Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Chemmani mass grave toll reaches 366 ahead of ministerial visit
The number of skeletal remains identified at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna has risen to 366, as excavators uncovered further remains of children on Tuesday, at one of the largest mass graves unearthed on the island and a site long tied to the enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of Tamils by the Sri Lankan military. Six sets of skeletal remains, including those of children,…

Wimal Weerawansa warns against Maithri's 100 day programme

Feb 2, 2015

The leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a former key ally of the Rajapaksa-regime, warned against the new president Maithripala Sirisena's 100-day programme for reform.

Wimal Weerawansa, whose NFF expressed support for the programme earlier this month, said it is an "undeniable risk" to Sri Lanka's "hard-earned freedom".

The MP said the programme will pave the way for a federal Sri Lanka and called for national unity to oppose it.

Government prepared to implement capital punishment

Feb 2, 2015

Sri Lanka's government is prepared to implement capital punishment to put a halt to the increase in crime according to Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

Full and independent inquiry into war crimes' needed - UK Cabinet Minister

Feb 2, 2015


Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers

Britain's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers stated Sri Lanka's new government should co-operate with a United Nations inquiry into mass atrocities and called for the rights of Tamils on the island to be protected.

In a statement released on Monday, Ms Villiers said “the UK Government has consistently called for a full and independent inquiry into war crimes and human rights abuses during the civil war in Sri Lanka.”

“Now it is important for the new government in Sri Lanka to cooperate with the work on the UN on these crucial issues, and for all sides to work together for a negotiated inclusive settlement which provides for political equality and protects the rights of Tamils and all parts of the community in Sri Lanka.”

Ms Villiers' statement also congratulated the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils and the British Tamil Forum for their “highly successful” dinner last week, saying the “fact that so many parliamentarians were here shows how influential the British Tamil community is in UK politics.”

"I am sure that all the elected representatives who [were present] are determined to see justice for the Tamil people,” she added in her statement.

Protesters across North-East call on government to return detained relatives

Feb 2, 2015

(Photos: Uthayan)

Tamil protestors in towns in the North-East have demanded the return of relatives from state custody.

A demonstration in Vavuniya, organised by the Vavuniya Citizens Group and a civil society organisation from across the North-East called Naangal, was attended by parents, children and other relatives of people who were disappeared, who surrendered to the army during 2009 and other political detainees.

Sirisena renews issuing of police powers to Sri Lanka's armed forces

Feb 2, 2015
Sri Lanka’s president, Maithripala Sirisena, vested police powers to armed forces across the island in an “Extraordinary Gazette Notification“ announcement made on Tuesday, renewing an order introduced by the former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

TNA tells Biswal that only international mechanism will deliver justice

Feb 2, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance spokesperson told the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal, that only an international mechanism will ensure justice for the Tamil people, adding that the new Sri Lankan government was not paying attention to the Tamil people’s concerns.

Nisha Biswal meets TNA delegation Photograph:@USembSL

Tamil mothers demand new Sri Lanka govt returns missing children

Feb 1, 2015
Photographs Uthayan


Tamil mothers of the disappeared protested in Kilinochchi on Monday, demanding the new Sri Lankan government provide an answer to where their missing children are, almost 6 years after the end of the armed conflict and release all political prisoners.


Hard work and difficult challenges ahead says Biswal on Sri Lanka visit

Feb 1, 2015

The US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday for a three day visit of the island, said that a lot of hard work and some difficult challenges remained.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera, Ms Biswal said:
"President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremasinghe have put forth an ambitious agenda for their first one hundred days and much has already been accomplished in such a short time. But we recognise that there is a lot of hard work ahead and some difficult challenges."

Vavuniya residents call for accountability, justice and repeal of PTA

Feb 1, 2015
Residents in Vavuniya called for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the release of political prisoners and accountability and justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity, stating that until these issues were resolved, Sri Lanka's Independence Day on February 4, would be a black day for the Tamils.

In a statement released on January 31, the Vavuniya Citizens Group and a civil society organisation from across the North-East called "Naangal" condemned the ongoing arrest of Tamils under the PTA and use of torture in detention camps, calling for a protest on February 3 to demand these issues be addressed.

No cabinet decision to fully implement 13A says Sri Lanka minister

Feb 1, 2015
Sri Lanka's minister of power and energy, Champika Ranawaka denied support for full implementation of the 13th Amendment, stating that the cabinet was yet to make a decision on it.

Last month, Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe told parliament, that the new government was committed to implementation.

"We will implement the 13A within a unitary framework," Mr Wickremasinghe said.

Government prepared to implement capital punishment
Full and independent inquiry into war crimes' needed - UK Cabinet Minister
Protesters across North-East call on government to return detained relatives
Sirisena renews issuing of police powers to Sri Lanka's armed forces
TNA tells Biswal that only international mechanism will deliver justice
Tamil mothers demand new Sri Lanka govt returns missing children
Hard work and difficult challenges ahead says Biswal on Sri Lanka visit
Vavuniya residents call for accountability, justice and repeal of PTA
No cabinet decision to fully implement 13A says Sri Lanka minister
Tamil asylum seeker's forced transfer cancelled after protest
Government prepared to implement capital punishment
Full and independent inquiry into war crimes' needed - UK Cabinet Minister
Protesters across North-East call on government to return detained relatives
Sirisena renews issuing of police powers to Sri Lanka's armed forces
TNA tells Biswal that only international mechanism will deliver justice
Tamil mothers demand new Sri Lanka govt returns missing children
Hard work and difficult challenges ahead says Biswal on Sri Lanka visit
Vavuniya residents call for accountability, justice and repeal of PTA
No cabinet decision to fully implement 13A says Sri Lanka minister
Tamil asylum seeker's forced transfer cancelled after protest