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,…

Prayers held in Thirukketheswaram for disappeared

Aug 29, 2014
Families of the disappeared held prayers on Friday at Thirukketheswaram temple, lighting candles in memory of their missing loved ones.

The prayers, organised by the Youth Network, was attended by over 300 people from Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu, reports Uthayan.

"Five years on since the armed conflict ended, but a normal situation has not returned yet. Many problems, such as human rights violations, land issues, disappearances related problems, political issues and economic issues remain unsolved," said organisers.

"We are disappointed after believing in many politicians, government organisations and commissions. Who should we say our problems to? Who is going to solve it?" asked the families.

UN Sec Gen alarmed by rising level of attacks against religious minorities in Sri Lanka

Aug 29, 2014
Buddhist communities in Sri Lanka and Myanmar “are being swept up by a rising tide of extremist sentiment against other groups,” said the United Nations Secretary General.

See full statement here.

Speaking at the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) forum on Friday, Ban-ki Moon said he was “alarmed by the rising level of attacks in Sri Lanka against religious minorities.”

Sri Lanka should immediately release fishing boats – Tamil Nadu

Aug 29, 2014

Tamil Nadu has reiterated its demand for the immediate release of its fishing boats held by Sri Lanka.

Speaking during the first India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee (JC) meeting on fisheries in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu’s Fisheries Secreteary S Vijayakumar reiterated the state’s “firm commitment” to the restoration of traditional fishing rights of Tamil fishermen, including fishing unhindered in the Palk Strait.

The Government of India should not treat the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Sri Lanka as settled, since the constitutional validity previous agreements have been challenged on “extremely valid and legal grounds” by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the Supreme Court of India, he said according to The New Indian Express.

The Indian delegation was led by Dr Raja Sekar Vundru, Joint Fisheries Secretary, and Sri Lanka was led by Nimal Hettiarachchi, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Agricultural Resources.

Basil blames NPC for lack of development

Aug 28, 2014
Sri Lanka's Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa blamed the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) for the lack of development in the area, stating that the government's development plan had slowed down since the NPC took charge, reports The Hindu.

“They have not done anything yet,” he told reporters, adding that the NPC should use the powers at hand before demanding more devolution.

His comments are at stark odds with those from within the NPC however, who have increasingly criticised the government's restrictions and withholding of funds.

Earlier this year the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran slammed President Rajapaksa's failure to uphold pledges made to the NPC.

Government evading talks says TNA

Aug 28, 2014
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran said the Sri Lankan government was evading the political question by stating false claims of LTTE links.

"The Government is now saying it cannot hold talks with the TNA because we are representatives of the LTTE. The Government is trying to evade resolving the Tamil issue citing these false claims," he told a press conference on Thursday.

"We do not have any hidden agenda. We strongly believe a solution to the issue in a united country and we do not want a separate state,” Sumanthiran said.

ICRC says missing in Sri Lanka must not be forgotten

Aug 28, 2014
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged the international community not to forget missing persons worldwide, including those in Sri Lanka.

"States have an obligation under international humanitarian law to take all feasible measures to clarify the fate and whereabouts of people who have gone missing and to inform their families accordingly," said the vice-president of the ICRC, Christine Beerli.

Stating that the ICRC was working on the cases of 52,000 missing persons worldwide, staff member Marianne Pecassou said:

"This figure is just the tip of the iceberg, since these cases are only the ones brought to the attention of the ICRC by relatives. We know that many more people remain unaccounted for around the world."

Sri Lanka to strengthen defence cooperation with Pakistan

Aug 28, 2014

(Picture: The Nation)

Sri Lanka looks to make political solution for Tamils irrelevant - TNA tells India

Aug 27, 2014
Sri Lanka is working to make a political solution for Tamils irrelevant by breaking the linguistic and cultural contiguity in the North-East by militarisation and resettlement of Sinhalese families, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) told Indian press on Wednesday.

“Their objective is also to change the composition and change the cultural and linguistic identity of Tamil regions. The most urgent need is that this should end. It is their hope that if they continue with this, a political solution for Tamils will be irrelevant, a solution would become redundant and they can have their own way,” said R Sampanthan.

Sampanthan’s comments come after the TNA delegation travelled to India to hold talks with Prime Minister Modi regarding the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Dead body recovered from lagoon in Eastern Province

Aug 27, 2014
The body of a 66-year old man was recovered from Santhiveli Lagoon in Eravoor this week, reports Eastern Province-based website Batti news.

Arumugam Sithamparampillai had left his home in Santhiveli on Tuesday to attend to his livestock in a neighbouring village. His body was discovered later that evening floating in the lagoon by his son, who had gone out to fish.

The police, lead by officer M.S.M Nazeer, are currently investigating the death.

Minister Bernier celebrates Tamil business success in Canada

Aug 27, 2014


Canada's Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, Maxime Bernier, celebrated the success and entrepreneurial spirit of the Tamil community in Canada, highlighting their contributions to the Canadian economy.

As part of the Canadian federal government’s pre-budgetary consultations Minister Bernier met with representatives of the Canadian Tamils' Chamber of Commerce (CTCC) in Toronto on Wednesday.

“I can see they have a huge impact, like other small business owners, they’re the true Canadians," Minister Bernier told the Tamil Guardian following the meeting.

“They’re very good entrepreneurs, it’s a plus for us as Canadians to have these entrepreneurs with us,” said the minister, who was Canada's foreign affairs minister during the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. 

UN Sec Gen alarmed by rising level of attacks against religious minorities in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka should immediately release fishing boats – Tamil Nadu
Basil blames NPC for lack of development
Government evading talks says TNA
ICRC says missing in Sri Lanka must not be forgotten
Sri Lanka to strengthen defence cooperation with Pakistan
Sri Lanka looks to make political solution for Tamils irrelevant - TNA tells India
Dead body recovered from lagoon in Eastern Province
Minister Bernier celebrates Tamil business success in Canada
UK country guidance on ‘Tamil separatism’ highlights human rights violations by Sri Lanka
UN Sec Gen alarmed by rising level of attacks against religious minorities in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka should immediately release fishing boats – Tamil Nadu
Basil blames NPC for lack of development
Government evading talks says TNA
ICRC says missing in Sri Lanka must not be forgotten
Sri Lanka to strengthen defence cooperation with Pakistan
Sri Lanka looks to make political solution for Tamils irrelevant - TNA tells India
Dead body recovered from lagoon in Eastern Province
Minister Bernier celebrates Tamil business success in Canada
UK country guidance on ‘Tamil separatism’ highlights human rights violations by Sri Lanka