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…

‘Stance on China has completely changed’ says Sri Lanka amidst looming financial crisis

Feb 10, 2016
The Sri Lankan government declared that it has “completely changed” its stance towards China, as it looks for investment in economic projects on the south of the island.

The current Sri Lankan government, which came into power last year, had initially halted a Chinese port project in Colombo, due to concerns on how the project was agreed on by the previous Rajapaksa regime.

The suspension of work was costing $380,000 a day said the state-owned China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC), before “the new Sri Lankan government understood the reality and also the fact that they were legally bound by the contract," said an official at CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd.

Now Sri Lanka’s cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told Reuters "the stance on China has completely changed".

His comments come as Sri Lanka’s finances deteriorated the government looked to the IMF for an emergency loan to avoid a balance-of-payments crisis.

"Who else is going to bring us money, given tight conditions in the West?" said Mr Senaratne.

UN Special Rapporteur insists on importance of victim participation in Sri Lanka

Feb 10, 2016
File photo: Relatives of the disappeared met with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Jaffna last week, as Special Rapporteur Pablo de Greiff reiterated the importance victim participation in an accountability mechanism.

Sri Lanka to have formal discussions over purchase of Indian fighter jets – reports

Feb 10, 2016
The Sri Lankan government is set to have formal discussions with India over the purchase of India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets, reports India Today.

Sources reportedly confirmed with the news channel that Colombo has expressed interest in the deal and formal discussions will take place between the two sides in the coming months.

‘President will never accept international judges’ claims Sri Lankan minister

Feb 10, 2016

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will never allow international judges to participate in an accountability mechanism, said a government minister at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Musthapha insisted that foreign judges wouldn’t be accommodated in any proposed court dealing with cases of international humanitarian law violations “under any circumstances”.

The Minister added that the president would not give in to international pressure, saying "various people can make recommendations though we’ll not accept anything inimical to Sri Lanka".

His remarks were reiterated by former MP Reginald Cooray, who is widely tipped to become the next Governor of the Northern Province.

Former LTTE cadres would rather face trial than rehabilitaiton

Feb 10, 2016
Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres have refused to undergo ‘rehabilitation’ with the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) and asked to by tried in court instead, reports Colombo Page.

The 14 former cadres who were arrested on charges of criminal activities and released on bail, said they are innocent and prepared to face trial to prove their innocence.

Suspected war criminal Sarath Fonseka takes oath as MP

Feb 9, 2016

Former army commander Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka, who is suspected of being responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, has been sworn in as an MP, after his appointment by the ruling coalition.

He was appointed by the UNP through the national list, after another MP died.

Mr Fonseka remains a highly controversial figure. A UN report released last year details heinous crimes committed by the military while he was in charge.

US pledges $31 million assistance in governance, reconciliation and economic reform

Feb 9, 2016
The US government will look to provide $31 million of assistance in strengthening governance, democratic reform, civil society and reconciliation efforts said the US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Speaking during the State Department's budget proposals for the next fiscal year, Mr Kerry said,

“Resources will be used to encourage reconciliation efforts and support anti-corruption activities – key foci as the government undertakes major reforms during the political transition.”

UN Rights Chief must insist fulfilment of UNHRC resolution in Sri Lanka says Monitoring Accountability Panel

Feb 9, 2016
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Accountability Panel, expressing concern at recent rejections by Sri Lanka’s president on the need for an international component to the accountability process, called on the UN Rights Chief to insist that Sri Lanka implements the UNHRC resolution.

Noting President Sirisena’s rejection of international involvement, the monitoring panel said,

Sri Lanka PM appoints committee to oversee foreign affairs ministry

Feb 8, 2016
Sri Lanka’s prime minister has set up a Global Affairs Committee to oversee the workings of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Sources close to the head of the Ministry Mangala Samaraweera said that the Mr Samaraweera was disappointed with the appointment of an overseeing committee. Mr Samaraweera allegedly added that he would not allow any party to interfere with the affairs of his ministry, reports Asianmirror.lk.

Coalition of pro-Rajapaksa parliamentarians to protest in parliament unless recognised as separate entity

Feb 8, 2016
Sri Lanka’s ‘joint opposition’ which consist of a group of parliamentarians loyal to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa threatened to disrupt parliamentary proceedings unless they were recognised as a separate entity, reports Colombo Page.

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Ranjith Zoysa said the group had requested that the parliamentary speaker recognise them as an independent group in parliament, stating that there were 52 MPS in the group that wanted to be treated as a separate entity.
UN Special Rapporteur insists on importance of victim participation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka to have formal discussions over purchase of Indian fighter jets – reports
‘President will never accept international judges’ claims Sri Lankan minister
Former LTTE cadres would rather face trial than rehabilitaiton
Suspected war criminal Sarath Fonseka takes oath as MP
US pledges $31 million assistance in governance, reconciliation and economic reform
UN Rights Chief must insist fulfilment of UNHRC resolution in Sri Lanka says Monitoring Accountability Panel
Sri Lanka PM appoints committee to oversee foreign affairs ministry
Coalition of pro-Rajapaksa parliamentarians to protest in parliament unless recognised as separate entity
Tamil UNP state minister refuses to host Sri Lankan flag
UN Special Rapporteur insists on importance of victim participation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka to have formal discussions over purchase of Indian fighter jets – reports
‘President will never accept international judges’ claims Sri Lankan minister
Former LTTE cadres would rather face trial than rehabilitaiton
Suspected war criminal Sarath Fonseka takes oath as MP
US pledges $31 million assistance in governance, reconciliation and economic reform
UN Rights Chief must insist fulfilment of UNHRC resolution in Sri Lanka says Monitoring Accountability Panel
Sri Lanka PM appoints committee to oversee foreign affairs ministry
Coalition of pro-Rajapaksa parliamentarians to protest in parliament unless recognised as separate entity
Tamil UNP state minister refuses to host Sri Lankan flag