Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka claims commitment to repeal PTA in talks with EU 
Sri Lanka claimed it is committed to repealing the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), during the latest round of human rights discussions with the European Union, a move tied to its continued access to preferential trade benefits under the GSP+ scheme. At the eighth meeting of the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights under the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission,…

Sri Lankan military commends parents of 'War Heroes'

Oct 31, 2013
A ceremony of appreciation  was staged for the parents of Sri Lankan Army ‘war heroes’  who were killed in the ethnic conflict, reports the Ministry of Defence.

Parents of 135 perished Sri Lankan military personnel were rewarded with medals and parchments containing certificates.

This week also saw the Sri Lankan military demolish the remaining graveyards of the LTTE.

Gotabhaya welcomes Cameron visit to Jaffna

Oct 30, 2013

Defence Secretary and war crimes accused Gotabhaya Rajapkasa has said he welcomes international visits to the north of the island, as this could help the government “counter the lies” that are spread by the “LTTE rump”.

SL 'must allow a UN investigation' - Telegraph editorial

Oct 30, 2013
The Telegraph editorial on Thursday, entitled 'Sri Lanka's tragedy', called on British Prime Minister David Cameron to ensure Sri Lanka holds an 'independent and international inquiry' into the fate of the thousands of disappeared people.

Sri Lanka has the second highest number of 'disappeared' people in the world according to the UN, behind only Iraq.

Speaking on the upcoming CHOGM, the piece went on to say Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is 'deeply compromised' and it was 'never sensible' to allow Sri Lanka to host the event, yet it also added that a British boycott would not 'be wise'.

Disappearances, rape and torture remain prevalent in the North-East

Oct 30, 2013

Rape and torture by Sri Lankan security forces continues unabated despite the imminent arrival of David Cameron and 50 world leaders for a Commonwealth summit in the country, said Human Rights Watch (HRW) today.

Data gathered by Human Rights Watch revealed that Sri Lanka had the 2nd highest number of outstanding disappearance cases in the world.

Sri Lanka expels Australian IFJ activists

Oct 30, 2013
Sri Lanka has expelled two Australia media activists from the International Federation of Journalists, after raiding a Colombo hotel where they were speaking to colleagues on the island.

The pair, Jacqui Park and Jean Worthington, were interrogated by immigration and police officials before being expelled for breaking visa conditions.

Sunil Jayasekera from the Free Media Movement stated the two Australians were on holiday and were meeting their colleagues in a hotel in Colombo, before being held by the Sri Lankan authorities.

It's all about 'image'...

Oct 30, 2013

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) urged the Sri Lankan government to regain Sri lanka’s image.

The UNP spokesperson, Gayantha Karunathilaka, outlined the need to build confidence among members of the international community and improve the country’s ‘image’ in the international arena.

SL military general side-lined from ICRC event

Oct 30, 2013

The Sri Lankan military commander of the 57 division that was deployed in Vanni during the final stages of the armed conflict, has been side-lined from an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) event in Australia.

Remaining LTTE graveyards destroyed

Oct 29, 2013
The last two remaining LTTE graveyards in Tamil homeland have been demolished by the Sri Lankan military, a month ahead of this year's Maaveerar Naal or Heroes's Day, reported Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka.

The remaining cemeteries were located in Kanakapuram and Muzhankavil in the Kilinochchi district and Theravil in the Mullaitivu district.
 
The Jaffna based newspaper Uthayan was quoted as saying,

Vatican commission denounces Tamil genocide

Oct 29, 2013

The Vatican’s ‘Justitia-et-Pax’ (Justice and Peace) commission in the Jaffna diocese has denounced the genocide against the Tamil people and called on The Holy See to exert political pressure on the government of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka detains foreign media rights activist

Oct 29, 2013

An Australian activist was detained during a raid by immigration authorities on a meeting of journalists on Wednesday.

Jacqui Park, the Asia-Pacific representative for the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), was accused of working without a visa.

Gotabhaya welcomes Cameron visit to Jaffna
SL 'must allow a UN investigation' - Telegraph editorial
Disappearances, rape and torture remain prevalent in the North-East
Sri Lanka expels Australian IFJ activists
It's all about 'image'...
SL military general side-lined from ICRC event
Remaining LTTE graveyards destroyed
Vatican commission denounces Tamil genocide
Sri Lanka detains foreign media rights activist
Wigneswaran not invited to CHOGM, unlikely to attend
Gotabhaya welcomes Cameron visit to Jaffna
SL 'must allow a UN investigation' - Telegraph editorial
Disappearances, rape and torture remain prevalent in the North-East
Sri Lanka expels Australian IFJ activists
It's all about 'image'...
SL military general side-lined from ICRC event
Remaining LTTE graveyards destroyed
Vatican commission denounces Tamil genocide
Sri Lanka detains foreign media rights activist
Wigneswaran not invited to CHOGM, unlikely to attend