Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan police arrest Tamil farmers in Kurunthurmalai
Mullaitivu police arrested Tamil farmers who were cultivating farmland at the foothills of Kurunthurmalai, where a Buddhist temple has been illegally constructed.  The farmers were cultivating the privately owned land when they were obstructed by a Buddhist monk, Galgamuwa Shantha Bodhi, police and Department of Archaeology officials before they were arrested.  Bodhi, the head…

Navy acquires 66 acres of private land in Mathakal

Nov 19, 2014
The Sri Lankan navy has acquired 66 acres of private land in Mathakal, Jaffna reports the Uthayan.

The latest acquisition by Sri Lanka's military comes after a protest earlier this week. Villagers in Mathakal prevented the Sri Lankan navy from surveying lands, which were to be acquired by the military this week.

See our earlier post: Protest prevents Sri Lankan military land grab attempt in Jaffna  (18 November 2014)

Sri Lankan elections commissioner to announce presidential election date within 48 hours

Nov 19, 2014
The Sri Lankan elections commissioner announced that a date for the presidential elections would be revealed within the next 48 hours after the Sri Lankan president signed a proclamation, on Thursday, declaring his intention to hold a presidential election seeking another term. 

Highly placed sources have suggested that the elections are likely to be held between January 3 and 7, reports asianmirror.lk.

Sri Lanka and Belarus commit to enhancing business ties

Nov 19, 2014
The chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and his Sri Lankan counterpart at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, signed a memorandum to enhance partnerships between business circles in the two nations.

On Thursday, a Belarusian delegate accompanied by representatives of the business community took part in a Belarusian-Sri Lankan business forum organised at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, reports Belarusian News.

Solheim provided parts for LTTE air force - Sri Lanka

Nov 19, 2014

The Sri Lankan government has accused former peace negotiator Eric Solheim of being "a liar and a supporter of terrorists", after he rejected claims made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reported the Daily Mirror.

Former LTTE cadre reported missing in Jaffna

Nov 18, 2014

A former LTTE cadre has been reported as missing by his family, since he disappeared in Jaffna earlier this month.

Antonymutthu Anton Jeyaron was staying at an apartment in the Kurunagar Housing development authority, when he went missing on November 17, stated his wife, who has filed a complaint with Jaffna police.

The 31 year old left his home to go shopping and did not return.

Jeyaron was held by Sri Lankan authorities after the end of the armed conflict in 2009 and subsequently put through the government rehabilitation process.

The latest disappearance follows the murder of a former LTTE policeman in Mannar this month alongside an increasing number of arrests by the Sri Lankan government. The incidents have reportedly led to an increased climate of fear amongst former cadres and Tamil activists in the North-East.

BBS backs UNP leader as 'suitable' common presidential candidate

Nov 18, 2014
The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Buddhist movement backed the United National Party (UNP) leader as the best option for a common opposition presidential candidate reports Colombo Page.

The BBS leader Gnanasera Thero said that Ranil Wickremasinghe possessed “certain good political policies," in a press brief in Colombo on Wednesday, where he also outlined the BBS goal of creating a Buddhist state.


NPC passes resolution calling for the release of untried Tamil political prisoners

Nov 18, 2014
The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) adopted a resolution calling for the release of Tamil political prisoners who have been detained without trial for several years.

The motion, tabled by the Northern Provincial Council chairman on Wednesday, called on the president to release Tamil prisoners, noting that some had been imprisoned for between 8-15 years without trial, reports Colombo Gazette.


Indian fishermen freed after Rajapaksa issues pardon

Nov 18, 2014
The five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan security forces over alleged drug trafficking charges and sentenced to death, were freed on Wednesday by President Rajapaksa who issued a presidential pardon.

The release comes after widespread protests in Tamil Nadu and strong pressure from the Modi led central government on Sri Lankan authorities.

An appeal filed by the Indian authorities was withdrawn, after the Sri Lankan government said a presidential pardon could not proceed without its withdrawal.

On Tuesday, a delegation from Tamil Nadu met with India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, calling for the detained fishermen's "immediate release", reported Jagran Post.

The delegation included local fishermen and the Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnanan, as well as senior BJP leaders, the paper reported .

The release has been hailed as a major diplomatic victory in India. 

"We feel the fishermen are not guilty. We will follow the legal process and will do our best to get them back to India," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin said.

MoD warns of ongoing threat of secessionists

Nov 18, 2014
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence warned on Wednesday of the ongoing threat of secessionist both on and off the island.

"Although we have defeated terrorism in Sri Lanka, it was only armed terrorism that was defeated. While armed terrorism was defeated there are still secessionists in various locations. They could be within Sri Lanka as well. It is certainly clear that they exist outside of Sri Lanka, they speak about it openly," said the Ministry's spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya at a press briefing on Wednesday.

"There are groups in foreign countries which have said they will not turn back until a separate state has been created within Sri Lanka. There could be groups within Sri Lanka which are sponsored by them," he warned, vowing that "nevertheless, the Army will never allow for the people to be deprived of the freedom to spend time freely in Sri Lanka".

Sri Lanka says domestic probe will include human rights abuses

Nov 17, 2014
In its latest attempt to detract from the UN inquiry into mass atrocities against the Tamil people, the Sri Lankan government announced on Tuesday that its domestic inquiry - the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances - would now also examine human rights abuses in the North-East of the island.

"The Commission has decided to entertain public complaints on any war crimes and human rights abuses in the north and east. This could be done until December 31," the Secretary to the Commission, HW Gunadasa, was quoted by DNA India as saying.

The inquiry, which has been severely critiqued by domestic and international NGOs and civil society actors over its lack of independence and witness protection, amongst other aspects, is currently holding public sittings in the North-East.

Sri Lankan elections commissioner to announce presidential election date within 48 hours
Sri Lanka and Belarus commit to enhancing business ties
Solheim provided parts for LTTE air force - Sri Lanka
Former LTTE cadre reported missing in Jaffna
BBS backs UNP leader as 'suitable' common presidential candidate
NPC passes resolution calling for the release of untried Tamil political prisoners
Indian fishermen freed after Rajapaksa issues pardon
MoD warns of ongoing threat of secessionists
Sri Lanka says domestic probe will include human rights abuses
India, China, Russia to attend Sri Lanka's defence chiefs' conference
Sri Lankan elections commissioner to announce presidential election date within 48 hours
Sri Lanka and Belarus commit to enhancing business ties
Solheim provided parts for LTTE air force - Sri Lanka
Former LTTE cadre reported missing in Jaffna
BBS backs UNP leader as 'suitable' common presidential candidate
NPC passes resolution calling for the release of untried Tamil political prisoners
Indian fishermen freed after Rajapaksa issues pardon
MoD warns of ongoing threat of secessionists
Sri Lanka says domestic probe will include human rights abuses
India, China, Russia to attend Sri Lanka's defence chiefs' conference