Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka claims commitment to repeal PTA in talks with EU 
Sri Lanka claimed it is committed to repealing the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), during the latest round of human rights discussions with the European Union, a move tied to its continued access to preferential trade benefits under the GSP+ scheme. At the eighth meeting of the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights under the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission,…

Merge North-East and acknowledgment of right to self-determination - TNA

Sep 20, 2014
A re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces as a single political administrative unit alongside acknowledgment of the Tamil people’s right to self-determination, is the only way to achieve a true political solution for Tamils in the North-East, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson told the Sunday Leader.

Deeming the de-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces as an attempt to deliberately change the demography of the North-East, Suresh Premachandran said,

“The military has formed Sinhala colonies in the North, thereby depriving our population the right to their own lands. This issue started after the controversial Court ruling to de-merge the two provinces. This situation deteriorated after the end of the war. Sinhalese from the South had been settled in our lands and the government has deliberately changed the demography in the North and the East. Tamil ancestral lands in Murugandi that the military had taken over had been used to construct housing projects consisting of more than 10,000 housing units with Chinese aid, for the military personnel.”

Buddhist monks lead protest against Catholic statue

Sep 20, 2014

Buddhists have protested against an attempt by Catholics to place a religious statue at a junction in the town of Kalutara.

Monks from the Sihala Ravaya led a large mob and said they will not allow the statue to be erected in the town, according to Colombo Gazette.

Tear gas was fired by police who attempted to bring the “tense situation” under control. Police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said the issue was later resolved.

PMK condemns reports that Sri Lanka is auctioning off detained boats

Sep 19, 2014
India's Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) condemned reports that the Sri Lankan government is auctioning off fishing boats that have been seized from arrested Tamil Nadu fishermen.     

PMK leader Ramdoss said "the act of the Island government has shocked Indian fishermen," in a statement this week, adding that 72 boats are currently being detained by the Sri Lankan navy.

Ramdoss went on to say that Sri Lankan troops had damaged the fishing vessels by kicking and colliding with them. An incident earlier this month led to an Indian fishing boat sinking after a Sri Lankan navy vessel collided with it.

Vaiko is our partner, not Rajapaksa – BJP Gen Sec

Sep 19, 2014

The general secretary of the BJP, P Muralidhar Rao, said that the Indian government believes it needs to engage with the Sri Lankan government in order to solve the Tamil issue, during his visit to Colombo.

Ananthy, Ravikaran raise issues faced by North-East Tamils at UNHRC

Sep 19, 2014
The Northern Provincial Councillors, Ananthy Sasitharan and T. Ravikaran, expressed their concerns regarding the ongoing disappearances, missing persons, intimidation, colonisation and militarisation at a side event that took place at the UN Human Rights Council's 27th session.

External forces destabilising Asian countries under guise of democracy - Rajapaksa

Sep 19, 2014
The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa warned of "external forces" encouraged disharmony in Asian countries "under the guise of democracy", at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), jointly hosted by the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and opposition United National Party (UNP) in Colombo this week.

"Today the emerging trends in the world, including in parts of Asia gave signals that alarmed the Asian Community because external forces under the guise of democracy and other enticing slogans sought to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries," the Daily Mirror reported him as saying to delegates.

“They show little concern about destabilising nations,” he said, adding, "Asian countries have seen how the media including social media is being used by the forces that are continuing the cause of division, separation and terror."

Lauding Sri Lanka's military efforts Mahinda Rajapaksa added,
"Sri Lanka can stand out in this great gathering for our experience in battling and defeating terrorism against the efforts of many external forces outside Asia that sought to bring about an accommodation of terrorism in our land. We are always ready to share that experience with the world. Your presence here and what you will see in this country today are the fruits of that great success in protecting our State and our Nation, from the forces of terror."

Matakal land survey halted after fierce opposition from residents

Sep 19, 2014

A scheduled survey of private lands in Senthankulam, Matakal, by government officials on Friday was cancelled after residents and local politicians raised fierce opposition to it.

BJP ally condemns party's participation in Sri Lankan conference

Sep 18, 2014
The BJP's Tamil Nadu ally, MDMK, condemned the party's participation in a conference taking place in Sri Lanka stating it was "an unforgivable act of betrayal", reports PTI.

The MDMK leader, Vaiko, criticised the decision for two senior BJP officials, Muralidhar Rao and Vijay Jolly, to attend the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) as "belittling" the Tamils.

Mass grave discovered in Velanai

Sep 18, 2014

A mass grave was discovered on Thursday in Velanai, off the Jaffna Peninsula.

Significant military presence remains in North despite government claims of demilitarisation - CPA

Sep 18, 2014
A significant military presence remains in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka despite government rhetoric of reducing militarisation, highlighted the latest Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) info-graphic.

“The contradictions in the actual situation are highlighted by statements made by President Rajapaksa, who in January 2014 claimed that there was a presence of 12,000 military personnel in the North with Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President claiming only two days later, the presence of 80,000 military personnel in the North," said the CPA.

Buddhist monks lead protest against Catholic statue
PMK condemns reports that Sri Lanka is auctioning off detained boats
Vaiko is our partner, not Rajapaksa – BJP Gen Sec
Ananthy, Ravikaran raise issues faced by North-East Tamils at UNHRC
External forces destabilising Asian countries under guise of democracy - Rajapaksa
Matakal land survey halted after fierce opposition from residents
BJP ally condemns party's participation in Sri Lankan conference
Mass grave discovered in Velanai
Significant military presence remains in North despite government claims of demilitarisation - CPA
Woman's body found washed up in Jaffna
Buddhist monks lead protest against Catholic statue
PMK condemns reports that Sri Lanka is auctioning off detained boats
Vaiko is our partner, not Rajapaksa – BJP Gen Sec
Ananthy, Ravikaran raise issues faced by North-East Tamils at UNHRC
External forces destabilising Asian countries under guise of democracy - Rajapaksa
Matakal land survey halted after fierce opposition from residents
BJP ally condemns party's participation in Sri Lankan conference
Mass grave discovered in Velanai
Significant military presence remains in North despite government claims of demilitarisation - CPA
Woman's body found washed up in Jaffna