Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The arithmetic of a grave
This week, the number of skeletal remains uncovered at Chemmani reached a stark record of 387. With that figure, a patch of earth on the edge of Jaffna town became the largest mass grave ever uncovered on the island, surpassing the 376 remains recovered at Mannar. Recent days alone have seen the bodies of several children exhumed, alongside beads and bangles. These are the contents of the…

Norway to support recently resettled in Jaffna

Jan 9, 2016
The Norwegian government pledged to support to improve access to justice and livelihood opportunities of those newly resettled in Jaffna, the LBO reported.

The support is to be delivered in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP). A partnership was signed between the UNDP's country director, Joern Soerensen and the Norwegian ambassador Thorbjørn Gaustadsæther.

See more here.

Sirisena announces process to draft Sri Lanka's new constitution

Jan 9, 2016
Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday announced that the country’s constitution needed to be changed to suit the present era for the development of the country.

Addressing a special session of parliament, Mr Sirisena said the draft constitution must fulfill the needs to eliminate poverty and achieve prosperity through economic development and strengthen unity among all ethnic religious groups.

‘Perpetrators of murder need to be brought to justice’ says UN spokesperson

Jan 9, 2016

The perpetrators of the killing of journalists in Sri Lanka “need to be brought to justice” said the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, adding that the United Nations is aware of an ITJP report on-going torture and sexual violence by Sri Lanka’s security forces.

Responding to a question from Inner City Press, Stéphane Dujarric told a press briefing,

“You know, obviously, unsolved cases of harassment and killings of journalists need to be solved and the perpetrators need to be brought to justice”.

Mr Dujarric also confirmed that “I know our human rights colleagues are aware of the reports put forward by the NGOs that you'd mentioned,” referring to a recently released report by the International Truth and Justice Project, detailing ongoing torture in Sri Lanka.

World Tamil Research Conference massacre remembered in Jaffna

Jan 9, 2016

The massacre of nine civilians by Sri Lankan police at the fourth World Tamil Research Conference in 1974 was remembered in Jaffna on Sunday.

Sri Lanka cancels Pakistan jet deal after Indian opposition

Jan 9, 2016

The Sri Lankan government cancelled a deal to buy Pakistani fighter jets after a “diplomatic missive” from India, reports The Indian Express.

New Delhi reportedly told Sri Lanka that its current defence requirements meant it did not need the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, whilst also sending a negative technical assessment of the aircraft.

The message was reportedly delivered via a non-paper - a white sheet of paper without a letterhead or signature —“at the highest levels” says The Indian Express.

Monks urge Sri Lankan leaders to ensure Buddhism foremost place

Jan 9, 2016
The Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy and key Buddhist organisations urged the Sri Lankan president and prime minister to ensure that the new constitution gave Buddhism the foremost place, reported the Daily Mirror.

They also called for the constitution to ensure the duty of the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana.

"Article 9 of the present Constitution, which ensures that Buddhism be given the foremost place and also guarantees that it is the duty of the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, should be included in the Constitution of Sri Lanka without any amendments," the organisations said in a letter outlining their proposals to the Sri Lankan leaders.

Sri Lankan commander seeks New Year blessings from Buddhist monks

Jan 9, 2016

The commander of the Sri Lankan army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva sought blessings from Buddhists monks for the year ahead on Saturday, as he presented offerings at the Temple of the Tooth on Saturday.

New Sri Lankan military block opened in Jaffna

Jan 9, 2016

The Sri Lankan military ceremoniously declared opened a new accommodation block for troops in Jaffna on New Year’s Day.

The new construction at the Sri Lankan Headquarters Security Force Jaffna (SF-J) was declared open by Major General Nandana Udawatta and will be able to house 80 soldiers in the block.

Sirisena reassures monks that new Sri Lanka constitution will protect Buddhism

Jan 9, 2016
Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena vowed to protect the foremost place of Buddhism in Sri Lanka’s new constitution and said who would not govern the country without seeking advice from the Buddhist Maha Sanga, reports Colombo Page.

Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka's President and Wartime Abuses

Jan 8, 2016
Taylor Dibbert
Reviewing a year of Sirisena’s presidency, Taylor Dibbert raised concerns on the urgent need for security sector reform, witness protection, and accountability for wartime abuses which could include war crimes.

Full opinion reproduced below.

In January 2015, Maithripala Sirisena, unexpectedly thwarted Mahinda Rajapaksa's quest for an unprecedented third presidential term. According to his campaign pledges, Sirisena hoped to address various issues including constitutional reform, anti-corruption and improved governance. The broad coalition that supported his campaign could at least agree on one thing: that Rajapaksa needed to go.
Years from now, how will the election of Sirisena be remembered? And what about healing those wounds of war and finding a lasting political solution to an ethnic conflict that has burned for seven decades?
Sirisena announces process to draft Sri Lanka's new constitution
‘Perpetrators of murder need to be brought to justice’ says UN spokesperson
World Tamil Research Conference massacre remembered in Jaffna
Sri Lanka cancels Pakistan jet deal after Indian opposition
Monks urge Sri Lankan leaders to ensure Buddhism foremost place
Sri Lankan commander seeks New Year blessings from Buddhist monks
New Sri Lankan military block opened in Jaffna
Sirisena reassures monks that new Sri Lanka constitution will protect Buddhism
Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka's President and Wartime Abuses
No national security threat assures Sri Lanka army commander
Sirisena announces process to draft Sri Lanka's new constitution
‘Perpetrators of murder need to be brought to justice’ says UN spokesperson
World Tamil Research Conference massacre remembered in Jaffna
Sri Lanka cancels Pakistan jet deal after Indian opposition
Monks urge Sri Lankan leaders to ensure Buddhism foremost place
Sri Lankan commander seeks New Year blessings from Buddhist monks
New Sri Lankan military block opened in Jaffna
Sirisena reassures monks that new Sri Lanka constitution will protect Buddhism
Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka's President and Wartime Abuses
No national security threat assures Sri Lanka army commander