Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
Amnesty International demands immediate release of detained Tamil artist
Amnesty International has called for the release of detained Tamil rapper Sangeethan Ganeshkumar and renewed demands for the repeal of Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), warning that the legislation continues to facilitate arbitrary detention and human rights abuses. In a statement issued this week, the international rights organisation expressed concern over the continued use of…

NFF walked out of Modi's speech to protest against 13A

Mar 15, 2015
The leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) Wimal Weerawansa walked out of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech to the Sri Lankan parliament, as a protest against the 13th Amendment, reports the Island.

The Indian prime minister had visited the island and called on the Sri Lankan government to “go beyond” the 13th amendment, telling the parliament that he was “a firm believer in co-operative federalism”.

Valalai people visit HSZ to find their homes and wells destroyed

Mar 14, 2015
Photograph: Tamil Guardian

Displaced Tamils from the region of Valalai were allowed to walk through their former homelands for the first time in 25 years on Friday, after the Sri Lankan military displaced locals and converted the area into a High Security Zone in 1990.


An official meeting was held on Wednesday, by the chairman of the resettlement authority, Harim Peiris, who pledged to resettle the Valalai people to view their lands and be resettled before the end of the week.

The families upon visiting their lands on Friday, expressed concern that their homes and wells and been demolished whilst the borders of their lands unidentifiable, reports Uthayan. 

International judicial mechanism needed to serve justice for all in Sri Lanka - Callum Macrae

Mar 14, 2015
The United Nations Human Rights Council will have to act on the investigation into Sri Lanka’s atrocities (OISL), moving to establish an international judicial mechanism in order to ensure justice is served to all communities, said the director of the documentary, No Fire Zone, Callum Macrae.

In a press release, issued after the new Sri Lankan president rejected cooperation with the OISL and pledged to set up a domestic investigative process, Callum Macrae said: “He says this domestic inquiry will be conducted ‘efficiently, in a balanced, legal and impartial manner’, but when asked about the allegations in No Fire Zone he said he ‘doesn’t believe’ them.”

“President Sirisena, like President Rajapaksa before him, has refused to let the OISL investigators in to Sri Lanka. So we are back to square one and when the OISL report is presented in September the UN Human Rights Council will have to act on that report and move to set up some form of international judicial mechanism which can ensure that justice is done for all the communities of Sri Lanka.”

No credible steps taken to repeal arbitrary detention laws in Sri Lanka - Ruki Fernando

Mar 14, 2015
No credible steps have been taken by the new government in Sri Lanka to repeal draconian anti-terror laws that allow for the arbitrary arrest of Human Rights defenders, said the previously detained Sri Lankan human rights activist, Ruki Fernando, whilst speaking on the release of enforced disappearances campaigner Jeyakumari Balendran.

Addressing an event hosted by Forum Asia on creating space for human rights defenders at the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday, Mr Fernando said: “The international community must not be deceived by token releases. In Sri Lanka there is a Structural problem that allows for the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders. This is the prevention for terror act.”

Freedom from fear essential for reconciliation in Sri Lanka says UN rapporteur

Mar 14, 2015
Photograph:Tamil Guardian

Sri Lanka’s government must create “open space” for reconciliation said the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief on Thursday.

“Freedom from fear is the most elementary part in allowing for freedom for religion and expression in a situation like Sri Lanka, said Heiner Bielefeldt.

Communal violence in a climate of impunity occurs in Sri Lanka in the name of Buddhism, as Buddhists seem to have an unjustified fear leading to hate speech the rapporteur added. 

Sri Lankans find international investigation into atrocities insulting - CBK

Mar 14, 2015
The former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga said that the Sri Lankan people felt calls for the UN led international investigations into war crimes were “insulting,” reports the International Business Times UK.
 
“The whole country doesn’t want (an international inquiry) because it is the feeling that it is insulting to the government that we cannot carry out our own investigation in a transparent manner,” she said.

Kumaratunga was elected as president in 1994 and stood down in 2005.

BJP hails 'historic' Modi visit

Mar 14, 2015
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hailed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka as “historic” and praised the “very positive message sent to Tamils” on the island.

BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the visit would “pave the way for strong ties between India and Sri Lanka,” adding,
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit after three decades has proved to be a historic visit. Prime Minister's visit to Jaffna has sent a very positive message to Tamils living in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. He also flagged of the fishermen issue and his address to the Sri Lankan Parliament was very grandly appreciated.”

Another Chinese construction project under review by Sri Lanka

Mar 14, 2015
The Sri Lankan government has announced that the Chinese-funded 'Lotus Tower'' project is to be reviewed, in order to assess whether the construction of the tower should continue.

Sri Lanka's Ports and Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga told reporters in Colombo that construction is currently taking place on land that belongs to the Ports Authority without proper government protocol having been followed.

Construction of the tower began in 2012, under former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The US$104.3 million project was funded with a loan from China's EXIM Bank with a Chinese conglomerate made up of China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) and Aerospace Long-March International Trade Co. Ltd (ALIT) due to complete the construction of the tower.

In Jaffna 'to wipe tears' from those that suffered - Modi

Mar 13, 2015

Photo: Zee Media Bureau

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Jaffna earlier today, in a visit to help "wipe the tears from the eyes of those who suffered".

The PM, speaking at the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the Jaffna Cultural Centre, at Jaffna Library, said the Sri Lankan government should go beyond the 13th Amendment to the constitution, to find a political solution.

Sri Lankan navy attack Tamil Nadu fishermen

Mar 13, 2015
Five Indian fishermen from Rameswaran in Tamil Nadu were attacked by Sri Lankan navy personnel on Saturday whilst fishing near Katchatheevu, reports PTI.

According to the president of the Rameshwaram Fishermen Association, T Sasuraja, the navy personnel fired into the air, warning the fishermen not to fish in those waters, before proceeding to destroy some of the fishing nets.

The incident comes as the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, visited Sri Lanka and met with President Sirisena.

The fishermen issue is one of “humanitarian concern”, Mr Modi was quoted by The Hindu as saying on Friday.

Valalai people visit HSZ to find their homes and wells destroyed
International judicial mechanism needed to serve justice for all in Sri Lanka - Callum Macrae
No credible steps taken to repeal arbitrary detention laws in Sri Lanka - Ruki Fernando
Freedom from fear essential for reconciliation in Sri Lanka says UN rapporteur
Sri Lankans find international investigation into atrocities insulting - CBK
BJP hails 'historic' Modi visit
Another Chinese construction project under review by Sri Lanka
In Jaffna 'to wipe tears' from those that suffered - Modi
Sri Lankan navy attack Tamil Nadu fishermen
India to make Trincomalee a regional petroleum hub says Modi
Valalai people visit HSZ to find their homes and wells destroyed
International judicial mechanism needed to serve justice for all in Sri Lanka - Callum Macrae
No credible steps taken to repeal arbitrary detention laws in Sri Lanka - Ruki Fernando
Freedom from fear essential for reconciliation in Sri Lanka says UN rapporteur
Sri Lankans find international investigation into atrocities insulting - CBK
BJP hails 'historic' Modi visit
Another Chinese construction project under review by Sri Lanka
In Jaffna 'to wipe tears' from those that suffered - Modi
Sri Lankan navy attack Tamil Nadu fishermen
India to make Trincomalee a regional petroleum hub says Modi