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,…

Jaffna Uni student assaulted by military intelligence officers

Dec 14, 2014
A student at the University of Jaffna was assaulted on Sunday evening, by four men who stated they were from Sri Lanka's military intelligence wing.

The student, who is currently a second year undergraduate, was detained by the officers at 10pm local time and taken in front of university premises where the assault took place, reported the Uthayan newspaper.

The officers then called a friend of the victim, a third year student, and demanded that he come immediately to the university in order to ensure his friend is released.

Military general hands over 1,500 acres of Tamil land to Sinhala settlement project

Dec 14, 2014
Over 1,500 acres of land belonging to Tamil families in Mullaithivu have been transferred to Sinhalese families resettled in Kokkuthoduvay reports TamilNet.

The provincial land commissioner was instructed  by the Sri Lankan military governor of the Northern Province, General Chandrasiri, to sign lands to Sinhala families under a ‘Mahaweli Development Scheme’ , sources told the paper.

The decision was announced in a closed door meeting with the military governor, Tamil officials and further members of the Sri Lankan military, despite over 3,000 unresolved cases filed by Tamils regarding land ownership issues in the area.

 The latest announcement has upset the original inhabitants of the area, said northern provincial councilor Thurairasa Ravikaran.

Sri Lanka must vote to ensure 'war victory' maintained says Rajapaksa

Dec 14, 2014
An overseas LTTE network was working against Sri Lankan interests, Mahinda Rajapaksa told crowds at an election rally in the south of the island.

Urging the public to vote for the ruling coalition, the Sir Lankan president said that the ‘victory’ achieved at the end of the war would be maintained following the election, reports the Colombo Gazette.

Rajapaksa added that people in Sri Lanka needed to continue to fight against terrorism and ensure that the LTTE does not raise its head in Sri Lanka again.

Amnesty International urges candidates to ensure prosecution for international law violations

Dec 14, 2014
Amnesty International has called on Sri Lanka's candidates in the forthcoming presidential elections to respect international human rights obligations and prosecute those suspected of committing crimes under international law.

In a statement released ahead of the presidential elections next month, the non-governmental organisation said it “calls on all candidates to make a firm commitment to end the widespread human rights violations that have plagued Sri Lanka for decades, eliminate the climate of impunity which facilitates these violations and abuses and combat ethnic, religious and gender-based discrimination and violence.”
“Sri Lanka’s new president can demonstrate his commitment to respecting human rights and bringing an end to impunity by committing publicly to ensure the investigation of serious violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law and, where sufficient evidence exists, the prosecution of those suspected of committing crimes under international law, irrespective of the identity of the victim or the suspect including their rank, political status or influence.”
Amnesty International highlighted areas of concern that it urged candidates to act on, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Buddhist hardline organisations and the culture of impunity on the island.

Maaveerar Naal marked across the United States

Dec 13, 2014

New York City

Events across the USA marked Maaveerar Naal last month, in remembrance of those Tamils who gave their lives for the Tamil struggle.

Remembrance events were held in California, Boston and New York City to mark the day, with hundreds of people in attendance.

See photos from the events below.

Sri Lankan navy threaten Indian fishermen

Dec 13, 2014
The Sri Lankan navy reportedly fired shots in the air and threw bottles and stones at Indian fishermen from Ramneswaran, who were forced to return to shore without any catch, reports the Hindu.

About 3,000 fishermen were fishing near Katchatheevu, when five Sri Lankan navy fast boats and a ship fired eight rounds in the air, said  S Emirite, President of the Rameswaram Fishermen’s organisation.

The navy personnel went on to throw stones and bottles at the fishermen from Tamil Nadu, before cutting the nets of twenty of the boats.

International conspiracy with 'pro-LTTE' diaspora to destabilise Sri Lanka - Peiris

Dec 13, 2014
There is an international plan to isolate Sri Lanka economically and destabilise the government, said the minister for external affairs whilst adding that a ‘biased’ United Nations investigation into wartime atrocities would not deliver justice.

In an interview with the Sunday Leader GL Peiris, said that there was “a concerted effort to get rid of a strong government,” and argued that ‘pro-LTTE’ diaspora were working with international actors to destabilise the country.

“So it all adds up to a complete and coherent picture. And connected with that is the plan to isolate the country economically,” said Peiris commenting on statements made by the Global Tamil Forum on Aljazeera and alleged reports of international evidence gathering “with regard to command structure of the armed forces.”

Jaffna university students remember Anton Balasingham

Dec 13, 2014

In a secret event, students at the University of Jaffna remembered the passing away of the LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham eight years ago today.

The event, which took place inside the university grounds new section, was held at 11am local time.

Youth Tamil footballer to train with top English Footballing Association scouts

Dec 13, 2014
A young Tamil footballer from Ilford, will have the opportunity to train with Premier League talent scouts after winning a national football competition last month.

After being ranked first out of over 500 footballing applicants in the under-16 category, Raj Vijayarajah, will be given the chance to train at the English Football Association’s St George’s Centre of Excellence.

10 German Tamils receive suspended sentences for funding LTTE

Dec 13, 2014

A court in Berlin has convicted ten Tamils for "supporting a terrorist organisation" and has given them suspended jail sentences lasting between 6 and 22 months.

The eight men and two women, aged between 32 and 60, were found guilty of financially supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, by collecting donations between August 2007 and March 2009.

The judges said the accused suffered violence and discrimination in their homeland and that they "primarily wanted to support humanitarian efforts, but were aware that funds could be used for criminal activities."

The federal government in Germany has recently increased monitoring of Tamils, at the behest of the Sri Lankan High Commission in Berlin, a Tamil activist told the Tamil Guardian.

Military general hands over 1,500 acres of Tamil land to Sinhala settlement project
Sri Lanka must vote to ensure 'war victory' maintained says Rajapaksa
Amnesty International urges candidates to ensure prosecution for international law violations
Maaveerar Naal marked across the United States
Sri Lankan navy threaten Indian fishermen
International conspiracy with 'pro-LTTE' diaspora to destabilise Sri Lanka - Peiris
Jaffna university students remember Anton Balasingham
Youth Tamil footballer to train with top English Footballing Association scouts
10 German Tamils receive suspended sentences for funding LTTE
MoD to rebuild house of military 'war hero'
Military general hands over 1,500 acres of Tamil land to Sinhala settlement project
Sri Lanka must vote to ensure 'war victory' maintained says Rajapaksa
Amnesty International urges candidates to ensure prosecution for international law violations
Maaveerar Naal marked across the United States
Sri Lankan navy threaten Indian fishermen
International conspiracy with 'pro-LTTE' diaspora to destabilise Sri Lanka - Peiris
Jaffna university students remember Anton Balasingham
Youth Tamil footballer to train with top English Footballing Association scouts
10 German Tamils receive suspended sentences for funding LTTE
MoD to rebuild house of military 'war hero'