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…

Investigations against 'war heroes' will never take place states Sri Lankan president

Jan 25, 2016

Investigations regarding mass atrocities will never be aimed at “war heroes or the members of the intelligent service,” said Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at a ceremony on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch of a new privilege card for Sri Lankan soldiers, Mr Sirisena said that there were questions “to answer in front of the international community”. However, he went on to state “the investigations regarding that will never aim war heroes or the members of the intelligent service (sic)”.

The president also highlighted his role as the government’s defence minister during the closing stages of the armed conflict, stating:

“According to the responsibility I had as a reasonable minister before January 08 2015 and with the responsibility I have today, I will work to take the country towards the development by strengthening of the national security”.

‘No excuse for Sri Lankan backtracking’ says HRW

Jan 24, 2016
The Sri Lankan government has “no excuse for backtracking now” said Human Rights Watch, after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said that international involvement would “never” be allowed to deal with accountability for mass atrocities on the island.

“The Sri Lankan government sought international involvement to ensure justice and accountability so there’s no excuse for backtracking now,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “President Sirisena needs to understand that international participation in a war crimes tribunal was not a vague promise to the UN but a firm commitment to the thousands of Sri Lankans who suffered during the country’s long civil war.”

“Victims and their representative groups have not been informed about the consultation, leaving many feeling isolated and shut out from a process ostensibly intended to provide real justice to them,” said the statement, adding “the recent statements by the president and prime minister, who said that all missing persons are presumed dead, raise concerns that consultations will merely be window dressing for a predetermined outcome”.

USAID official arrives in Sri Lanka

Jan 24, 2016
A United States Agency for International Development (USAID) official arrived in Sri Lanka today, on a visit that will see him meet government officials, journalists and civil society activists.

Jonathan Stivers USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia was taken on a tour of Sri Lanka’s parliament where he shared way parliamentarians’ staffers can receive US technical assistance.

Relatives of missing and political prisoners protest in Jaffna

Jan 24, 2016

 

The relatives of Tamil political prisoners and those who have disappeared staged a protest in Jaffna on Monday, demanding to know the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Tamil youth detained at Colombo airport

Jan 24, 2016

A Tamil youth who was deported from Oman has been arrested on arrival in Sri Lanka at the Katunayake International Airport in Colombo.

The 25 year old from Kilinochchi was detained by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and is being held for further questioning. He is due to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate later on Monday.

Tamils being deported from other countries or passing through Colombo airport have frequently faced arrest.

TAG horrified at Sri Lanka u-turn on accountability

Jan 24, 2016
Together Against Genocide (TAG) said it was "horrified at Sri Lanka's u-turn on the pledges it made" after the country's president last week said that no international experts would be included in the accountability mechanism, despite this being a specific aspect of the UN Human Rights Council resolution adopted last year.

“We are horrified by Sri Lanka’s duplicity towards survivors of mass atrocities: they have been promised a credible justice mechanism involving international judges and legal assistance.” TAG Director Jan Jananayagam said.
 
“It is critical that the UN and members of the Human Rights Council take immediate steps to ensure full implementation of the pledges made at the 30th session of the Human Rights Council”

GTF deeply concerned by Sri Lanka's opposition to foreign experts

Jan 24, 2016
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) on Monday said it was "deeply concerned and disappointed" by the Sri Lankan president's rejection of international involvement in an accountability mechanism in an interview to BBC Sinhala last week.

"The President’s assertions are a direct refutation of the Resolution 30/1 passed in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 1 October 2015 which Sri Lanka itself co-sponsored," the GTF said in a statement released on Monday.

"The resolution clearly committed Sri Lanka to involving Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers and authorized prosecutors and investigators in its judicial processes. Sri Lanka will breach the provisions of a resolution that it co-sponsored if President Sirisena's assertions are implemented."

Sri Lanka prime minister saved military from 'Geneva problem' says defence minister

Jan 24, 2016
Sri Lanka’s defence minister Ruwan Wikewardena hailed Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister for ‘saving the military from the Geneva problem.’

Speaking at a welfare distribution event for families of Sri Lanka’s military on Monday, Wikewardena reiterated that Sri Lanka had Successfully negotiated around international pressure it faced at the United Human Rights Council, reports Ceylon News.

Speaking on national security, Mr Wikewardena said,

India framework agreement not finalised says Sri Lanka minister

Jan 24, 2016
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama rejected accusations from the Sinhala opposition that a  trade framework agreement had been agreed upon in India.

Responding to accusations by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Jathika Nidahasa Peramuna (JNP) that Sri Lanka was about to sign a trade pact with India, Mr Samarawicrama said,

“We have not discussed a framework agreement yet.. We have not even discussed a framework agreement yet. After the framework is signed it will take five to six months to conclude the final agreement.”

Sri Lanka’s leadership has faced increasing pressure over the potential signing of trade pacts with India.

Sri Lanka reiterates rejection of foreign judges in war crimes probe

Jan 24, 2016
Sri Lanka’s president reiterated his rejection of any foreign involvement in a war crimes probe in Sri Lanka in an interview with Al Jazeera today.

Rejecting any foreign involvement in a war crimes probe for the third time in a week on international media, President Sirisena said,

“We will always act in accordance with the sovereignty of our country and the constitution. We definitely do not need outsiders. We have an unbiased independent judiciary in this country.”
‘No excuse for Sri Lankan backtracking’ says HRW
USAID official arrives in Sri Lanka
Relatives of missing and political prisoners protest in Jaffna
Tamil youth detained at Colombo airport
TAG horrified at Sri Lanka u-turn on accountability
GTF deeply concerned by Sri Lanka's opposition to foreign experts
Sri Lanka prime minister saved military from 'Geneva problem' says defence minister
India framework agreement not finalised says Sri Lanka minister
Sri Lanka reiterates rejection of foreign judges in war crimes probe
Tamil families of disappeared in Sri Lanka vent frustration at TNA
‘No excuse for Sri Lankan backtracking’ says HRW
USAID official arrives in Sri Lanka
Relatives of missing and political prisoners protest in Jaffna
Tamil youth detained at Colombo airport
TAG horrified at Sri Lanka u-turn on accountability
GTF deeply concerned by Sri Lanka's opposition to foreign experts
Sri Lanka prime minister saved military from 'Geneva problem' says defence minister
India framework agreement not finalised says Sri Lanka minister
Sri Lanka reiterates rejection of foreign judges in war crimes probe
Tamil families of disappeared in Sri Lanka vent frustration at TNA