Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Jaffna LGBTQIA+ community holds fifth annual Pride Walk
The LGBTQIA+ community in Jaffna held their fifth annual Pride Walk, under the theme  “We Exist For Each Other".  The walk, organised by the Jaffna Transgender Network, began outside the iconic Jaffna Public Library and proceeded along Hospital Road and Pannai Road before ending at Jaffna Fort.  Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, human rights activists, civil society…

Christian shrine found destroyed in Jaffna

Jun 6, 2013
Photographs Adaderana.lk

A Christian shrine in Jaffna, was found vandalised on Wednesday with its statue of Jesus smashed into pieces, reports Adaderana.lk.

The shrine was located by the 5th avenue in Maniyanthorttam. Local residents have made a formal complaint to the Sri Lankan police.

India won't solve Sri Lanka's political problems - BJP

Jun 6, 2013

The delegation of Indian politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party, currently visiting Sri Lanka, has said that India cannot solve the political problems on the island.

Main Tamil party need not be considered when solving the ethnic problem: Rajapaksa

Jun 6, 2013
Stressing that Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamil issue “ cannot be imported” , President Rajapaksa told the visiting Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader,  Ravi Shankar Prasad, that all political parties must join hands to find an ‘all-inclusive’ settlement to the ethnic issue.

Sri Lanka exempted from Iran sanctions

Jun 5, 2013

Sri Lanka will be one of nine countries that have been granted exemptions from sanctions on Iranian oil purchases by the US State Department.

In a statement, Secretary of State John Kerry said that China, India, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Taiwan have again qualified for an exemption to sanctions as these countries had significantly reduced purchases from Iran.

IMADR reports lack of Freedom of Assembly

Jun 5, 2013
The NGO, International Movement against all Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), submitted a written statement to the UN Human Rights Council 23rd session on Freedom of Assembly in Sri Lanka.

The statement points out that suppression of freedom of assembly is 'worst' in the Northeast, saying:

"People of the North and East, are not permitted to peacefully commemorate, or even light a candle for the dead, or fallen LTTE cadres, particularly on May 18th (the day the war ended), or on November 27 (LTTE Heroes Day)."

JHU ready to discuss draft constitution with UNP

Jun 5, 2013

The JHU will be looking to discuss the draft constitution with the UNP, said General Secretary and Sri Lankan Minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka. 

“Under Ranil Wickremesinghe in 1994, the UNP proposed to do away with the unitary state. It is good that it is talking about creating a unitary state once again. If the UNP is willing to do so, we are ready to discuss its new constitutional reforms though we are not clear about some of the proposals like the three options proposed in place of the executive presidency,” 

Reflections on Sivakumaran's sacrifice

Jun 4, 2013
Tharshan Kumaran
Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran is remembered as the first in a relentless stream of politically active Tamil youth who gave their lives to the struggle, exasperated at the ineffectual politics taking place at the time.

The deaths of Tamils at the World Tamil Research conference, and the Sri Lankan state’s brutality at the event, only exacerbated the prevailing dissatisfaction amongst Tamil youth, that saw political negotiations with a state intent on ruthlessly destroying the Tamil identity as pointless. As the state's violence against Tamils escalated over the subsequent years, the overwhelming growth of Tamil armed resistance was all but inevitable.

Woman's corpse in Maankulam identified as SL Defence Force recruit

Jun 4, 2013

The body of a young woman, found in Maankulam on May 19th, has been identified as that of a Tamil woman recently recruited into Sri Lanka's Civil Defence Force, reports Uthayan.

The corpse of 24-year-old Saroja Thuraisaamy, which was transferred to Kilinochchi Hospital, was identified by her mother yesterday. The family, originally from Kilinochchi, have raised concerns that she was sexually assaulted before being murdered.

Sri Lanka’s media and its impact on foreign relations…

Jun 4, 2013

A draft of the Code of Media Ethics, proposed by Sri Lanka, stipulates that nothing should be published which “contains criticism affecting foreign relations”.

The clause is the second on the draft, obtained by the DailyMirror, which contains 65 further clauses, including that no information “which could mislead the public” should be published.

Heritage Ministry to take legal action against Japanese beer company

Jun 3, 2013

Sri Lanka's National Heritage Ministry said on Tuesday that it would be taking legal action against a Japanese beverage company using the Sigiriya site in a beer commercial and thereby 'disgracing' the heritage side.

The Minister Jagath Balasuriya accused the company of misleading officials, stating:

India won't solve Sri Lanka's political problems - BJP
Main Tamil party need not be considered when solving the ethnic problem: Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka exempted from Iran sanctions
IMADR reports lack of Freedom of Assembly
JHU ready to discuss draft constitution with UNP
Reflections on Sivakumaran's sacrifice
Woman's corpse in Maankulam identified as SL Defence Force recruit
Sri Lanka’s media and its impact on foreign relations…
Heritage Ministry to take legal action against Japanese beer company
Buddhists oppose Indian plans for Sita temple in Sri Lanka
India won't solve Sri Lanka's political problems - BJP
Main Tamil party need not be considered when solving the ethnic problem: Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka exempted from Iran sanctions
IMADR reports lack of Freedom of Assembly
JHU ready to discuss draft constitution with UNP
Reflections on Sivakumaran's sacrifice
Woman's corpse in Maankulam identified as SL Defence Force recruit
Sri Lanka’s media and its impact on foreign relations…
Heritage Ministry to take legal action against Japanese beer company
Buddhists oppose Indian plans for Sita temple in Sri Lanka