Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Hundreds march in Kilinochchi against limestone, sand mining and wind turbines
A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

CID to investigate allegations against Muslim doctor

Dec 13, 2019
<p>The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has released a statement, stating that they would launch an investigation into a Muslim doctor, Dr. Mohamed Safi Sihabdeen, who is accused of illegal sterilisation, corruption and supporting terrorism.</p> <p>An investigation launched earlier this July 2019, reported that there was no evidence to support the claims against Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen.</p> <p>Read Colombo Page reporting <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_19B/Dec12_1576174926CH.php">here</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Swiss embassy employee ordered to undergo psychiatric examination

Dec 13, 2019
<p>The Swiss embassy employee who was abducted on November 25 was ordered by the Colombo Magistrate's&nbsp;Court to undergo a psychiatric examination tomorrow.&nbsp;</p> <p>The&nbsp;travel ban imposed on the victim&nbsp;has been further&nbsp;extended until December 17, when&nbsp;the psychiatric report is to be submitted.&nbsp;</p>

Petition filed to UN after Sri Lanka arrests author for insulting Buddhism

Dec 12, 2019

A joint petition by US based law firm, Proskauer Rose LLP and non-profit, Freedom Now has been filed to the United Nations over the arbitrary imprisonment of Sri Lankan author Shakthika Sathkumara by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly insulting Buddhism.

British prime minister thanks Tamils and hopes for accountability in Sri Lanka

Dec 12, 2019

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a video thanking the British Tamil community for their contribution to life in the UK and expressed hopes for accountability in Sri Lanka.

In a video message that Johnson released on Twitter on the day of Britain’s general election, he said:

Vavuniya residents mark another massacre

Dec 12, 2019

A commemoration for another massacre carried out by the Sri Lankan army in 1984 was held in Vavuniya on Sunday.

Twenty-eight Tamil men and boys in Semamadu were woken up from their sleep and rounded up by the army, taken away in military vehicles never to be seen again, assumed to have been massacred.

Families decry surveillance as Sri Lankan intel out in force at disappeared protest

Dec 12, 2019

Families of the disappeared decried the surveillance and intimidation they endure at the hands of Sri Lankan security and intelligence forces, while Sri Lankan intelligence officers came out in force to photograph and carry out surveillance of a mass rally in Mullaitivu on Tuesday.

‘Trouble brews in post-election Sri Lanka’

Dec 12, 2019
Mario Arulthas
<p>The election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka “sent shockwaves across the Tamil-dominated northeast - where memories of his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa's brutal presidency, marked by mass atrocities and enforced disappearances, remain fresh,” writes&nbsp;Mario Arulthas, Advocacy Director at People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), in a piece for Al Jazeera this week.</p>

Tamil youth hospitalised in Mullaitivu shooting

Dec 11, 2019
<p>A Tamil youth was hospitalised from a shooting incident in Mullaitivu.</p> <p>Mallavi police said the incident took place around 4am on Tuesday but did not identify those involved.</p> <p>A 25-year-old was admitted to Kilinochchi hospital.</p> <p>Police said investigations were ongoing and claimed the incident was related to 'personal' issues.</p>

Brigadier linked to Jaffna gangs appointed head of Sri Lanka's intelligence

Dec 11, 2019

A Sri Lankan brigadier who had been previously removed from a posting due to links with military-backed gangs causing unrest in Jaffna, has been appointed the head of State Intelligence Service (SIS) by Sri Lanka’s new president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Swiss embassy employee to appear before court tomorrow

Dec 11, 2019
<p>The Swiss embassy employee who was abducted and assaulted is to appear before&nbsp;before the Fort Magistrate's Court tomorrow.&nbsp;</p> <p>The victim has given statements over the course of three days to Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department. She has also been produced before Colombo's Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) on two occasions.&nbsp;</p> <p>Both the CID and JMO will submit their reports to the court tomorrow.&nbsp;</p> <p>A travel ban was imposed on the victim, barring her from leaving the country until December 12.&nbsp;</p>
Swiss embassy employee ordered to undergo psychiatric examination
Petition filed to UN after Sri Lanka arrests author for insulting Buddhism
British prime minister thanks Tamils and hopes for accountability in Sri Lanka
Vavuniya residents mark another massacre
Families decry surveillance as Sri Lankan intel out in force at disappeared protest
‘Trouble brews in post-election Sri Lanka’
Tamil youth hospitalised in Mullaitivu shooting
Brigadier linked to Jaffna gangs appointed head of Sri Lanka's intelligence
Swiss embassy employee to appear before court tomorrow
Sri Lanka’s Navy uncovers dead bodies of three missing fishermen in the East
Swiss embassy employee ordered to undergo psychiatric examination
Petition filed to UN after Sri Lanka arrests author for insulting Buddhism
British prime minister thanks Tamils and hopes for accountability in Sri Lanka
Vavuniya residents mark another massacre
Families decry surveillance as Sri Lankan intel out in force at disappeared protest
‘Trouble brews in post-election Sri Lanka’
Tamil youth hospitalised in Mullaitivu shooting
Brigadier linked to Jaffna gangs appointed head of Sri Lanka's intelligence
Swiss embassy employee to appear before court tomorrow
Sri Lanka’s Navy uncovers dead bodies of three missing fishermen in the East