Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Namal Rajapaksa, parliamentarian and son of accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa, has called on the Sri Lankan government to summon the Canadian High Commissioner to formally protest the unveiling of a Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton, Canada, claiming it promotes a “false genocide narrative” and “distorts history.” In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Rajapaksa accused the…

Jayalalitha calls for deportation of Sri Lankan officers

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to expel two Sri Lankan military officers, who are currently training in Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalitha called on Singh to make a policy decision not to train any more Sri Lankan armed personnel until credible action is taken by the government to stop human rights violations against Tamils and illegal attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen. She also expressed surprise that the previous decision not to train Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu was flouted.

"I strongly urge you to give suitable instructions to immediately discharge the two Sri Lankan officers from the training course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and to send them back to Sri Lanka forthwith," she said in a letter to the prime minister.

Outrage over lack of reverence for Lanka

Sri Lanka is reportedly indignant at the snubbing of the Sinhala national anthem in favour of a Hindi song at the opening ceremony of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Champions Trophy tournament.

Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) media manager Rajitha Fernando told the Nation newspaper:

7yr old rape victim identifies SL soldier as attacker

The 7-year-old victim of sexual assault from Nedunkeni, Vavuniya identified her attacker in court on Friday reports Tamilwin.

A soldier was reportedly arrested in connection with the assault.

The girl was abducted and raped on her way home from school on the 14th May.

The attack sparked demonstrations in Vavuniya demanding the arrest of the rapist.

Army deny involvement in Hindu temple looting in Batticaloa

The Sri Lankan Army's spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, denied that the Army was responsible for the recent spate of looting of Hindu temples in Batticaloa, reports Asian Tribune.

Brigadier Wanigasooriya said:

Govt responsible for hate speech and physical attacks against Tamil newspaper - Tamil MP

The Sri Lankan government was responsible for a campaign of "hate speech backed up by physical attacks" against the Tamil Jaffna based newspaper, Uthayan, accused a Tamil MP.

Listing the attacks against the newspaper, the TNA MP, MA. Sumanthiran, accused the government of being responsible, pointing out that armed attacks were taking place despite the heavy militarisation present.

"The last seven years, attacks on this newspaper [Uthayan], the incidents are over 30. Three zero. I don't think any other media institution in this country has suffered this amount of attacks."
"Two of their employees were shot dead, inside the premises. Gunmen came and opened fire, three others were seriously injured. Two died. That has not been inquired into. Nor has that crime been resolved. This was some time ago."

"If one is to look at the recent incident, just this year alone, their newspaper distributor was attacked, then their distribution centre in Kilinochchi was attacked by armed personnel, and you know you can't have an armed group in Kilinochchi doing this kind of operation and getting away. The highly militarised environment in Kilinochchi... if that can happen, it can only be an act of the government."

Only in Sri Lanka

During a parliamentary session, the former MP for Muslim Affairs, Mohamed Azwer, condemned criticism of the Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, DM Jayaratne, asserting that Jayaratne was a reincarnation of the Buddha.

See video at 16:08.

Mohamed Azwer's outcry against a TNA MP's criticism of Jayaratne's silence at attacks on the Tamil newspaper, Uthayan, has been transcribed below:

Sri Lanka to seek coal plant loan from Japan

Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Ministry’s Secretary MMC Ferdinando has said that his government is in discussions with Japan for a $600mn loan to fund a coal fuelled power plant in the south of the island.

"The cost is estimated at $600 million. This will be from a 40-year concessional loan. We have proposed a 600 MW capacity plant. But all will be decided after the feasibility study," the Secretary said.

Christian shrine found destroyed in Jaffna

Photographs Adaderana.lk

A Christian shrine in Jaffna, was found vandalised on Wednesday with its statue of Jesus smashed into pieces, reports Adaderana.lk.

The shrine was located by the 5th avenue in Maniyanthorttam. Local residents have made a formal complaint to the Sri Lankan police.

India won't solve Sri Lanka's political problems - BJP

The delegation of Indian politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party, currently visiting Sri Lanka, has said that India cannot solve the political problems on the island.

Main Tamil party need not be considered when solving the ethnic problem: Rajapaksa

Stressing that Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamil issue “ cannot be imported” , President Rajapaksa told the visiting Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader,  Ravi Shankar Prasad, that all political parties must join hands to find an ‘all-inclusive’ settlement to the ethnic issue.