The Higher Education Minister of Sri Lanka, SB Dissanayake, has said in an interview to the Daily News that the TNA has not given up on the Eelam ideology taken by “terrorist” groups and should realise that the country had been united under one flag. "The TNA has refused to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee proceedings proposed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, because they have not risen from their Eelam based ideological terrain," Dissanayake said. "The PSC is mandated to look into constitutional changes to solve the national issue through power sharing changes. The TNA has...
After a glorious win for Tamil Eelam on Thursday , the team had a day off to rest, train and explore the local culture. Friday saw the visiting teams celebrate the Tynwald Day festival, a Manx national holiday. The Tamil Eelam team, attending in their team tracksuits, generated interest around the open air festival as locals flocked to the players to congratulate the team and express their support.
Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa outlined his thoughts on a number of issues in a recent interview. See here for full interview. Extracts reproduced below: Q: Don’t you think all these leaders, including your brother always felt that the LTTE was a result of a political problem, caused by an issue the Tamil people faced in the North? Do you not think that this problem should be addressed? GR: It is not a political problem, in many countries including so-called advanced societies which have minorities there are issues relating to the minorities. One has to then understand these issues and address them, whether in the US, the UK or any other country, these issues exist when there are minorities. Q: But still don’t you believe in devolution or decentralisation of power? GR: No I don’t believe in devolution because of the above points I mentioned. If devolution is for administrative purposes that is of course legitimate. But if one thinks that devolution would provide an answer to the national problem that is something that I don’t agree with.
Tamil Eelam in the pre-match lineup Tamil Eelam made a great start to their Tynwald Hill international Football tournament campaign today, in a thrilling match, which saw them come back from a one goal deficit to secure a 5-3 victory. Players celebrate with Team Manager Ragesh Nambiar after a brilliant game The team and its fans arrived early to the stadium in anticipation of their first game of the torunament. Tamil Eelam players warm up while Sealand players and Tamil Eelam supporters look on Following light training sessions, players from both teams made their way back on to the pitches...
A Sri Lankan minister has played down the importance of a trip to meet with Indian officials over the 13th Amendment, saying they were only keeping India informed. Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Basil Rajapakse had flown to New Delhi to meet with officials including Manmohan Singh and will explain plans to devolve power to Tamils. "The government of Sri Lanka has scientifically evaluated the situation and found that these two areas, police and land powers, have to be reviewed, revisited and it is by common courtesy since the 13th amendment stems from Rajiv-J.R, heads of two states...
The Indian National Security Advisor, Shiv Shankar Menon, will visit Sri Lanka on the basis of holding tri-lateral talks between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, announced the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS). According to the MCNS director, Lakshman Hulugalla, the Indian National Security Advisor will call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya.
Speaking to the Island the Global Tamil Forum said it was not possible to comment on whether South Africa could be a facilitator in talks between the TNA-GTF and the Sri Lankan government. GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran said: "Although fighting ended over four years ago, the government had failed to address any of the contentious issues. There haven’t been any sincere efforts to address the Tamil National Question in Sri Lanka for anyone to comment on whether RSA is acceptable as a facilitator". He added, "If I remember correctly, LTTE members had been involved in the ANC’s first general...
Human rights activists that helped set up the screening of the ‘No Fire Zone’ documentary were detained by the Home Ministry in Malaysia today. The event was organised by the human rights group Pusat Komas, in an attempt to raise awareness about the war crimes and atrocities that happened at the end of 2009 in Sri Lanka. The Programme co-ordinator, Lena Hendry, said that officers entered the hall just as the screening was ending, and forced attendees to produce their identity cards. Three members of the rights group Pusat Komas were taken to Dang Wangi police station and detained, whilst...
The Sri Lankan government has called upon the US to lift warnings about travelling to the island, after an update to the travel advisory by the State Department. The US ambassador to Colombo, Michelle Sison, was summoned to a meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs, where they requested the US to withdraw the advisory. The update includes warnings about increased targeting of foreigners in crimes and sexual violence, and anti-US demonstrations.
Residents of Oddamavady, Batticaloa have been disturbed by the appearance of a Buddha statue in the middle of the playground of a Muslim faith school reports BBC Tamil. While the district is home to a mainly Muslim population, the school is located close to a Buddhist vihara, with which it has reportedly experienced many years of dispute regarding land rights.