Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Kanji was served across Jaffna yesterday to mark the beginning of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week.  Kanji - a porridge of rice and water - was the only food available to Tamils trapped in the Sri Lankan government declared 'No Fire Zones'. Tamils in the North-East and in the diaspora serve 'Mullivaikkal Kanji' as a reminder of the hardship Tamil people faced in the final phase of the armed…

Tamil Nadu groups call for postponement of IPL cricket match in Chennai on May 18

Tamil organisations have called for the postponement of an Indian Premier League cricket match, due to be played on the 18th of May in Chennai, according to the New Indian Express.

Do not subvert country for others - Rajapaksa tells youth

Regard your country as sacred and do not "subvert loyalty to country to any other interests" Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told youth delegates at the World Conference on Youth at the Ruhunu Magampura International Conference Centre in Hambantota this week.

“It (the country) cannot be second to any of your interests nor can it be sacrificed for any gain whatever,” President Rajapaksa said.

Sri Lanka and India continue nuclear deal talks

Sri Lanka and India held the second round of talks on a nuclear deal, reports LBO and PTI.

The talks were aimed at drafting the text of an agreement on Bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation, the Indian embassy said in a statement issued yesterday.

Government wants Sampur IDPs to take financial compensation for seized land

The Sri Lankan government says it has put aside Rs 300mn to offer to Internally Displaced People (IDPs), whose land was grabbed in Sampur by the military for a High Security Zone, reported BBC Tamil.

A case filed by the displaced, currently ongoing at the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, heard that the government will offer the IDPs alternate lands, and if they were not willing to accept this, they can take the money as compensation, the government attorney said.

The lawyer for the IDPs said it was illegal for the government to acquire private land without holding an inquiry into the need for the acquisition.

However Supreme Court Judge Mohan Peiris accepted the arguments of the government, and requested a report regarding those IDPs who wished to take up the government offer.

Commenting on the development, an attorney at law and lecturer in law at the University of Jaffna, Kumaravadivel Guruparan said the Supreme Court’s refusal to deal with the illegality of the land grab was consistent with its past record.

"This is not the first time that the Supreme Court has responded to petitions relating to land grab in this fashion," Mr. Guruparan told Tamil Guardian.

Jaffna Army Commander warns public May 2009 remembrance will lead to arrest

Updated 23:30 BST

The commander of the Sri Lankan army in Jaffna, General Udaya Perera warned student leaders and members of Jaffna University’s faculty that anyone involved in public commemoration of those who died in 2009 will be arrested, the Uthayan reported today.

Elderly woman hit by military vehicle in Jaffna

A 70-year old woman was injured near Kaithadi, Jaffna, after being hit by a military vehicle, reported the Uthayan.

Pandari Naachchi was admitted to Jaffna hospital, after being hit while crossing the road. Saavakacheri Police is reported to be investigating the incident.

Batticaloa residents demand govt officials stop giving land to private companies

Locals in Batticaloa have demanded that the government officials stops giving land to private companies, instead of rebuilding and improving the livelihoods of the residents affected by the conflict, Uthayan reports.

Complaining to their local MP, the residents said government officials were transferring the land without authorisation of the regional or district land application organisation.

Over 400 acres in Thambiraanveli, 350 acres in Kaayaankeni, 780 acres in Kurivikkalmalai I, as well as 670 acres in Kurivikkalmalai II, and 50 acres in Vavunatheevu, Oorani and Thiraaimadu have been given private companies, said TNA MP S. Yogeswaran in a letter of complaint to Batticaloa officials.

"Giving our district lands to private companies when you should be providing space for rebuilding and improving the livelihoods of our people after the war, is endangering our people's future," he wrote.

Praying for Sri Lanka

Photographs DailyMirror.lk

Over 4000 Buddhist monks held a special all-night prayer service invoking their blessings on the government and Sri Lanka.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa prays

Chanting the 'Jaya Pirith', the Buddhist monks prayed to celestial powers "to help the country's forward march, dispelling all challenges and setbacks posed to the nation", the Daily Mirror reported.

Buddhist monks given bail and a warning

Four Buddhist monks, accused of insulting the Quran, were granted bail on Monday and warned by the court not to "indulge in such activities", reports AFP.

The monks, part of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), reportedly intruded n on a meeting of religious leaders and proceeded to make disrespectful remarks against the Quran.

"The four priests along with two laymen were summoned by court today and granted bail in the sum of 100,000 rupees ($770) each," police spokesperson Ajith Rohana told AFP.

Jaffna University ordered shut during 5th anniversary of May 18

Updated 17:28 BST

Students of the University of Jaffna have been told that the university will be closed from May 16 to May 20, covering May 18, which is marked by Tamils across the globe, in remembrance of those that died in the massacre in Mullivaikal and the rest of the conflict.

Meanwhile posters have appeared in Jaffna, accusing some students and academics of supporting a revival of the LTTE, saying that this was their last chance to cease those activities.

A notice issued by the registrar of the university, V Kandeepan, announced the closure and requested all students to vacate their hostels, without providing a reason for the closure.