Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Protest erupts outside Colombo school over suicide of Tamil schoolgirl Amshi
Hundreds of protestors gathered outside Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College in Bambalapitiya this week, demanding justice for 16-year-old Amshi, a Tamil schoolgirl who died by suicide after reportedly enduring prolonged sexual abuse by her Maths teacher. The protest, which blocked Colombo’s Duplication Road, saw demonstrators calling for the immediate arrest and permanent suspension of the…

Cameron should not go to Colombo - FT editorial

Nov 10, 2013

In its editorial Monday, the Financial Times newspaper urged British Premier David Cameron not to attend the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka later this week.

See here (registration required) the full text of the FT's editorial titled 'Cameron should not go to Sri Lanka'.

Pointing to Sri Lanka’s “appalling human rights record”, including both wartime atrocities - “which would be bad enough” – and abuses since, the editorial said:

“[Mr. Cameron’s] decision to attend is hard to justify. It seems driven largely by the fact that a boycott would have embarrassed the Commonwealth. This, however, ignores the public relations gift that the presence of a British prime minister – and other leaders – bestows upon a bloodstained regime.

Britain should have boycotted CHOGM, must take up Sri Lanka at summit – The Independent editorial

Nov 10, 2013

“Britain should have joined Canada in taking a principled stand” and boycotted the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka this week,” The Independent newspaper said in its editorial Monday.


Titled “The Commonwealth should not be conferring legitimacy on a regime with blood on its hands,” the editorial (see full text here) urged Mr. Cameron to take up Sri Lanka at the CHOGM summit.

Cameron should have boycotted CHOGM – New Statesman editorial

Nov 10, 2013

British Premier David Cameron should have boycotted the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, the New Statesman magazine said in its editorial Monday, titled 'Sri Lanka is a rogue state'.


Channel 4 News team welcomed to SL by 'Movement to Promote National Harmony'

Nov 10, 2013

Photographs DailyMirror.lk

The Channel 4 News team was met by Sri Lankan protesters demonstrating outside the airport and their hotels, including one notable one by the 'Movement to Promote National Harmony', as they arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), today.

TYO UK - Cameron should boycott CHOGM immediately

Nov 10, 2013
In a statement released on Monday, the Tamil Youth Organisation UK called on the British Prime Minister to boycott the CHOGM this week.

See here. Extract published below:
"Four years on and still the Sri Lankan state has not been held accountable for these war crimes, crimes against humanity and most importantly crimes of genocide. Instead, they are being given time and space to commit more atrocities in the name of ‘reconciliation’, through which the Tamil nation is continuing to face structural genocide."

Australian senator urges CHOGM boycott

Nov 10, 2013
Lee Rhiannon, the Australian senator that was detained in Sri Lanka, along with a New Zealand MP, has written in the Guardian recounting her experiences in Sri Lanka and in the Northeast, concluding that Australia should boycott CHOGM.

See Rhiannon’s full piece on Comment is Free. Extracts reproduced below:

Protest organisers in Vali North receive death warnings

Nov 10, 2013

Tamil campaigners and members of the elected body who had been organising protests against land grab in Valikaamam North, found the heads of dead cows on their doorsteps on Monday morning - an act that is considered a death threat.

NZ Prime Minister 'definitely going to Sri Lanka'

Nov 10, 2013
The Prime Minister of New Zealad has said he is 'definitely going to Sri Lanka' despite growing oppposition to his visit, and the detention of a New Zealand MP in Colombo last week.

Prime Minister John Key stated that it "just happens to be that Sri Lanka is the host of the summit in 2013" confirming that he would not boycott the summit.

Australian Senator detained after speaking out in Sri Lanka

Nov 9, 2013

Senator Rhiannon being detained by SL officials.
Photo:Tamil Mirror


Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon was detained by Sri Lankan authorities after speaking out against sexual abuse and land confiscation by state authorities on the island, on her return to Colombo from the Tamil North-East.

Sri Lanka refuses to sign oil storage deal with Indian firm

Nov 9, 2013

The Sri Lankan government has hardened its stance on a lease agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation.

The Indian company is trying to set up a bitumen plant in the northeast, however Sri Lanka has not signed the 10-year old agreement.

Britain should have boycotted CHOGM, must take up Sri Lanka at summit – The Independent editorial
Cameron should have boycotted CHOGM – New Statesman editorial
Channel 4 News team welcomed to SL by 'Movement to Promote National Harmony'
TYO UK - Cameron should boycott CHOGM immediately
Australian senator urges CHOGM boycott
Protest organisers in Vali North receive death warnings
NZ Prime Minister 'definitely going to Sri Lanka'
Australian Senator detained after speaking out in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka refuses to sign oil storage deal with Indian firm
Foreign media restricted to report on CHOGM only - Media Ministry
Britain should have boycotted CHOGM, must take up Sri Lanka at summit – The Independent editorial
Cameron should have boycotted CHOGM – New Statesman editorial
Channel 4 News team welcomed to SL by 'Movement to Promote National Harmony'
TYO UK - Cameron should boycott CHOGM immediately
Australian senator urges CHOGM boycott
Protest organisers in Vali North receive death warnings
NZ Prime Minister 'definitely going to Sri Lanka'
Australian Senator detained after speaking out in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka refuses to sign oil storage deal with Indian firm
Foreign media restricted to report on CHOGM only - Media Ministry