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,…

Armed masked men threaten lawyers who filed case against Buddhist monk

Sep 13, 2014

Lawyers who filed cases against the Sri Lankan government and a controversial Buddhist monk were threatened by armed masked men and warned that they would be killed if they continue their legal action.

Masked men had rushed into the offices of lawyer Namal Rajapakshe in Colombo this week, one of whom had been armed. The men warned that Rajapakshe and fellow lawyer Manjula Pathiraja would be killed if they pressed forward with “unnecessary cases”.

NGOs uninvited from Sydney Uni conference due to SL military interference

Sep 12, 2014
The Sri Lankan military has made the University of Sydney withdraw invitation to Sri Lankan human rights organisations that were due to participate in an international conference hosted alongside the University of Colombo in Bangkok, reports the Guardian.

Leaked correspondence revealed that delegates of the Sri Lankan military and police were expected to attend the event and had requested that Sri Lankan NGOs be uninvited.

Sri Lankan military officials are expected to speak at a number of events in the conference.

The Asia director of Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the university’s retraction of invitations to Sri Lankan NGOs.

Liberation calls for pressure on Sri Lanka to cooperate with UNHRC

Sep 12, 2014
Liberation, a NGO based in the UK, called for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to exert pressure on Sri Lanka to cooperate with the UN inquiry into mass atrocities, ensure that there was adequate witness protection and cease the genocidal processes dismantling the Tamil homeland in the North-East.

Speaking in an interactive dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Recurrence, a Liberation Representative Sutharshan Sukumaran, highlighting Sri Lanka’s repeated refusal to co-operate with the UN, said,
“We urge this council to exert pressure on Sri Lanka to cooperate with the UN inquiry and to ensure the safety of witnesses, as the only means of achieving meaningful accountability and justice for the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict.”
Highlighting the ongoing "militarisation, colonisation, and dismantling of the social and economic structure in the North-East," the speaker, went on to call for the end of genocidal processes against Tamils in the North-East for true reconciliation on the island.

UNHCR 'gravely concerned' by deportation of asylum seekers

Sep 12, 2014
The United Nations Refugee agency said it is “gravely concerned” by Sri Lanka resuming the arrest and deportation of asylum seekers, to countries where they may face persecution on their return.

Addressing a press briefing in Geneva on Friday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesperson Babar Baloch said the agency was “gravely concerned” by the latest developments, adding,

“When UNHCR met with the government earlier this month, assurances were given for the immediate release of all asylum-seekers and refugees arrested and detained since June.”

The UN previously stated it was “deeply concerned” at Sri Lanka's deportation of asylum seekers, mainly from Pakistan and Afghanistan and accused Sri Lanka of violating international law.

IED highlights lack of work towards war crimes prosecution and reconciliation

Sep 12, 2014
Actions in Sri Lanka to work towards prosecution for war crimes and genuine reconciliation with the Tamil population do not exist, the International Educational Development organisation Inc (IED) and association of Humanitarian Lawyers said at the UNHRC on Friday.

Making a statement at the interactive dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Recurrence, Karen Parker said,

"We note that not a single high authority of the LTTE survived, so there cannot be prosecutions of them for alleged violations. Further, this fact makes the intentional killing of the LTTE captured combatants, a serious war crime, a certainty. Current actions in Sri Lanka to address prosecution for these crimes do not exist, nor do actions for truth and genuine reconciliation with the Tamil population. What does the Special Rapporteur propose in light of the apparent absolute impunity of that government, especially in light of the recurrence of gross violations of human rights directed at the Tamil population?"

SLFP to examine NPC resolution calling for OISL access

Sep 12, 2014
The General Secretary of the ruling party, SLFP, has announced the party is to examine the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) this week calling for UN investigators to be allowed access in order to collect evidence for the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL).

“All provincial councils including the Northern Provincial Council have pledged to act within the Constitution of Sri Lanka," said the SLFP General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

Rajapaksa lauds China's Maritime Silk Road, Colombo Port City development planned

Sep 12, 2014
The Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa praised China's Maritime Silk Road initiative and pledged to join China in working towards it, in an interview with Chinese state media, Xinhua, published Saturday.

"Since I took office of the president, I have toured China for seven times, during which I have met President Xi Jinping in several occasions," said Rajapaksa.

"China accounts for the biggest number of my working travel destination and I am looking forward to President Xi's visit."

"Our cooperation covers many sectors including industry, energy, technology, infrastructure and tourism," he added.

Body of Tamil Nadu fisherman found washed up

Sep 12, 2014
The body of a Tamil Nadu fisherman who went missing on August 25 has been found washed up on Valvettithurai coast Saturday.

The president of the Fishermen's Association T Sesuraja identified the body as that of Isron, who was one of three men who went missing that day, reports PTI.

The body has been transferred to Jaffna hospital for a post-mortem.

His death comes amid ongoing attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen, including mass arrests and detention of fishing boats by the Sri Lankan navy.

Autonomy needed to protect Tamils says new ITAK leader Mavai

Sep 12, 2014
Tamil autonomy is needed to protect the Tamils said Mavai Senathirajah, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP and newly appointed leader to the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), a constituent party of the TNA coalition. 

"[We] must establish autonomy, in order to protect Tamils, Tamil lands and the nation from facing another catastrophe," he said addressing an ITAK event in Jaffna on Friday, reported Uthayan.

"The government's great aim for the past 5 years is to destroy the Tamil homeland's  demography. In these 5 years since the armed conflict ended, a lot of problems by the government have been exacerbated. [The government] is carrying out actions to destroy the Tamils’ land and nation," he added.

Army blocking people from NPC events complains Chief Minister

Sep 12, 2014
Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran stated the Sri Lankan army and those who work with them, are stopping people from taking part in Northern Provincial Council events.

Intimidation from the military was keeping the Tamil population away from NPC events, said Wigneswaran adding that the Sri Lankan army was photographing all those who do attend.

“We do not know the reason for military personals taking photographs at our events, but they are taking photographs of us and the public,” said the Chief Minister.
NGOs uninvited from Sydney Uni conference due to SL military interference
Liberation calls for pressure on Sri Lanka to cooperate with UNHRC
UNHCR 'gravely concerned' by deportation of asylum seekers
IED highlights lack of work towards war crimes prosecution and reconciliation
SLFP to examine NPC resolution calling for OISL access
Rajapaksa lauds China's Maritime Silk Road, Colombo Port City development planned
Body of Tamil Nadu fisherman found washed up
Autonomy needed to protect Tamils says new ITAK leader Mavai
Army blocking people from NPC events complains Chief Minister
Ensure safety of witnesses who testify before UN investigation, TNA tells UK‏
NGOs uninvited from Sydney Uni conference due to SL military interference
Liberation calls for pressure on Sri Lanka to cooperate with UNHRC
UNHCR 'gravely concerned' by deportation of asylum seekers
IED highlights lack of work towards war crimes prosecution and reconciliation
SLFP to examine NPC resolution calling for OISL access
Rajapaksa lauds China's Maritime Silk Road, Colombo Port City development planned
Body of Tamil Nadu fisherman found washed up
Autonomy needed to protect Tamils says new ITAK leader Mavai
Army blocking people from NPC events complains Chief Minister
Ensure safety of witnesses who testify before UN investigation, TNA tells UK‏