Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing". Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the…

Indian Security advisor to enter talks with Rajapaksa

The Indian National Security Advisor, Shiv Shankar Menon, will visit Sri Lanka on the basis of holding tri-lateral talks between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, announced the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS).

According to the MCNS director, Lakshman Hulugalla, the Indian National  Security Advisor will call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya.  

No sincere effort by SL govt says GTF 

Speaking to the Island the Global Tamil Forum said it was not possible to comment on whether South Africa could be a facilitator in talks between the TNA-GTF and the Sri Lankan government. 

GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran said: 

Malaysian No Fire Zone screening raided by police

Human rights activists that helped set up the screening of the ‘No Fire Zone’ documentary were detained by the Home Ministry in Malaysia today.

The event was organised by the human rights group Pusat Komas, in an attempt to raise awareness about the war crimes and atrocities that happened at the end of 2009 in Sri Lanka.

SL asks US to lift travel advisory

The Sri Lankan government has called upon the US to lift warnings about travelling to the island, after an update to the travel advisory by the State Department.

The US ambassador to Colombo, Michelle Sison, was summoned to a meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs, where they requested the US to withdraw the advisory.

The Buddha pops up in Muslim school playground

Residents of Oddamavady, Batticaloa have been disturbed by the appearance of a Buddha statue in the middle of the playground of a Muslim faith school reports BBC Tamil.

While the district is home to a mainly Muslim population, the school is located close to a Buddhist vihara, with which it has reportedly experienced many years of dispute regarding land rights.

Sri Lanka bans Time July 1st issue

The July 1st issue of Time magazine has been banned in Sri Lanka, due to its cover sotry -  "The Face of Buddhist Terror".

According to the AFP, the spokesperson for the Customs Department Lesley Gamini said the issue was banned as it 'could raise religious tensions in the country'.

Gamini said:

"By operation of law these magazines will be confiscated,"

Uthayan’s “racist” writing sowing hatred – SLFP member

A former MP and member of President Rajapakse’s SLFP has slammed the Tamil newspaper Uthayan’s content, saying it is attempting to sow communal hatred.

The paper had recently carried comments by a catholic priest and a former judge, who had criticised the oppression and militarisation in the Tamil homeland.

The Daily News reported that they said that Tamils remained oppressed by the government and still lived in fear across the island, although the war had ended.

Sri Lanka makes nuclear agreement with Russia

Sri Lanka and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate vocational training for Sri Lankan nuclear scientists in Russia, reports Colombo Page.

The agreement includes managing nuclear and radiation safety issues and development of nuclear technology infrastructure in Sri Lanka.

Defining response

The attack on Tamil ‘Boycott Sri Lankan Cricket’ campaigners by Sri Lankan cricket fans at the Oval on June 17th was truly shocking. What began as Sri Lankan fans shouting and spitting at activists, swelled into anti-Tamil taunting followed by physical assaults, where Tamil activists were punched and kicked by a mob. This attack was not alcohol fuelled sporting hooliganism; nor was it pro-government Sri Lankans attacking anti-government activists - as the attackers’ taunting made clear, the activists were targeted solely because of their Eelam Tamil identity, not for their campaigning. The attack was racially motivated violence by ordinary Sri Lankans against Eelam Tamils on the streets of London.

Monk held over death

A Buddhist monk has been remanded in prison for the killing of a man.

Saman Kumara Tillakaratne died during a visit to a temple, after the monk allegedly attacked him with a cricket bat and a brick.

The victim died the day after he was admitted to hospital. Police are reported to have recovered the bat and brick, used in the attack, and a bloodied robe, from the monk’s home.