Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan prime minister doubles down on support for OMP 
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has reiterated her government’s commitment to the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), despite widespread rejection of such domestic mechanisms by victims' families and Tamil civil society. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday in response to a question raised by Ilankai Tamil Arasu katchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Amarasuriya claimed the…

Isaipriya's fate was previously unknown to her family

Nov 8, 2013
The family of Tamil journalist Isaipriya had known nothing of her capture and execution until video evidence was broadcast on Channel 4.

Isaipriya's mother and two sisters, had only recently arrived seeking asylum in the UK. Her mother told Channel 4 that she had always thought that Isaipriya had died a victim of shelling.

See full interview on Jonathan Miller's blog.

Commonwealth will help Sri Lanka investigate torture

Nov 8, 2013

The Commonwealth Secratariat will help Sri Lanka set up a National Inquiry on Torture, Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma told the Hindu.

The inquiry, to be set up under the 'Sri Lanka National Human Rights Commission', will reportedly investigate all allegations of torture commited by state agents from 2009 to the present and will take 18 months to complete its work.

Jaffna University will be closed for Tamil Remembrance Day - report

Nov 8, 2013

Students of Jaffna University have been told to go home after notices were posted on the premises, saying that it will be closed until December 2, according to Colombo Gazette.

Tamils still face rape and torture in Sri Lanka's 'Unfinished War' - BBC reports

Nov 8, 2013

A new report by the BBC revealed further evidence of the rape and torture of Tamils in Sri Lanka today.

The thirty minute documentary, ‘Sri Lanka’s Unfinished War’ exhibited witness statements of men and women that alleged to have faced rape and torture by the Sri Lankan forces as recently as August 2013.

‘They will definitely torture me and kill me’

Nov 8, 2013

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Tamil torture victims recalled their experience at the hands of the Sri Lankan state and warned against sending Tamils back to the island.

Commenting on British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to attend CHOGM, one of the men, who could not be identified for security reasons said,

“I deeply regret [the British Prime Minister’s] decision to visit Sri Lanka at this juncture”.

He went on to say,

Corrupted Journalism'- Sri Lanka on heightening evidence of crimes against humanity

Nov 8, 2013

As part of an ‘Engage Sri Lanka’ campaign, the Sri Lankan government will hand out a 222 page book to brief journalists attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Colombo.

Channel 4 respond to Sri Lanka's 'Corrupted Journalism' booklet

Nov 8, 2013

The Channel 4 News Editor Ben de Pear,  today provided a detailed response to Sri Lanka’s ‘Corrupted Journalism’ booklet, which looked to discredit the work of Channel 4 News.

Extracts of his written statement are reproduced below:

World will need to provide an independent investigation if Sri Lanka fails to deliver - David Cameron

Nov 8, 2013

In a statement released after watching the documentary No Fire Zone, British Premier, David Cameron reiterated the need for an independent investigation into the killing of Tamil civilians.

 Full statement reproduced below.

Hunger striker continues to call for CHOGM boycott

Nov 7, 2013


Tamil protestor Parameswaran, who has been hunger striking outside Number 10 Downing Street, has continued to call on British Prime Minister David Cameron to boycott the upcoming CHOGM, due to be held in Colombo later this month.

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian Parameswaran said,
"The main aim is to stop Cameron from participating in the CHOGM and call for him to boycott it."
Commenting on British Prime Minister David Cameron's decision to remain steadfast in attending CHOGM, Parameswaran said,
"Even after meeting with Tamil representatives, he has refused to listen to British Tamil voices."

David Cameron's explanation is too little too late

Nov 7, 2013
Abinaya Nathan
If Number 10 is about to breathe a sigh of relief, they ought to know that their last ditch and very public efforts to engage with British Tamils have fallen far short of their placating intentions. Considering the Tamil community makes up over 100,000 of the British electorate, David Cameron was absolutely right to think he owed us an explanation. It’s just a shame that the explanation was far too little, too late.

Commonwealth will help Sri Lanka investigate torture
Jaffna University will be closed for Tamil Remembrance Day - report
Tamils still face rape and torture in Sri Lanka's 'Unfinished War' - BBC reports
‘They will definitely torture me and kill me’
Corrupted Journalism'- Sri Lanka on heightening evidence of crimes against humanity
Channel 4 respond to Sri Lanka's 'Corrupted Journalism' booklet
World will need to provide an independent investigation if Sri Lanka fails to deliver - David Cameron
Hunger striker continues to call for CHOGM boycott
David Cameron's explanation is too little too late
Engagement legitimises repression
Commonwealth will help Sri Lanka investigate torture
Jaffna University will be closed for Tamil Remembrance Day - report
Tamils still face rape and torture in Sri Lanka's 'Unfinished War' - BBC reports
‘They will definitely torture me and kill me’
Corrupted Journalism'- Sri Lanka on heightening evidence of crimes against humanity
Channel 4 respond to Sri Lanka's 'Corrupted Journalism' booklet
World will need to provide an independent investigation if Sri Lanka fails to deliver - David Cameron
Hunger striker continues to call for CHOGM boycott
David Cameron's explanation is too little too late
Engagement legitimises repression