Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

At least six Sri Lankan military personnel were killed on Friday after a helicopter assigned to a training exercise crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir in the Eastern Province. The Bell 212 helicopter, which was carrying a dozen armed forces personnel, was reportedly conducting a grappling exercise linked to a passing-out parade when the crash occurred. “Four special forces personnel and…

Asylum seekers deported by Australia face high risk of torture in Sri Lanka - Amnesty International

Amnesty International, in a press brief on Tuesday, expressed deep concern over the Australian government’s secrecy over the handling of asylum seekers found at sea and their high risk of torture upon transfer Sri Lankan authority custody.

Noting the Australian government’s pledge to provide notice in the event it decided to hand over asylum seekers to Sri Lankan authorities as a “small step in the right direction,” Amnesty International Australia’s Refugee Spokesperson Fraeme McGregor warned,

“Amnesty International continues to have deep concerns about the shroud of secrecy imposed by the Government all under the guise of border security.”

Asylum seeker mothers held on Christmas Island attempt suicide

Up to a dozen asylum-seeking women held on Christmas Island have attempted suicide, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The women, all mothers, after being told they would be sent to Nauru and Manus Island believed that their children would have a better chance of making it to Australia without them.

President of the Christmas Island Shire Council, Gordon Thompson, said:

"Their thinking is that if the babies have been born in Australia, they cannot be sent anywhere else, including Manus Island or Nauru,"

Australia confirms handing over first boat to SL authorities, second boat remains unaccounted for

The Australian government, Monday, confirmed that 41 asylum seekers had been handed over to Sri Lankan authorities, reports abc news.

A statement made by the Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison, confirmed that one of the two boats had been intercepted west of the Cocos islands carried 37 Sinhalese and four Tamils on board.

Morrison said that the passengers were scanned by teleconference and handed back to the Sri Lanka navy, adding that the people on boats were ‘safe and accounted for.’

Excavations planned as more human remains found in Muhamaalai

Human remains have been uncovered in Muhamaalai, in the Northeast of the island, for a third consecutive day on Friday, reported the Uthayan.

Palai police announced that it was arranging for excavations to be conducted in the region, where they have now found three skeletons and more human remains, thought to be those of LTTE fighters.

Work to clear the area of vegetation has already begun, with a land mine removal team also deployed.

Gotabhaya meets Buddhist clergy

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has met with senior leaders of the Buddhist clergy on Friday, reported Colombo Page.

Rajapaksa is said to have discussed inter-religious reconciliation with representatives of the Bodu Bala Sena, Sinhala Ravaya, and monks of the Siyam, Ramanna and Amarapura Nikayas.

Severe restrictions placed on NGO activities by Ministry of Defence

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence has sent letters to non-governmental organisation, demanding that they refrain from activities beyond their mandate, including press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and the publication of press releases.

The letter, signed by director of the Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations DMS Dissanayake, said NGOs should “prevent from such unauthorized activities with immediate effect”.

See letter here, courtesy of Groundviews.

US recruited 5,000 youths against government – Sri Lankan Minister

Sri Lanka’s Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa has accused the US Embassy in Colombo of having recruited 5,000 youth on the island to carry out social media campaigns against the government.

According to the Colombo Gazette, Weerawansa claimed that the youth, recruited with the help of the UNP, were being paid for their campaigns.

Australian High Court blocks return of asylum seekers

The Australian High Court has granted an interim injunction, blocking the government’s attempt to return 153 asylum seekers to the “Sri Lankan government, its military or its agents”, reported The Australian.

Justice Susan Crennan granted the injunction until 4pm local time on Tuesday, and noted that “the position of Tamil minority appears problematic” and that they had “made out a prima facie case for urgent relief”.

However she also noted that “it was not entirely clear what the next step for the plaintiffs” was and the application “appears somewhat speculative”.

SL army is erasing Tamil remembrance days says NPC Minister

The Northern Provincial Agricultural Minister P Ayngaranesan, last week that the Sri Lankan army was trying to erase Tamil days of remembrance by organising military events to coincide with key dates, reports Uthayan.

Speaking after a protest against Sri Lankan military land grabs in the North-East last week, Ayngaranesan criticised a sports day organised by the army on July the 5th, a date where Tamils remember 'Karumpuli Naal', marking the first LTTE militant gave their life fighting against the Sri Lankan army.

Twenty Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by SL navy

Twenty Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested on Saturday night  for poaching north of Mannar, reports The Hindu.

A total of 37 fishermen are now in Sri Lankan custody with their boats confiscated by the Sri Lanka navy.

17 Indian fishermen detained in latest SL Navy arrest (29 June 2014)