Tamil Nadu volleyball players pulled out of Sri Lanka

Two volley ball players from Tamil Nadu returned from the Asian youth volleyball championship in in Sri Lanka, after being withdrawn by the south Indian state’s Sports Development Authority. The Tamil Nadu State Volleyball Association (TNSVA) headquarters has been closed since Wednesday night and the manager and coach of the players have been suspended, The Hindu reported, adding that it was “surprising that the two players were sent to the island nation”, in the first place.

3 Tamil students attacked at Eastern University

Three Tamil students were left unconscious after being attacked by fellow students at Eastern University on Wednesday evening, reports BattiNews and Uthayan . The three, 20 year old R. Thanancheyan from Koozhavadi, 22 year old R. Vijikaran from Mamangam and 21 year old C. Sabeskaran from Punnaicholai, were led away from their homes at 8am that morning by the attackers, who demanded Rs 1000 from each. The victims were then taken to backyard of the Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies and forced to consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes that the attackers had purchased using the money, before being attacked further. All three victims have been admitted to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital. Sabeskaran is understood to be in a serious condition.

Jaffna villagers demand resettlement in their own land

Villagers from Valikamam North Mayiliddi have handed a petition to the Jaffna District Secretariat demanding they be resettled in their own land, which is currently being occupied by the Sri Lankan military after being designated as a High Security Zone (HSZ). The petition , which was delivered by leaders from the by Poonthalir Women's Organisation and the National Fisheries Co-operation Movement, said, “We have been living in the temporary camp for 24 years since being displaced from the Valikamam North Mayiliddi village during the war in 1990.” “More than 5 years have passed since the war ended and it is worrying that we have not been resettled back in our own lands.” Valikamam North is currently designated as a High Security Zone (HSZ) by the Sri Lankan military. Satellite images released last month show the Sri Lankan military has been consolidating its presence in the HSZ, increasing the number of permanent structures that it has built on land seized from Tamil civilians since the end of the armed conflict.

Military intimidation cancels prayers for a second time

Sri Lankan military intimidation has for the second time led to prayers that were going to be held for the displaced people of Valikamam North being cancelled, reports Uthayan . Military intelligence once again threatened the organisers with “consequences” if the prayers, organised for those displaced in Valikaamam North, went ahead. Joint prayers were due to be held at the Sabapathipillai Welfare centre today and preparations were already underway, when military intelligence came to the centre and warned the organisers to remove the hut that was being erected for the occasion. See our...

WHO report ranks Sri Lanka has having 4th highest suicide rate

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report ranked Sri Lanka as having the 4th highest suicide rate from statistics gathered in 172 countries. The report published on Friday, entitled 'Preventing suicide: A global imperative', found that the rate of suicide in Sri Lanka was over double the global average. Suicide rate in Jaffna increases since end of armed conflict (20 August 2014)

'Concerns remain' in North says British High Commissioner

The UK's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin, said "concerns remain" in the Northern province following a three day visit to the region. "In my discussions, it was clear that the region is moving forward from its difficult past, but some concerns remain," said Rankin. During his visit he met with the TNA MP for Vanni, Sivasakthi Ananthan , staff at the Uthayan newspaper, and families in Puthukkudiyiruppu. "They spoke frankly about the issues their communities face – including a lack of housing and employment," he said of his visit to Puthukkudiyiruppu. "I strongly hope that these...

TESO protests against Mahinda Rajapaksa

The Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) held a protest on Wednesday, calling on the United Nations not to allow Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to address the General Assembly in New York later this month. The protest, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a political party in Tamil Nadu, was addressed by the DMK President Karunanidhi, who said, "If all the Tamils cooperate and struggle, we can ensure true freedom for Eelam Tamils and give them a life of self- respect." Karunanidhi went on to add that struggles for the Eelam Tamils' cause “will and should” continue,...

BJP distances itself from Swamy's comments on Sri Lanka

Last updated: 0800 GMT Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has criticised remarks made by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy over the arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy this week, as the BJP’s State Chief distanced the party from his comments. Swamy, who recently attended a defence seminar in Sri Lanka, said the Sri Lankan government should not release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen that they were holding in their custody. His comments were slammed by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who also heads the third largest party in India, who said , “It is particularly distressing that a senior member of the BJP has, in a televised media interview, stated it was he who advised the Sri Lankan government not to release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen. This statement of Swamy has given rise to resentment and angst not only among the fishing community but also among people of Tamil Nadu ." “The Sri Lankan government's inhumane and cruel strategy of not releasing the boats is causing loss of livelihood to fishermen and their families. The desperate fishermen are resorting to protests and strikes." Swamy’s remarks led to a rebuke by the BJP’s State Chief Tamilisai Soundararajan, who said his comments were not the official line of the BJP party and that she has “reported the matter to the party high command." Soundararajan went on to say Swamy was “spoiling the efforts” of the Indian government to resolve the issue of repeated arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy, adding, “We have made progress in the fishermen's issue as meetings have been held and the PMO has also stepped in to facilitate talks between officials from both countries." Swamy though dismissed the Chief Minister’s criticism saying “she is being a cinema star, she basically speaks according to a script… she is not a BJP member”.

At least 60 Pakistani asylum seekers face deportation

At least 60 Pakistani asylum seekers have been released from detention in Boosa camp, and may now face deportation, reports the Press Trust of India . The asylum seekers have been r eleased to temporary accommodation, with a Sri Lankan court ruling on Monday lifting the ban on the deportation of asylum seekers from Pakistan. The ban was lifted after Sri Lanka’s Deputy Solicitor General warned the refugees were a threat to national security and were at risk of bringing malaria into the island.

UK High Commissioner discusses land grabs and Sinhalisation with Vanni TNA MP

The British High Commissioner John Rankin was told of ongoing land grabs and Sinhalisation of in Mullaitivu, Weli-oya, Mannar, Musali, Kochchankulam, Kalapovasvela, Settikulam, Omanthai, Irampaikulam and many regions in Vanni district, during a visit to Vavuniya on Wednesday. Meeting with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Vanni, Sivasakthi Ananthan, and Dr C Sivamohan from the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), the detention of political prisoners, the rehabilitation of Tamil war widows, intimidation of former LTTE cadres and their families, and the unresolved cases of missing persons were...

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