri Lanka
60 kg of cannabis seized by Sri Lankan police in Jaffna
Sri Lankan govt uses war-time security checks in Colombo
Sri Lankan navy arrests 29 Indian fishermen
Tamils in Jaffna rally in support of Inner City Press
100% sure army did not war crimes says Fonseka
Sri Lankan navy arrests 17 asylum seekers
IMF delegation to visit Sri Lanka in March - Daily Mirror
Sri Lanka FM reaffirms commitment to UNHRC resolution
Vali North IDPs protest in Jaffna demanding resettlement
Swiss Refugee Council warns against refugees returning to Sri Lanka
60 kg of cannabis seized by Sri Lankan police in Jaffna