Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Displaced residents of the Valikamam North region of Jaffna held protests on Monday, in front of the Jaffna District Secretariat and near Palaly Junction, marking 36 years since their forced displacement and demanding the right to return and resettle in their lands. The people of Valikamam North were displaced from their homeland on 15 June 1990 by the Sri Lankan military. Thirty-six years on…

NZ Prime Minister 'definitely going to Sri Lanka'

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


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

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.

Foreign media restricted to report on CHOGM only - Media Ministry

Foreign media who have arrived in Sri Lanka to cover the Commonwealth summit, will be restricted to reporting on CHOGM related events only, said Media Secretary Charitha Herath.

“There will be no restrictions on travel within Sri Lanka for foreign media personnel who arrive in the country for CHOGM, but only as tourists,” he said.

“However, those who come as part of the official delegations of various countries, can carry out media related activities and will get accreditation to cover only CHOGM related events.”

Premier Singh not attending CHOGM – Indian press reports

Indian media reports say Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has will not attend the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka next week.

India will be represented by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Isaipriya's fate was previously unknown to her family

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


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

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

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’

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,