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…

GTF activities will be investigated says Sri Lanka govt

Dec 7, 2015
Sri Lanka's state minister for defence, Ruwan Wijewardene on Tuesday said that the Tamil diaspora organisation, the work of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) would be investigated.

Mr Wijewardene made these remarks following criticism by an opposition MP of the government's decision to de-proscribe the GTF, despite the organisation allegedly continuing to display of the Tamil Eelam map on its website.

"De-proscription was welcomed if the organizations which are de-proscribed had given up separatism, but the government should be alert if these organizations continued to hold such views," the opposition MP, Dullas Alhapperuma was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.

Former president needs more security says spokesperson

Dec 6, 2015
The former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, requires more security said his spokesperson on Sunday, stating that his life was in danger as former LTTE cadres had been released from prison.

"the release of hardcore LTTE cadres posed a serious threat to the former leader and those who had spearheaded the war against the LTTE," his spokesperson, Rohan Weliwita, was quoted as saying.

Sri Lanka's missing persons commission to meet in Jaffna on Friday

Dec 6, 2015
Sri Lanka's domestic Missing Persons Commission is set to meet in Jaffna on Friday, despite government announcements that the process was to be scrapped in October.

Colombo Gazette reported that the commission was set to hold sittings in Jaffna, Nallur, Vadamarachi and Vallikamam later this week.

However in October, Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who is also minister for the Buddha Sasana, announced the abolition of the commission, admitting that “even locally, most of the people are not happy with the Commission and they have no faith in its process”.

Mangala denies existence of secret detention centres in Sri Lanka

Dec 6, 2015
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera denied the existence of secret detention centres on the island, in a speech made to parliament last week.

"As we have mentioned before, there are no secret detention centres in operation in this country under this Government," said the minister.

"If anyone in Sri Lanka or overseas has any information regarding any such facility that may be in operation, the Government will take upon itself the task of ensuring that such facilities are examined and action is taken under the due process of the law," added Mr Samaraweera.

His comments come after the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances  (UN WGEID) visited the island and announced that it had discovered a “secret underground detention cum torture center”, calling on the government to reveal the existence of other such centers if any existed.

The minister though seemingly denied the group's findings, stating that their visit "proved to those both within the country and outside the country who allege that there are still secret detention centres in operation in this site, that there are no such detention centres in existence anymore in the Navy Base in Trincomalee".

Bar Association of Sri Lanka calls for accountability mechanism 'within framework of constitution'

Dec 6, 2015

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said an accountability mechanism to deal with crimes committed during the final phase of the armed conflict must take place "within the framework of Sri Lanka's Constitution" in a statement released last week.

The statement, addressing the recently passed UN Human Rights Council resolution mandating an accountability mechanism for mass atrocities, acknowledged that "existing judicial and prosecutorial systems have not met the confidence of many concerned".

Jaffna political prisoner declares hunger strike

Dec 6, 2015

A Tamil political prisoner has declared a hunger-strike to highlight the ongoing delays in the release of Tamil political prisoners.

Currently being held at the Jaffna Prison, 36-year-old S. Jeleepan is undertaking the hunger strike, which has already come to the attention of the Commissioner General of Prisons.

Jeleepan, originally from Achuveli, was arrested in 2006 while travelling from Mullaitivu to Polannaruwa.

EU announces housing project for war victims in North-East

Dec 6, 2015
The European Union will invest 14 million Euros to build houses and improve infrastructure in 9 divisions of the North and East.

The EU programme will seek to benefit over 300,000 people in Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya and Batticaloa.

The Habitat for Humanity project aims to construct at least 16,000 houses for conflict affected persons, minimise debt and provide holistic development support.

Speaking during the inauguration of the project, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, David Daly, said,

Sri Lanka to heighten security at Colombo international airport

Dec 5, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority Director General HMC Nimalsri announced that Sri Lanka will heighten security measures at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo to combat terrorism.

The official said that Sri Lanka was mandated to use body scanners to screen passengers at airports and would use the body scanners depending on the security threat level and if there was a need.

He added that Sri Lanka was currently studying other possible internationally adopted measures, reports Colombo Page.

Sri Lanka rejects calls for re-merger of Northern and Eastern provinces

Dec 5, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake rejected the idea of a re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Responding to a question by The Hindu on whether the two provinces be merged, Mr Karunanayake said,

 “At the moment we are trying to embrace all races, all religions together. I do not think we should segregate geographically.”

TNA constituent party will not back budget unless Tamil prisoners are freed

Dec 5, 2015
The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), a constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance, announced that it would not back Sri Lanka’s 2016 budget in parliament unless the Tamil political prisoners were freed.

The TELO leader, Selvam Adaikalanathan informed the Tamil National Alliance of his decision today, reports Colombo Gazette.

The Tamil National Alliance, formed of a coalition of parties including TELO, backed th second reading of Sri Lanka’s 2016 budget in parliament last week.
Former president needs more security says spokesperson
Sri Lanka's missing persons commission to meet in Jaffna on Friday
Mangala denies existence of secret detention centres in Sri Lanka
Bar Association of Sri Lanka calls for accountability mechanism 'within framework of constitution'
Jaffna political prisoner declares hunger strike
EU announces housing project for war victims in North-East
Sri Lanka to heighten security at Colombo international airport
Sri Lanka rejects calls for re-merger of Northern and Eastern provinces
TNA constituent party will not back budget unless Tamil prisoners are freed
Sri Lankan army constructs new Buddhist temple building in Eastern Province
Former president needs more security says spokesperson
Sri Lanka's missing persons commission to meet in Jaffna on Friday
Mangala denies existence of secret detention centres in Sri Lanka
Bar Association of Sri Lanka calls for accountability mechanism 'within framework of constitution'
Jaffna political prisoner declares hunger strike
EU announces housing project for war victims in North-East
Sri Lanka to heighten security at Colombo international airport
Sri Lanka rejects calls for re-merger of Northern and Eastern provinces
TNA constituent party will not back budget unless Tamil prisoners are freed
Sri Lankan army constructs new Buddhist temple building in Eastern Province