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…

World Tamil Research Conference massacre remembered in Jaffna

Jan 9, 2016

The massacre of nine civilians by Sri Lankan police at the fourth World Tamil Research Conference in 1974 was remembered in Jaffna on Sunday.

Sri Lanka cancels Pakistan jet deal after Indian opposition

Jan 9, 2016

The Sri Lankan government cancelled a deal to buy Pakistani fighter jets after a “diplomatic missive” from India, reports The Indian Express.

New Delhi reportedly told Sri Lanka that its current defence requirements meant it did not need the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, whilst also sending a negative technical assessment of the aircraft.

The message was reportedly delivered via a non-paper - a white sheet of paper without a letterhead or signature —“at the highest levels” says The Indian Express.

Monks urge Sri Lankan leaders to ensure Buddhism foremost place

Jan 9, 2016
The Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy and key Buddhist organisations urged the Sri Lankan president and prime minister to ensure that the new constitution gave Buddhism the foremost place, reported the Daily Mirror.

They also called for the constitution to ensure the duty of the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana.

"Article 9 of the present Constitution, which ensures that Buddhism be given the foremost place and also guarantees that it is the duty of the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, should be included in the Constitution of Sri Lanka without any amendments," the organisations said in a letter outlining their proposals to the Sri Lankan leaders.

Sri Lankan commander seeks New Year blessings from Buddhist monks

Jan 9, 2016

The commander of the Sri Lankan army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva sought blessings from Buddhists monks for the year ahead on Saturday, as he presented offerings at the Temple of the Tooth on Saturday.

New Sri Lankan military block opened in Jaffna

Jan 9, 2016

The Sri Lankan military ceremoniously declared opened a new accommodation block for troops in Jaffna on New Year’s Day.

The new construction at the Sri Lankan Headquarters Security Force Jaffna (SF-J) was declared open by Major General Nandana Udawatta and will be able to house 80 soldiers in the block.

Sirisena reassures monks that new Sri Lanka constitution will protect Buddhism

Jan 9, 2016
Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena vowed to protect the foremost place of Buddhism in Sri Lanka’s new constitution and said who would not govern the country without seeking advice from the Buddhist Maha Sanga, reports Colombo Page.

Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka's President and Wartime Abuses

Jan 8, 2016
Taylor Dibbert
Reviewing a year of Sirisena’s presidency, Taylor Dibbert raised concerns on the urgent need for security sector reform, witness protection, and accountability for wartime abuses which could include war crimes.

Full opinion reproduced below.

In January 2015, Maithripala Sirisena, unexpectedly thwarted Mahinda Rajapaksa's quest for an unprecedented third presidential term. According to his campaign pledges, Sirisena hoped to address various issues including constitutional reform, anti-corruption and improved governance. The broad coalition that supported his campaign could at least agree on one thing: that Rajapaksa needed to go.
Years from now, how will the election of Sirisena be remembered? And what about healing those wounds of war and finding a lasting political solution to an ethnic conflict that has burned for seven decades?

No national security threat assures Sri Lanka army commander

Jan 8, 2016
The Sri Lankan army commander, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva made assurances on Saturday that there would be no threat to national security.

After meeting with high ranking Buddhist clergy in Kandy, Lt General De Silva spoke to journalists where he said that President Sirisena had instructed "maximum attention has been paid to the national security".

"There is no room for terrorism to raise its head once again in the country," he was quoted by the Colombo Page as saying.

Indian foreign secretary to visit Sri Lanka

Jan 8, 2016
India's foreign secretary, S Jaishankar, is to visit Sri Lanka on Monday, reported the New Indian Express.

The visit is believed to be a preliminary one ahead of a visit by India's external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj in February when she is expected to visit Jaffna.

Mr Jaishankar is to hold meetings with his Sri Lankan counterpart, the foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera and the president, Maithripala Sirisena.

Sri Lanka Army rejects evidence of torture sites in Jaffna

Jan 7, 2016
Sri Lanka’s military spokesperson denied reports of maintaining secret torture camps in the areas it previously held around the Palaly military base in Jaffna.

Speaking at a news conference in Colombo Brigadier Jaynath Jayaweera said,

“There were reports that there were two military torture camps in Valikamam Noth. We totally reject these allegations. When the enemy launch a sudden attack from the land, these places should be highly protected. That’s why we used barbed wire around camp. Just because you saw this, do not imagine that the military had torture camps all over the place. We totally reject these allegations.”
Sri Lanka cancels Pakistan jet deal after Indian opposition
Monks urge Sri Lankan leaders to ensure Buddhism foremost place
Sri Lankan commander seeks New Year blessings from Buddhist monks
New Sri Lankan military block opened in Jaffna
Sirisena reassures monks that new Sri Lanka constitution will protect Buddhism
Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka's President and Wartime Abuses
No national security threat assures Sri Lanka army commander
Indian foreign secretary to visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Army rejects evidence of torture sites in Jaffna
Wigneswaran visits former High Security Zone in Vali North
Sri Lanka cancels Pakistan jet deal after Indian opposition
Monks urge Sri Lankan leaders to ensure Buddhism foremost place
Sri Lankan commander seeks New Year blessings from Buddhist monks
New Sri Lankan military block opened in Jaffna
Sirisena reassures monks that new Sri Lanka constitution will protect Buddhism
Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka's President and Wartime Abuses
No national security threat assures Sri Lanka army commander
Indian foreign secretary to visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Army rejects evidence of torture sites in Jaffna
Wigneswaran visits former High Security Zone in Vali North