Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Mullaitivu police arrested Tamil farmers who were cultivating farmland at the foothills of Kurunthurmalai, where a Buddhist temple has been illegally constructed.  The farmers were cultivating the privately owned land when they were obstructed by a Buddhist monk, Galgamuwa Shantha Bodhi, police and Department of Archaeology officials before they were arrested.  Bodhi, the head…

Four more skulls found in Mannar

Four further skulls have been found at a site in Thirukketheeswaram in Mannar, according to the police.

Last week construction workers found two human skeletons.

A spokesperson from the police told AFP,

Family of murdered aid worker vow to fight for justice

The family of British aid worker Khuram Shaikh, who was murdered in a Sri Lankan holiday resort on Christmas Day 2011, have vowed to continue their fight for justice despite the Sri Lankan authorities “painfully slow” manner in handling the case.

Speaking to the Guardian, Khuram’s father Mohammad Zaman Shaikh said,
"The Sri Lankan authorities have handled the case in a painfully slow manner... They are trying to brush it under the carpet in the hope that people will forget about what happened and that we will stop fighting for justice."
"We will never stop fighting for justice."
Khuram’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Victoria Tkacheva, who was raped and left with a fractured skull in the attack that saw Khuram shot dead, stated earlier this year that she would also “go to the end” for justice.

Simon Danczuk, Member of Parliament for the Shaikhs’ constituency, travelled to Sri Lanka in order to meet with government ministers in the hope of bringing the killers to justice. Danczuk, said,
"The loss this family has suffered is unbearable and I've seen for myself the pain in the parents' eyes as they struggle to come to terms with what happened to their son".
"I do not want another Christmas to pass with Khuram's killers still walking free."

Gotabhaya urges Sri Lankan expatriates to return

The Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse has urged expatriate Sri Lankans ‘from all communities’ to return to the island and support its growth.

Gotabhaya said the government was keen on creating an environment conducive for professionals to live and work in Sri Lanka, reported Colombo Gazette.

SL Army does reconciliation at Christmas

The Sri Lankan Army has erected the largest Christmas tree in the island, for Tamils in Kilinochchi, to "show their solidarity towards the resettled community during this season of peace and giving."

Showcasing the incident, as a step that would "brighten the efforts of reconciliation in the region", the Defence Ministry website read,

Uthayan journalist attacked

A journalist for the Jaffna based newspaper, Uthayan, was attacked by his home in Vanni on Saturday, reported the paper.

The journalist, N. Kirushnakumar, was attacked by three men who arrived by motorbike to his house. He has been admitted to a hospital in Kilinochchi with head injuries.

One of the three was caught and handed over to the police, whilst the others escaped. According to the paper, the attacker who was caught, identified himself as Nathan, and alleged he was a supporter of a "political party". Further details are unknown.

Sri Lanka's trilingual policy

Photograph Tamilwin

A board sign in Sri Lanka, along the coast in the south of the island.


Sri Lanka to ‘take back’ oil tanks leased to India

Sri Lanka is seeking to revoke the lease to an Indian company of a petroleum storage tank complex in Trincomalee, President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated in Parliament on Friday.

In a speech addressing parliament, Rajapaksa is quoted as saying,
"Our oil storage tanks located in Trincomalee were privatized. We are currently having talks to take them back (under state control)".

As thick as thieves

As 2013 winds to a close, Sri Lanka's politicians relax and unwind at a special dinner, courtesy of the Speaker, Chamal Rajapaksa at his residence.

Guests included the opposition leader, Ranil Wickramasinge of the UNP...

Further SL Navy landgrabs in Pulmoddai

The Sri Lankan Navy has been engaging in further landgrabs in Pattikuda in the eastern Pulmoddai region, reports Tamilwin.

A sign was erected on the land, belonging to local residents, declaring it to belong to the navy. Residents were forced out, with their huts, fences and crops destroyed.

Military exercises with Sri Lanka are ‘outrageous’

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has slammed the Indian government over reports that the Indian Coast Guard is participating in military exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, Jayalalithaa said,

“I am totally dismayed to note from media reports that the Indian Coast Guard is participating in a marine defence exercise and has deputed ships, officers and men to Trincomalee, to participate in this exercise which is reported to be commencing there on 21st December, 2013.”

“This is in complete and callous disregard of the strong views and emotions of the people of Tamil Nadu clearly and unambiguously conveyed in my earlier letters to the Prime Minister, through Assembly resolutions and through protests, agitations and demonstrations by the people of Tamil Nadu.”

“The Government of India has still chosen to ride rough shod over the groundswell of emotions in Tamil Nadu and has persisted with its policy stance towards Sri Lanka.”