Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan minister’s driver assaults Tamil fisherman during visit
A fisherman in Keppapulavu, Mullaitivu, was assaulted during a visit by Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister, Ramalingam Chandrasekaran, as tensions flared during the Minister’s local government election campaign on 24 April. Chandrasekaran, who was touring the North-East with National People’s Power (NPP) candidates, visited Keppapulavu where he met with representatives of the Keppapulavu Fishermen…

SL deputy High Commission receives bomb threats

Jul 13, 2013
Sri Lanka's Deputy High Commission in Chennai has stepped up security after officials received bomb threats via a letter, reports Hirunews.lk.

According to officials, a postcard warned that bombs would go off at the mission, and condemned the Sri Lankan government's activities.

The Chennai police's cyber crime wing will be investigating the incident.

"Firstly, we need to secure the Tamil nation from the ongoing genocide" - Gajendrakumar

Jul 13, 2013
Speaking to The Weekend Leader, the leader of the Tamil National Peoples' Front (TNPF), Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, explained his reasons for calling for a Transitional Administration in the North-East, stating that "firstly, we need to secure the Tamil Nation from the ongoing Genocide."

See here for part 1 of the interview, extract reproduced below:

Jayalalithaa calls for ‘bold stand’ from India

Jul 13, 2013

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has called upon India’s central government to "take a bold stand in support of (Sri) Lankan Tamils" and stated that the aspirations of Tamils on the island could only be realised through an independent state.

Matter for humanity that justice is done' - interview with Callum Macrae

Jul 12, 2013
Tamil Guardian's correspondent based in Toronto, Canada, caught up with the director of the documentaries 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields' and 'No Fire Zone - the killing fields of Sri Lanka', Callum Macrae, at the sidelines of FETNA 2013, to find out how he viewed Sri Lanka's reaction to the documentaries, himself and others who are speaking out against the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils.

No European monitors at provincial polls

Jul 12, 2013
Political parties were told by the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya that no European countries would be invited to monitor provincial elections.

According to Deshapriya, the decision was made based on an uncited request that monitors from countries that voted against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) should not be entertained by Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka pledges to allow 'free' press at CHOGM

Jul 12, 2013

In light of concerns that Sri Lanka will restrict media access to international journalists to cover the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Sri Lanka government have outlined that it will entirely follow the guidelines set by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

‘Special police units’ set up for NPC

Jul 12, 2013

The Sri Lankan Police have announced that ‘special units’ are being set up in every police station in Jaffna, specifically for the upcoming Northern Provincial Council elections.

Speaking on the announcement, the Senior Superintendent of Police Jaffna said that they would be operating 24 hours a day, adding,

“We expect the political parties and their candidates in the fray to adhere to the election laws”.

US and Sri Lanka Armed Forces engage in training

Jul 12, 2013

Troops from the US Naval Special Warfare Community and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces began their annual joint training program in Trincomalee earlier this week, reported Sri Lanka’s Navy.

SL minister refutes rape testimony of murdered Brit's partner

Jul 11, 2013
Sri Lanka's Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, told Parliament on Wednesday that the partner of the murdered British citizen, Khuram Shaikh, was not subjected to any rape or sexual violence. 

Gunawardena said that she 'had only received serious injuries as a result of being assaulted', reported Ceylon Today.

However, earlier this year, Shaikh's partner Victoria Alexandravona, speaking in an interview said,

“You try not to think that could have happened but it’s disgusting because they killed Khuram and sexually assaulted me”.

When Gunawardena was challenged, by highlighting the fact that her testimony contradicted his remarks, Gunawardena replied:

“I am presenting the answer given to me by the Ministry of Defence, based on the police records submitted to them. If you have more details or evidence on the matter, present it to the Court as there is case pending.”

Asked whether she was still alive, Gunawardena assured that she was.

See related articles:

Sri Lanka rape victim will ‘go on to the end’ for justice (21 Apr 2013)

UK MP pledges to canvas Queen for CHOGM boycott (08 Mar 2013)

Commonwealth Sec defends its authority over media accreditation

Jul 10, 2013
In a press release, published on Thursday, the Commonwealth Secretariat's spoksperson and Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Richard Uku, clarified regarding media accreditation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to be held in Sri Lanka later this year.

The statement comes amidst increasing controversy surrounding the media accreditation for international journalists, following remarks by Sri Lankan officials - including the Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, and the Consul General to New South Wales, Australia, Bandula Jayasekara. See here.

Such interference by the host country into the international media presence at a CHOGM is unprecedented.

Highlighting the sentence in bold, the spokesperson's statement read: "As is customary, the Commonwealth Secretariat is the final authority for all international media accreditation for CHOGM", but added "The accreditation process will be carried out in collaboration with the host country authorities, who are responsible for processing and approving visa applications by accredited media."

The statement comes as another journalist for a Tamil media source, Uthayan, was attacked.

See here for full statement, further extracts reproduced below.
"Firstly, we need to secure the Tamil nation from the ongoing genocide" - Gajendrakumar
Jayalalithaa calls for ‘bold stand’ from India
Matter for humanity that justice is done' - interview with Callum Macrae
No European monitors at provincial polls
Sri Lanka pledges to allow 'free' press at CHOGM
‘Special police units’ set up for NPC
US and Sri Lanka Armed Forces engage in training
SL minister refutes rape testimony of murdered Brit's partner
Commonwealth Sec defends its authority over media accreditation
CPJ: 'Commonwealth must ensure media access for CHOGM'
"Firstly, we need to secure the Tamil nation from the ongoing genocide" - Gajendrakumar
Jayalalithaa calls for ‘bold stand’ from India
Matter for humanity that justice is done' - interview with Callum Macrae
No European monitors at provincial polls
Sri Lanka pledges to allow 'free' press at CHOGM
‘Special police units’ set up for NPC
US and Sri Lanka Armed Forces engage in training
SL minister refutes rape testimony of murdered Brit's partner
Commonwealth Sec defends its authority over media accreditation
CPJ: 'Commonwealth must ensure media access for CHOGM'