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…

NPC genocide resolution is a threat to national security says Sri Lanka opposition

Feb 13, 2015
Leader of Sri Lanka's opposition and SLFP head, Nimal Siripala de Silva condemned the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) calling for UN inquiry into genocide against the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan state, calling for the provincial council system to be re-considered as a result.

"If the provincial councils go about doing this kind of work, we will have to take a closer look at the provincial councils system," Mr Siripala de Silva was quoted by India Times as saying on Friday.

Stating that the resolution threatened Sri Lanka's national security, he accused the Tamil diaspora of being behind the resolution.

Maithri absorbs defence ministry powers

Feb 13, 2015

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has taken key responsibilities from the defence ministry.

The move means the number of institutions under the control of State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene have been drastically reduced.

Sri Lankan budget could stoke inflation - Moody's

Feb 13, 2015

Sri Lanka's revised budget could stoke inflation and further economic imbalances, warned rating agency Moody's Investors Service.

The 47 percent hike in public sector wages can boost consumption and growth but it would also boost inflation, a historic problem in Sri Lanka according to Moody's.

"Given that public sector employees make up 15 percent of the work force, the 47 percent increase in nominal wages will boost consumption, thus supporting growth," Moody's said.

Sri Lankan military hold prayer service during Jaffna temple festival

Feb 13, 2015


The Sri Lankan military held a special prayer service for themselves during the annual festival at Nagulesvaram Sivan temple in Keerimalai this week.

Sri Lankan army distribute uniforms to Jaffna school children

Feb 13, 2015

The Sri Lankan military's 553 brigade distributed uniforms and equipment to Tamil school children at the J/Uduthurai Hindu Primary School in Thalavady on February 6.


Jaffna Uni lecturers call for UN inquiry on Sri Lanka to release report without delay

Feb 13, 2015
Photograph: U Shalin

Lecturers at the University of Jaffna called for the UN report into mass atrocities against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka to be released next month without any delay, stating that "justice delayed is justice denied".

Announcing a demonstration on February 24 at 11am local time in front of the university to call for the release of the report, the Jaffna University Teachers Association (JUTA) called on all organisations in the North-East to demonstrate their wish to see the report released and justice for the Tamil people. 

"It is as the voice of a destroyed community that requests an international investigation. The international community should consider this as the plaintive cry of a community that has been destroyed and not just a normal investigation," R Rasakumaran of the JUTA told a press conference on Saturday, adding that Tamils hoped the investigation would "prove that what occurred in the final years [of the armed conflict] was a genocide."

Genocide resolution ‘beyond NPC’s limitations’ – President Sirisena

Feb 12, 2015

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council, calling on the UN to investigate genocide committed by the government, was beyond the limitations of the body, NPC opposition leader Sinnathurai Thavarasa was quoted by Ceylon Today.

The president is reported to have said at a meeting with notorious paramilitary leader Douglas Devananda, that he was “dismayed” at the resolution.

"The president, accompanied by his adviser and Eastern Province Governor Austin Fernando during his meeting with the EPDP leader and his delegation, said the alleged war crimes could not be called as genocide and the NPC has rushed for the resolution, when the new government has just embarked on its reconciliation process," Mr Thavarasa said to Ceylon Today.

TNA welcomes NPC genocide resolution

Feb 12, 2015

The Tamil National Alliance welcomed the genocide resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council and urged it to “go further” and follow it up.

Speaking to Ceylon Today, TNA General Secretary Maavai Senathirajah said the alliance welcomes the resolution, which calls on the UN to investigate charges of genocide against Sri Lanka and prosecute those responsible, and urged the NPC to follow up on developments related to the resolution to “alert” the UN Human Rights Council.

“The war crimes were committed during the previous Rajapaksa regime,” said the MP, who is also the leader of the TNA’s main constituent party, ITAK.

“Therefore the resolution was passed urging the UN to investigate those who had committed war crimes. The NPC should go further and follow up on the developments with regard to the resolution in order to alert the UNHRC at the March session in Geneva,” he said.

Vanni IDPs remain without housing and basic needs says TNA MP

Feb 12, 2015
There is still no proper housing and basic needs for internally displaced persons in Vanni, the district's Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Sivasakthy Ananthan, was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying on Thursday.

Describing the situation in Kanakarayankulam in the Vanni, an area that was severely affected by the armed conflict, Mr Ananthan said "there are more than 500 people in need of housing in this area," adding, "They are disabled as well. It has been six years since the three-decade war came to an end."

"There are hundreds of people who are disabled. During the Rajapaksa regime we had demanded to provide them with immediate requirements. However, this was left uncompleted. The rehabilitated are not residing in proper houses. Their basic fundamental needs are not being met. This has even resulted in the countless number of children interrupting their education halfway through," he said.

Sri Lanka keen to maintain traditional ties with China says Ranil

Feb 12, 2015
Sri Lanka's new prime minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe on Thursday reiterated the country's eagerness to preserve its economic ties with China.

"Our government is also keen to maintain the traditional it has ties with China and is willing to have a dialogue to resolve whatever issues that exist between the two countries at present,” Mr Wickremasinghe said, following a meeting with the vice president of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPCC) and member of the China's communist party, Wang Jiarui, regarding the proposed Colombo Port City development project.

Maithri absorbs defence ministry powers
Sri Lankan budget could stoke inflation - Moody's
Sri Lankan military hold prayer service during Jaffna temple festival
Sri Lankan army distribute uniforms to Jaffna school children
Jaffna Uni lecturers call for UN inquiry on Sri Lanka to release report without delay
Genocide resolution ‘beyond NPC’s limitations’ – President Sirisena
TNA welcomes NPC genocide resolution
Vanni IDPs remain without housing and basic needs says TNA MP
Sri Lanka keen to maintain traditional ties with China says Ranil
Resolution calling for prosecutions is ‘huge blow to national unity’ – JHU
Maithri absorbs defence ministry powers
Sri Lankan budget could stoke inflation - Moody's
Sri Lankan military hold prayer service during Jaffna temple festival
Sri Lankan army distribute uniforms to Jaffna school children
Jaffna Uni lecturers call for UN inquiry on Sri Lanka to release report without delay
Genocide resolution ‘beyond NPC’s limitations’ – President Sirisena
TNA welcomes NPC genocide resolution
Vanni IDPs remain without housing and basic needs says TNA MP
Sri Lanka keen to maintain traditional ties with China says Ranil
Resolution calling for prosecutions is ‘huge blow to national unity’ – JHU