Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

EDITORIAL - A shaky bridge across the Palk Strait
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Sri Lanka earlier this month, New Delhi’s media was already hailing the visit as a diplomatic triumph. A raft of development projects had been announced and a significant new defence pact between the two governments signed. Images broadcast showed Modi beside a smiling Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arms raised aloft in symbolic…

Bishop of Mannar refuses to participate in Sri Lanka's domestic inquiry on missing persons

Aug 9, 2014
The Bishop of Mannar in a letter to the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons said he would not contribute to the commission due to Sri Lanka’s historic failure of domestic inquiries in addressing injustices faced by Tamils.

Australia's 'cruel' asylum seeker policy slammed by over 190 experts

Aug 9, 2014
Over 190 individuals and organisations have signed a statement condemning Australia's asylum seeker policy, demanding the government adopt alternative solutions consistent with the Refugee Convention.

The Guardian reported that the 190 experts, which included leading human rights lawyers, religious leaders and refugee advocates, accused both major political parties of “wilfully and deliberately” pursuing harmful policies against asylum seekers.

The statement accused the Australian government of “pursuing a policy of detention for asylum-seekers, both adults and children, in spite of clear evidence that it causes psychiatric disorders, self-harm and suicide”, “engaging in forced deportations to situations of danger with confirmed fatal outcomes” and “encouraging racist media coverage.”

1 injured in attack by unidentified men on motorcycles in Jaffna

Aug 8, 2014

A 26-year-old man has been injured and admitted to hospital after being attacked by four unidentified men near his home in Jaffna, reports Uthayan.

Ranjan Ramanan, was attacked by his house in the Mayilani region of Jaffna Thondamanaaru, by four men on motorcycles.

His injuries led to him being initially admitted to the Oorani hospital before being transferred to Point Pedro and then to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, where he is currently receiving further treatment.

Attack in Amparai leaves 9 men and women injured

Aug 8, 2014


Photograph: Battinews

Tamil Nadu students protest against pro-Sri Lanka films

Aug 8, 2014

Updated 20:45 BST

9 Eelam Tamil asylum seekers arrested by Indian police

Aug 8, 2014
Indian security forces arrested nine Eelam Tamil refugees Friday, who were allegedly attempting to flee the country from the town of Oriyur in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, reports The Hindu.

“They were to be illegally ferried to Australia when police arrested them,” the Police Superintendent was quoted by the paper as saying.

According to the police, the nine men were from refugee camps across Tamil Nadu. See more here.

Government withholding funds to Northern Province says Chief Minister

Aug 8, 2014
The Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran said the government was withholding funds, whilst publicly announcing it had been delivered.

"They [the government] are proclaiming that Rs 500 lakh budget has been given to the Northern Province, but the majority of the funds has not been given [to us]," Justice Wigneswaran was quoted by the Uthayan newspaper as saying.

The government was meanwhile claiming via press statements on television and in newspapers that all the funds had been delivered, the Chief Minister said.

Second Tamil student at Sabaragamuwa University arrested by TID

Aug 8, 2014

Sri Lanka’s Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) has detained another Tamil student from Sabaragamuwa University, following his discharge from hospital where he was receiving treatment after being attacked.

Santhirakumar Sutharshan from Muhamalai was arrested on his return to the university hostel by Sri Lanka’s TID. The student had been receiving treatment at Balangoda and Ratnapura after he had been attacked on Sunday.

Following Sutharshan’s arrest, his parents were told that he had been sent to the infamous 4th floor of Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department in Colombo.

Another Tamil youth, second-year student Yoganathan Nirojan, was arrested on Tuesday and is also being detained at the 4th floor.

See more the Uthayan here.

Sri Lanka and Bahrain look to bolster economies

Aug 7, 2014
A meeting discussing joint cooperation between Sri Lankan investors and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) was held Friday in Beit Al-Tejjar, reports the Colombo Gazette.

The two groups discussed joint investment cooperation in all economic sectors and methods of increasing the volume of trade between the two countries economies.

British officials met Sri Lankan military advisers shortly after 70,000 Tamil civilian deaths in May 2009

Aug 7, 2014
The Police in Northern Ireland (PSNI) held a meeting between British officials and a Sri Lankan military adviser a month over 70,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the Sri Lankan government’s final onslaught in May 2006, reports The Guardian.

A freedom of information request resulted in UK government lawyers confirming  that no official minutes were taken during the meeting, in Belfast between the two parties.

A researcher from the pressure group Corporate Watch, who submitted the Freedom of Information (FOI) request raised questions over Britain’s demeanour with the Sri Lankan government after May 2009.

Speaking to The Guardian Phil Miller said,

“We are being kept in the dark about what went on at this Belfast meeting. Did Britain raise any concerns about Sri Lanka’s massacre of Tamils before it let the PSNI continue its role as ‘critical friends’ with Colombo?”

Yasmine Ahmed, from Rights Watch UK, said

"The British public has a right to know the nature and extent of UK government cooperation with and support to the Sri Lankan government during a period of brutal violence and severe human rights abuses against the Tamil population."
Australia's 'cruel' asylum seeker policy slammed by over 190 experts
1 injured in attack by unidentified men on motorcycles in Jaffna
Attack in Amparai leaves 9 men and women injured
Tamil Nadu students protest against pro-Sri Lanka films
9 Eelam Tamil asylum seekers arrested by Indian police
Government withholding funds to Northern Province says Chief Minister
Second Tamil student at Sabaragamuwa University arrested by TID
Sri Lanka and Bahrain look to bolster economies
British officials met Sri Lankan military advisers shortly after 70,000 Tamil civilian deaths in May 2009
Chief Monks urge BBS and government ministers to make amends
Australia's 'cruel' asylum seeker policy slammed by over 190 experts
1 injured in attack by unidentified men on motorcycles in Jaffna
Attack in Amparai leaves 9 men and women injured
Tamil Nadu students protest against pro-Sri Lanka films
9 Eelam Tamil asylum seekers arrested by Indian police
Government withholding funds to Northern Province says Chief Minister
Second Tamil student at Sabaragamuwa University arrested by TID
Sri Lanka and Bahrain look to bolster economies
British officials met Sri Lankan military advisers shortly after 70,000 Tamil civilian deaths in May 2009
Chief Monks urge BBS and government ministers to make amends