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…

Indian FM discusses political solution and militarisation with TNA

Feb 5, 2016

India's minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, met with a delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Friday.

A number of issues including a political solution, the release of land held by the Sri Lankan military, the excessive military presence and bottom trawling were discussed at the meeting, the TNA said.

India to renovate schools and hospital in North-East

Feb 5, 2016
India on Friday signed agreements with the Sri Lankan government to build a hospital in the East and renovate schools in the North.

Twenty-seven schools in the North will be renovated and a surgical unit will be constructed in Batticaloa hospital, the spokesperson of India's ministry of external affairs, Vikas Swarup, said on Friday via Twitter.

Sri Lankan police construct Buddhist shrine in Jaffna

Feb 5, 2016

The Sri Lankan police force has constructed a new makeshift Buddhist shrine in Kayts in Jaffna, according to latest reports.

Sri Lanka: Looking for a deal, not truth and justice – Frances Harrison

Feb 5, 2016
Deep rooted reform in Sri Lanka is not on the government’s agenda writes Frances Harrison, in a piece for Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka.

The author of Still Counting the Dead and former BBC correspondent noted that for Sri Lanka, “it’s getting impossible to paper over embarrassing public differences between the country’s President and its Prime Minister on the issue of war crimes”.

“The most immediate crisis is over interviews the President gave to the BBC and Al Jazeera in which he rolled back on the country’s commitments in Geneva regarding international involvement in a special court yet to be set up,” she said. “Tamil victims don’t have faith in a process that’s purely domestic - it’s not a question of ability and professionalism - but one of trust, given many of the alleged war criminals are still in positions of power.”

“Worse still, the President now says there were no war crimes, perhaps just a few human rights violations by the odd rotten apple in the military,” she added. “No matter that a UN investigation has been very clear the violations were systematic and widespread and could result in convictions for war crimes and crimes against humanity when tested in a court. “But perhaps not in the court currently envisaged for Sri Lanka.”

Swaraj says India 'fully satisfied' with Sri Lanka's programme - Daily Mirror

Feb 5, 2016

The Indian government is fully supportive of Sri Lanka's programmes and is grateful to the new administration's policies on reconciliation and development, visiting foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said according to the Daily Mirror.

“The Indian government will give its fullest support to implement those policies mentioned in that statement”, she said, while speaking about a recent speech delivered by President Sirisena in Sri Lanka's parliament.

Mr Sirisena also thanked India for its assistance.

Tamils in Trincomalee call for return of disappeared persons

Feb 4, 2016

Tamil protestors in Trincomalee marked Sri Lankan Independence Day on Thursday, by staging a demonstration calling for the return of their loved ones who have disappeared.

The protests took place alongside others across the Tamil North-East, where families of the disappeared called for the government to be held accountable for the missing.

Zeid to arrive tomorrow for 4 day visit

Feb 4, 2016
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will commence his four day visit of the North-East and Sri Lanka tomorrow.

"During his visit, the High Commissioner will discuss a range of current challenges and opportunities for strengthening the rule of law and protection of human rights in Sri Lanka, including reviewing the implementation of the recommendations made in his report to the Human Rights Council, and in its subsequent Resolution 30/1 on “promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka," his office said in a statement on Friday.

Wigneswaran appreciates national anthem being sung in Tamil

Feb 4, 2016
The chief minister of the northern province, C V Wigneswaran welcomed the Sri Lankan government's decision for the national anthem to be sung in Tamil on Thursday at a ceremony marking Independence Day, reported Adaderana.

"Although it is a very small action in the name reconciliation it should be appreciated and that now a background has been created to foster unity and brotherhood between communities," he was quoted by the paper as saying.

Tamil Nadu parties concerned about Sri Lanka's constitution plans

Feb 4, 2016
Tamil Nadu's DMK and MDMK parties expressed concern on Friday, over the Sri Lankan president's statement that the new constitution will not be based on the idea of a 'federation', reported AFP.

"If the doors of Federation are not opened and rights not devolved, how can Tamils live with dignity, relief and equality," DMK leader M Karunanidhi said.

"Sirisena's announcement that there will be no possibility for federation amounts to rubbing salt to injury," he added, demanding that the Sri Lankan military should be withdrawn from the North-East.

World is watching says US on Sri Lanka's independence day

Feb 4, 2016

Sri Lanka is being watched by the world said the US Under Secretary for Management Organisation of American States during an independence day address to Sri Lanka’s High Commission in the US.

Welcoming Sri Lanka’s co-sponsoring of the UNHRC resolution and returning of some lands to Tamil owners, the Patrick F Kennedy said,

“The world is watching Sir Lanka. Your solutions, if successful, can become the blueprint for future nations, who are trying to find their way back to peace, justice and harmony.”

Full statement reproduced below.

India to renovate schools and hospital in North-East
Sri Lankan police construct Buddhist shrine in Jaffna
Sri Lanka: Looking for a deal, not truth and justice – Frances Harrison
Swaraj says India 'fully satisfied' with Sri Lanka's programme - Daily Mirror
Tamils in Trincomalee call for return of disappeared persons
Zeid to arrive tomorrow for 4 day visit
Wigneswaran appreciates national anthem being sung in Tamil
Tamil Nadu parties concerned about Sri Lanka's constitution plans
World is watching says US on Sri Lanka's independence day
India foreign minister meets Sri Lanka prime minister to discuss bilateral issues
India to renovate schools and hospital in North-East
Sri Lankan police construct Buddhist shrine in Jaffna
Sri Lanka: Looking for a deal, not truth and justice – Frances Harrison
Swaraj says India 'fully satisfied' with Sri Lanka's programme - Daily Mirror
Tamils in Trincomalee call for return of disappeared persons
Zeid to arrive tomorrow for 4 day visit
Wigneswaran appreciates national anthem being sung in Tamil
Tamil Nadu parties concerned about Sri Lanka's constitution plans
World is watching says US on Sri Lanka's independence day
India foreign minister meets Sri Lanka prime minister to discuss bilateral issues