Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Namal Rajapaksa demands summoning of Canadian High Commissioner over Tamil Genocide Monument
Namal Rajapaksa, parliamentarian and son of accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa, has called on the Sri Lankan government to summon the Canadian High Commissioner to formally protest the unveiling of a Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton, Canada, claiming it promotes a “false genocide narrative” and “distorts history.” In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Rajapaksa accused the…

We do not need a truth and reconciliation commission

Jan 20, 2014
Writing in the Sunday Times LK, Kishali Pinto Jayawardene, argues "we do not need a truth and reconciliation commission". Full text of her opinion is reproduced below:


We do not need a truth and reconciliation commission

Despite Sri Lanka’s most disgraceful history with a plethora of demonstrably useless Commissions and Committees established by successive Presidents, it is a matter for considerable astonishment that the Rajapaksa Presidency’s near desperate proposal of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission at the turn of this year, appears to have found support in some quarters of our society.

TNPF outlines Tamil demands for UNHRC

Jan 19, 2014

The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) discussed the systematic genocide that Tamils face in a meeting with a Canadian delegation, including Sarah Gills, the Senior Desk Officer for Sri Lanka, Maldives, and South Asian Relations, last week.

In a press release about the meeting, the TNPF reported that after discussing the many actions of the Sri Lankan state that constituted genocide of the Tamil nation, the organisation also laid out their expectations for the next UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva.

Tamil Nadu fishermen protest in Trincomalee

Jan 19, 2014
The 111 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were released following their mass arrest by the Sri Lankan Navy last month, are protesting in Trincomalee that their boats and other fishing equipment be returned to them, reports the Uthayan.

Fifteen boats were also seized by the Sri Lankan Navy in December, whilst arresting over 200 fishermen. Some reports said that upto 300 were arrested, with almost two-thirds later released.

Worldwide protests against Australia's detention of 46 refugees

Jan 19, 2014
Updated 23:55 GMT

Protests in Australia, as well as outside the Australian High Commission in Tamil Nadu and London today, are demanding the release of 46 refugees who have been detained indefinitely by Australia's Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

We do not trust any mechanism created locally' - Disappearances Committee NE

Jan 19, 2014
In a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, and writing on behalf of the Disappearance Commissions North and East, the Northern Province Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan reiterated the call for an international investigation stating "we do not trust any mechanism created locally, which in the past has not delivered justice to the survivors."

See full letter here. Extracts reproduced below:
"Regarding: Seeking UN monitored international independent inquiry into forced disappearances and abductions.

We the committees of the disappearance from the North and East, write to you as representatives of the collective body, that still seek justice. We do not trust any mechanism created locally which in the past has not delivered justice to the survivors.

No improvement in Sri Lanka's human rights situation - FCO

Jan 19, 2014
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in a quarterly human rights report, published today, outlined that Sri Lanka had not improved in the last 3 months despite the intensified international focus on the country’s human rights issues.

Four Indians arrested in North-East

Jan 18, 2014
Sri Lankan police arrested four Indian nationals in Pallai in the North, reported Colombo Gazette.

According to the police the four were arrested for visa violations, having allegedly engaged in business activities whilst on a tourist visa.

They will be brought before a Magistrate in Kilinochchi today.

UK minister reiterates March deadline for Sri Lanka

Jan 18, 2014
Britain’s Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire once again reiterated that unless allegations of war crimes have “credible, transparent and independent investigations” taking place by March, then Britain will push for an international investigation to begin.

Responding to a question on the progress of establishing an independent investigation, Swire went on to state that,
“We are regularly discussing Sri Lanka with a range of international partners in the run-up to the next session of the Human Rights Council in March”.
Swire also said that,
“we will continue to press the Sri Lankan Government for credible, transparent and independent investigations into alleged war crimes”.

Body of 19y male found in Oorkaavarthurai

Jan 18, 2014
The body of a 19 year old male was found in marsh land in Oorkaavarthurai yesterday, reports Uthayan.

The decomposing body has been identified as that of Anton Isrin, who was last seen leaving his house on January 14th.

His body has been taken to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for a post-mortem.


Sri Lanka to present findings from census at Geneva

Jan 18, 2014

Sri Lanka’s Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Buddhadasa Samarasinghe has said that he will present the findings from the census in Geneva during the UN Human Rights Council session in March.

The government announced the census last year and said it would be used to ascertain the real number of people who died during the conflict.

TNPF outlines Tamil demands for UNHRC
Tamil Nadu fishermen protest in Trincomalee
Worldwide protests against Australia's detention of 46 refugees
We do not trust any mechanism created locally' - Disappearances Committee NE
No improvement in Sri Lanka's human rights situation - FCO
Four Indians arrested in North-East
UK minister reiterates March deadline for Sri Lanka
Body of 19y male found in Oorkaavarthurai
Sri Lanka to present findings from census at Geneva
Mannar mass grave toll reaches 40
TNPF outlines Tamil demands for UNHRC
Tamil Nadu fishermen protest in Trincomalee
Worldwide protests against Australia's detention of 46 refugees
We do not trust any mechanism created locally' - Disappearances Committee NE
No improvement in Sri Lanka's human rights situation - FCO
Four Indians arrested in North-East
UK minister reiterates March deadline for Sri Lanka
Body of 19y male found in Oorkaavarthurai
Sri Lanka to present findings from census at Geneva
Mannar mass grave toll reaches 40