Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
Number of skeletal remains identified at Chemmani rises to 302
  A total of 302 skeletal remains have been identified during the excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site so far, whilst 298 have been completely exhumed.  Eight skeletal remains, including those of two children, were exhumed on Sunday (June 7), during the 18th day of the third phase of excavations. According to a legal expert from the excavation site, six additional skeletal…

I will remain mute until the election' says Wigneswaran

Aug 10, 2015
Photograph Shalin

The chief minister of the northern province, C V Wigneswaran, reiterated his neutrality over the upcoming general election, stating that he would remain silent until after the election.

Asked by reporters in Jaffna on Tuesday, Mr Wigneswaran said, "I will remain mute until the election", before being driven away.

Mr Wigneswaran's comments come as the election campaigning between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) intensified, with only a few days left till the Tamil people go to the polls.

Sampanthan refused to answer calls as LTTE political heads faced final moments

Aug 10, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan left his phone seemingly engaged during the final stages of the armed conflict in May 18th 2009, as the LTTE political heads, P Nadesan and S Pulithevan reached out to the TNA representatives for help, said the then TNA MP and current Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.

 

2009 மே18இல் நடந்தது என்ன?மாவையும் நானும் கண்ணீர் விட்டோம் இது என் தாய் மேல் ஆணை-கஜேந்திரகுமார் பொன்னம்பலம்.

Posted by Vigneswaran Kajeepan on Tuesday, 11 August 2015


Mr Ponnambalam made this statement at a press briefing at the Jaffna Press Club on Tuesday, where he made an angry rebuke of an accusation made by the TNA candidate Mavai Senathirajah at an election rally on Sunday that Mr Ponnambalam had secretly struck up a deal with the former government minister and brother of the then president, Basil Rajapaksa.

Stating that he had spoken with Mr Senathirajah during those crucial moments, Mr Ponnambalam stated that the TNA leader, R Sampanthan had refused to answer his call despite knowing the situation was dire.

‘UNP will allow international war crimes probe’ warns Weerawansa

Aug 9, 2015

The National Freedom Front's Wimal Weerawansa warned that the United National Party and Tamil National Alliance would join together and allow an international war crimes probe to take place in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a press conference alongside former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr Weerawansa said that over 40 military officers and two civilian leaders were at risk of facing war crimes charges.

"If the UNP forms a government with the help of the TNA it would have to grant the wish of the latter which has called for an international war crimes probe," he warned.
"This has been part of their strategy and the onus is on the people to ensure the safety of these leaders who fought for us to elect the UPFA."

Maubima Lanka Foundation challenges Ranil on CEPA

Aug 9, 2015
A local business association has challenged Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over a recent statement that the Sri Lankan government was “seriously looking at fast-tracking” negotiations with India on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), reports The Island.

Chairman of the Maubima Lanka Foundation, Ariyaseela Wickremanayake, wrote to the prime minister stating “the CEPA is a very serious threat to the interests of local businessmen” and urged Sri Lanka not to sign the agreement.

“The Maubima Lanka Foundation, an umbrella organisation for the protection of interests of local business community, has opposed the CEPA and demands that Sri Lanka should not become a signatory to the agreement in its present form," continued the letter.

UNP has ‘re-established Sri Lanka’s tarnished reputation’ says minister

Aug 9, 2015
Sri Lankan government minister Karu Jayasuriya said the United National Party had “re-established” the country’s reputation after it had been tarnished on the international stage, as he urged voters to elect his party later this month.

The minister said the UNP was the only party that could “face the present day challenges and capable of winning both local and international support”.

"The country’s image which had been tarnished in the international arena has now been re-established,” he continued.

Sri Lanka is currently under investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights over reports that Sri Lankan troops committed massacres and violated international humanitarian law during the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009.

Sandhya Eknaligoda requests army to handover officers connected to abduction of husband

Aug 9, 2015

The wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda has requested Sri Lanka’s army to handover officers connected to the abduction to the CID for investigations.

Speaking to media, Sandhya Eknaligoda said she had information regarding a specific officer, who is imprisoned in a camp in Girithale, Minneriya or Batticaloa, the DailyMirror reported.

Australian High Commissioner meets Sri Lankan military chiefs

Aug 9, 2015

Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie and Defence Adviser Captain Jason Sears recently met with Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, and congratulate the officers on their recent appointments.

According to a press release, the meetings were “useful opportunities to discuss the ongoing cooperation between Australia and Sri Lanka to counter people smuggling and the growing relationship in defence cooperation between the two nations”.

Sirisena's version of electoral impartiality

Aug 9, 2015
Sri Lanka’s national newspapers carried a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) election advertisement associating Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena with the party.

CBK wants credit for war victory

Aug 8, 2015

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga says her successor Mahinda Rajapaksa alone cannot claim he won the war on his own, stressing that people should not vote for him just because he won the war.

Ms Kumaratunga said people should vote for her and former army chief Sarath Fonseka too, as they also had a role to play, Colombo Gazette reported.

Sri Lanka's prime minister calls on voters to reject communalism

Aug 8, 2015

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremasinghe called on people to “shed petty divisions to solve problems faced by the country,” reports Colombo Page.

Sampanthan refused to answer calls as LTTE political heads faced final moments
‘UNP will allow international war crimes probe’ warns Weerawansa
Maubima Lanka Foundation challenges Ranil on CEPA
UNP has ‘re-established Sri Lanka’s tarnished reputation’ says minister
Sandhya Eknaligoda requests army to handover officers connected to abduction of husband
Australian High Commissioner meets Sri Lankan military chiefs
Sirisena's version of electoral impartiality
CBK wants credit for war victory
Sri Lanka's prime minister calls on voters to reject communalism
Mahinda denies son's involvement in Thajudeen murder
Sampanthan refused to answer calls as LTTE political heads faced final moments
‘UNP will allow international war crimes probe’ warns Weerawansa
Maubima Lanka Foundation challenges Ranil on CEPA
UNP has ‘re-established Sri Lanka’s tarnished reputation’ says minister
Sandhya Eknaligoda requests army to handover officers connected to abduction of husband
Australian High Commissioner meets Sri Lankan military chiefs
Sirisena's version of electoral impartiality
CBK wants credit for war victory
Sri Lanka's prime minister calls on voters to reject communalism
Mahinda denies son's involvement in Thajudeen murder