Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A newly published study has identified the earliest scientifically confirmed evidence of prehistoric human settlement on Velanai Island in the Jaffna Peninsula, dating back around 3,460 years and overturning an erroneous long-held Sri Lankan assumption that the region was largely uninhabited until much later. The study, published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology and led by…

Young journalist Nilakshan remembered on tenth anniversary of murder

On 1st August 2007, Sahathevan Nilakshan, an up and coming Tamil journalist was shot and killed by suspected Sri Lankan military intelligence personnel.

Sri Lanka cuts import taxes on rice, flour, maize and fish

The Sri Lankan government has cut import taxes on rice, flour, maize and fish in an attempt to keep prices down after drought affected crops, reports Economy Next

The 5 rupee import tax on rice has been cut to 25 cents and fish levy cut from 50 rupees to 25 rupees. 

The tax on wheat flour imports has been reduced by 10 rupees from 25 rupees per kilo to 15 rupees. 

Sri Lankan commander emphasises commitment to peacekeeping missions

The commander of the Sri Lankan army has reiterated “strong army commitment” to peacekeeping missions at a seminar held at the Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo today.

Two suspects arrested in Jaffna in response to attack on police constables

Two suspects have been arrested in Jaffna today for their alleged involvement in a sword attack on police constables in Kokkuvil last week.

A statement released by the police said that Jaffna and Kopay police had arrested 20 year old Thavarasa Madushan and 23 year old Vijayarathnam Sivaraj.

They were identified as residents of Nallur and Manippai, reports Dailymirror.lk.

Sri Lanka deploys military officials to examine welfare of drought victims

The Sri Lankan president deployed military officials to examine the welfare of those affected by drought in the country. 

Mr Sirisena gave the order at a special meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday on the issue, Colombo Page reported. 

Sri Lanka is not within jurisdiction of ICC reiterates Finance and Mass Media Minister

Sri Lanka’s Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera reiterated that Sri Lanka is not within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court 

Writing in the Daily Mirror Mr Mangala Samaraweera said,

Ranil promises to resolve debt crisis by 2025

Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday promised to resolve the island's debt crisis by 2025. 

"Just like good parents don't pass on their debt burden to the children, this government will not hand over the country's debt to the future generations and Sri Lanka will be a country free of debt by 2025," Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. 

Sri Lankan minister briefs Buddhist monks on draft constitution

A Sri Lankan government minister met with a senior Buddhist monk today, to brief the clergy on the process to draft a new constitution for the island.

US Defence Attaché meets Sri Lankan commanders

The newly appointed Defence Attaché at the US embassy in Sri Lanka met with commanders of the Sri Lankan security forces in Kilinochchi and Jaffna this weekend.

Tamil journalists concerned after photos published by Sinhala website

A Sinhala-language website has falsely used the photographs of three Tamil journalists in a story about a fraud incident in Dubai.

The website alleges that six Tamil youths working at a security firm in Dubai defrauded that firm of over a million Emirati dirhams.

In a collage of the supposed suspects, the website used the photographs of three prominent Tamil journalists based in Jaffna.

The journalists said they had brought the incident to the attention of the Inspector General of Police during his visit to Jaffna and were assured the IGP would be taking swift action against the website.