Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

16 years today - More than 3,200 killed overnight
  To mark 16 years since the Sri Lankan military onslaught that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils, we revisit the final days leading up to the 18th of May 2009 – a date remembered around the world as ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day’.  After providing an initial death toll of 40,000, the UN found evidence suggesting that 70,000 were killed. Local census records…

Army detain Tamils registered to reclaim 'LTTE gold'

Dec 5, 2014
Tamils who registered to reclaim personal assets from the Sri Lankan government, that were confiscated from banks running in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) de-facto state, have been detained by the Sri Lankan army.

Following a government announcement alleging that all gold that had been deposited in the LTTE banks would be returned to Tamil families, families in the North-East travelled to Kilinochi on Thursday.

LTTE remains significant threat to Sri Lanka - Gotabaya

Dec 5, 2014

Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the re-emergence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam remained the foremost threat to the country's national security, reported Ceylon Today.

Sri Lanka unperturbed by UK travel warning

Dec 5, 2014

Sri Lanka's tourism industry is unlikely to be affected by the recent travel advisory from the UK, which warned of political violence ahead of the presidential election next month.

Industry experts told the Sunday Times that large-scale election violence was unlikely and the peak season was looking good.

“Bookings are great (for December) and I don’t expect any election violence that would deter arrivals,” one official said, adding: “These are routine advisories issued ahead of any election”.

Rumy Jauffer, managing director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, said that arrivals would reach the targeted 1.5 million this year with China closing in on the UK’s position as the second largest country of origin.

Sri Lankan military helps Tesco distribute school uniforms to Tamil children

Dec 4, 2014

British retail giant Tesco has donated 7,000 school uniforms to Tamil children in Mullaiththivu, at an event organised by the Sri Lankan army.

The 68th division of the Security Force headquarters – Mullaiththivu coordinated the event in Puthukkudiyiruppu with officials from Tesco PLC and Hydramani Apparels, its production partner in Sri Lanka.

Major General Jagath Dias, who stands accused of mass atrocities committed during the final phase of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, took part in the event as the chief guest.

Earlier this year Dias was refused a visa to Australia over the crimes he is suspected to have committed in 2009.

UNHCR warns more refugees risking Indian Ocean despite dire conditions

Dec 4, 2014
The UN Refugee Agency warned in a report released on Friday that the number of asylum seekers risking their lives in smugglers' boats in the Indian Ocean has risen despite the risks and attempts by governments at deterrence.

Listing countries from where people were fleeing, including Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the UNHCR said that it "estimates that 54,000 people have undertaken irregular maritime journeys in the region so far this year, based on reports by local sources, media and survivors. This includes some 53,000 people leaving from the Bay of Bengal towards Thailand and Malaysia, and hundreds of others moving further south in the Indian Ocean."

"Conditions on the smugglers' boats were dire. Survivors consistently described overcrowded conditions and daily rations of one sparse meal and one to two cups of water. People who asked for more or tried to use the toilet out of turn were beaten or kicked down ladders by the armed crew on the deck above. An estimated 540 people have reportedly died this year at sea from such beatings, starvation or dehydration, and their bodies thrown overboard," the Refugee Agency added in a statement.

Australia approves controversial temporary visas for asylum seekers

Dec 4, 2014
The Australian parliament has approved the reintroduction of temporary visas for asylum seekers, allowing them to work and live in Australia for three to five years, but maintaining the government's right to deport them if the situation in their country of origin is deemed to have improved. 

The temporary visas were criticised previously by the UN as well as human rights groups, who said that Australia would be in violation of UN Refugee Convention by denying permanent protection to those it deems to be at risk.

The change in immigration law was passed by 34 votes to 32 votes and approved by MPs this week.

The visas have been hailed by the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, known for his tough stance on immigration, as a "win for Australia".

"We always said that three things were necessary to stop the boats - offshore processing, turning boats around and temporary protection visas, and last night the final piece of policy was put in place," he was quoted by the BBC as saying.

Buddhist blessing for SL Navy on 64th anniversary

Dec 4, 2014
Photographs: www.defence.lk


The Sri Lankan navy was blessed by monks at a grand Buddhist ceremony on Thursday at the city of Anuradhapura, considered sacred by Sinhala Buddhists to mark its 64th anniversary.

Tamils in South Africa condemn arrival of Sri Lankan war criminal

Dec 3, 2014
The South African Tamil Federation condemned the presence of the former Sri Lankan military general Srilal Weerasooriva in South Africa, due to his involvement in the "genocide of between 70,000 and 100,000 Tamils in Sri Lanka" and the Chemmani mass killings in the late 1990s.

General Weerasooriya is understood to have arrived in South Africa on November 30 in order to attend a conference organised by the Association of Military Christian Fellowships.

In a letter to the organisers, the federation expressed "concern, disdain and disappointment" at the invitation extended to the general, calling for him to be convicted for mass atrocities.

38 Indian fishermen in SL prison launch hunger strike demanding release

Dec 3, 2014
Thirty-eight Indian fishermen, imprisoned by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly poaching, have launched a hunger strike unto death, demanding that they be released early.

The fast began today, in Jaffna prison, where the fishermen have been incarcerated.

The Indian High Commission has been informed of the fast by the Indian consulate office in Jaffna, reports PTI.

SL navy threaten Indian fishermen at gun point

Dec 3, 2014
Around 3000 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were allegedly threatened by Sri Lankan navy personnel at gun point, reports the Indian news agency, PTI.

The incident took place on Thursday when the fishermen, all from Rameswaran, went out to sea and were confronted by navy personnel at the Palk Straits, the president of the Fishermen's Association, P. Sesuraja was quoted as saying.

The navy officers blocked the fishermen from passing and damaged fifteen boats and associated nets, Sesuraja added.
LTTE remains significant threat to Sri Lanka - Gotabaya
Sri Lanka unperturbed by UK travel warning
Sri Lankan military helps Tesco distribute school uniforms to Tamil children
UNHCR warns more refugees risking Indian Ocean despite dire conditions
Australia approves controversial temporary visas for asylum seekers
Buddhist blessing for SL Navy on 64th anniversary
Tamils in South Africa condemn arrival of Sri Lankan war criminal
38 Indian fishermen in SL prison launch hunger strike demanding release
SL navy threaten Indian fishermen at gun point
Sri Lankan TID arrests 'former LTTE cadre'
LTTE remains significant threat to Sri Lanka - Gotabaya
Sri Lanka unperturbed by UK travel warning
Sri Lankan military helps Tesco distribute school uniforms to Tamil children
UNHCR warns more refugees risking Indian Ocean despite dire conditions
Australia approves controversial temporary visas for asylum seekers
Buddhist blessing for SL Navy on 64th anniversary
Tamils in South Africa condemn arrival of Sri Lankan war criminal
38 Indian fishermen in SL prison launch hunger strike demanding release
SL navy threaten Indian fishermen at gun point
Sri Lankan TID arrests 'former LTTE cadre'