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,…

Ensure peaceful and inclusive election Kerry tells Rajapaksa ahead of polls

Jan 7, 2015
The US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday to ensure today's election was "credible, peaceful and inclusive".

"The United States supports a free and fair electoral process in Sri Lanka that is credible, peaceful and inclusive," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told journalists on Wednesday.

"To that end, Secretary Kerry called the Sri Lankan President yesterday [Tuesday] to underscore the government's responsibility to ensure the January 8th elections will be free from violence and intimidation and that the vote counting is carried out credibly and transparently."

Police ban demonstrations for 7 days

Jan 7, 2015
Sri Lankan police banned all demonstrations and processions for seven days following the state's presidential election on Thursday.

"The decision to ban demonstrations and processions were taken to ensure law and order prevail in the country and to stop any kind of post-election violence," the police spokesperson, Ajith Rohana, was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying.


Sri Lanka slams UN again over peaceful election call

Jan 6, 2015
The Sri Lankan government has criticised the United Nations yet again, after the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General of the UN reiterated calls for a peaceful presidential election this week.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, had said in his press briefing on Monday,
“Obviously, we've seen the recent events in Sri Lanka, even those today, and I think it makes the Secretary-General's call for reconciliation, political dialogue that much more important and also his call to the Government to ensure that the elections are peaceful and that they're inclusive, including for minorities.”

Sri Lanka's astrologers face nervous times ahead of polls

Jan 6, 2015
Astrologers in Sri Lanka face a nervous time ahead of tomorrow's presidential polls, with worries of repercussions for failed predictions of victory for incumbent Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Speaking to the New York Times Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena told of the hazardous task he has as Rajapaksa's “royal astrologer”. Rajapaksa is known to be a strong believer in astrology, frequently seeking the advice of astrologers on a range of issues (see here and here). He recently announced that the Sri Lankan Treasury would provide modern computer technology to a group of astrologers, in order to assist with their predictions.

Sri Lanka's election could change everything... and nothing' – Callum Macrae

Jan 6, 2015
The ongoing repression of the Tamil people will continue regardless of which candidate wins the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential election, said documentary maker Callum Macrae in an opinion piece on Wednesday.

Writing for Channel 4 News, Macrae said,
“[Rajapaksa's] message to the Sinhala majority is designed to reinforce their conviction that Sri Lanka is a Sinhala nation, indivisible - and that the Tamils of the north and east must accept that, or have that forced upon them.”

Military deny election involvement in Tamil areas

Jan 6, 2015
Sri Lanka's military on Wednesday denied any involvement in election activities amid reports of soldiers being deployed to deter Tamils from voting.

"At the request of Returning Officers the votes of the citizens living in islands off the mainland will be transported by the Navy, and if due to some constraint that an aerial assistance be needed, then the Air Force will be utilised," the military spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said, reports Colombo Page.

Amnesty condemns death threats against opposition campaigners

Jan 6, 2015
Amnesty International, in a statement released a day before Sri Lanka's presidential election on January 8, condemned death threats issued to three prominent opposition campaigners.

"The Sri Lankan authorities must hold to account those who threatened three prominent opposition activists with death today and ensure that tomorrow’s presidential election passes without further violence," Amnesty International said, noting that the threats came after severed heads of dogs were placed outside the homes of the campaigners earlier this week, in an apparent warning to them.

Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director David Griffiths said:
“These death threats against activists who have been peacefully defending human rights are utterly deplorable.

HRW: serious concerns of post-election violence, esp in Tamil areas

Jan 6, 2015
The New York based rights group, Human Rights Watch, called on Sri Lankan authorities to ensure the presidential election on Thursday occurs without voter intimidation or violence, warning of the possibility of violence continuing after the election, particularly in the Tamil areas.

"There are also serious concerns about violence after the elections, regardless of the outcome. The Election Commission and other relevant authorities need to ensure that police and other security forces act in an impartial manner and respect the human rights of the population. This is especially true in the ethnic-Tamil dominated north and east of the country and other minority areas," HRW added in a statement.

No faith election will bring about political change for us - Jaffna Uni Students' Union

Jan 6, 2015

The Jaffna University Students' Union said in a statement on Tuesday, the Sri Lankan presidential election on January 8, will in no way help to bring about a permanent political solution for the Tamils.

“We do not have a drop of faith that this election will bring about a permanent political solution for us, the Tamil people” since both of the main candidates were “proponents of Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism," JUSU said.

“Today in this country, the Tamil people are living in a dark age, without good, stable political leadership, without freedom, and without rights,” the Union added.

Future president must address Tamil issue first - BJP

Jan 6, 2015
The winner of Sri Lanka's presidential election must first address the Tamil issue, stressed the BJP's global convener of overseas affairs, Vijay Jolly.

"Whoever wins in Sri Lanka should first address the Tamil issue," he was quoted by IANS as saying on Wednesday.

Police ban demonstrations for 7 days
Sri Lanka slams UN again over peaceful election call
Sri Lanka's astrologers face nervous times ahead of polls
Sri Lanka's election could change everything... and nothing' – Callum Macrae
Military deny election involvement in Tamil areas
Amnesty condemns death threats against opposition campaigners
HRW: serious concerns of post-election violence, esp in Tamil areas
No faith election will bring about political change for us - Jaffna Uni Students' Union
Future president must address Tamil issue first - BJP
War affected women demand future president demilitarises North-East
Police ban demonstrations for 7 days
Sri Lanka slams UN again over peaceful election call
Sri Lanka's astrologers face nervous times ahead of polls
Sri Lanka's election could change everything... and nothing' – Callum Macrae
Military deny election involvement in Tamil areas
Amnesty condemns death threats against opposition campaigners
HRW: serious concerns of post-election violence, esp in Tamil areas
No faith election will bring about political change for us - Jaffna Uni Students' Union
Future president must address Tamil issue first - BJP
War affected women demand future president demilitarises North-East