Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

36 years displaced, 14 weeks on the streets - Valikamam North landowners refuse to give up their fight
Tamil landowners from Valikamam North staged their weekly protest for the 14th consecutive week on Friday, calling for the release of their lands, which remain occupied within the area's designated High Security Zone. The demonstration was held in front of the military commander's bungalow in Myliddy. The protesters are residents of Grama Niladhari divisions 256, 248, 251 and 255, who were…

India has an 'abiding interest' in Sri Lanka's security says envoy

Jan 25, 2016
The Indian envoy, Y K Sinha on Tuesday said the country had an "abiding interest" in Sri Lanka's security.

Stating that Sri Lanka was a key part of India's "neighbourhood first" policy, Mr Sinha, who was speaking at an event to mark India's 67th Republic Day in Colombo, said India was keen to strengthen economic and commercial ties with Sri Lanka.

India's housing scheme was on track, Mr Sinha said with 44,000 of the 50,000 pledged houses constructed.

Buddhist monks protest and threaten to self-immolate after BBS leader temporarily arrested

Jan 25, 2016
Buddhist monks protested against the temporary arrest of the leader of the Bodu Bala Sena on Tuesday morning.

Monks surrounded the Homagama Magistrate Court which released Galagadaaththe Gnanasara Thero on remand until February 9.

Riot police was deployed as three monks threated to self-immolate during the protests, reports Colombo Page.

The Buddhist monk faces charges of obstructing court proceedings and threatening public officials.

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,
Buddhist monks protest and threaten to self-immolate after BBS leader temporarily arrested
Investigations against 'war heroes' will never take place states Sri Lankan president
‘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
Buddhist monks protest and threaten to self-immolate after BBS leader temporarily arrested
Investigations against 'war heroes' will never take place states Sri Lankan president
‘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