Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

India's helping hands

India's foreign affairs minister, SM Krishna, formally handed over 1000 houses built for IDPs by India, 49,000 are yet to be built.

In a statement Krishna said,

India hopes

Meeting Sri Lanka's president at Temple Trees on Tuesday, India's visiting foreign affairs minister, SM Krishna, felt assured by the president's commitment on finding a political solution based on the implementation of the 13th Amendment and the "meaningful devolution of powers".

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Krishna said,

TNA tells India 'no progress' on talks

There has been "no progress" achieved during TNA-government talks, TNA delegates told India's foreign affairs minister, S.M. Krishna, during his current visit to Sri Lanka.

Calling the government's attitude, "lethargic", the TNA reportedly urged India to take an "active role" in the process of arriving at a political solution.

Speaking after the meeting, one of the TNA delegates, S Premachandran, said,

Keep monks out of politics - monk urges politician

Photograph sundaytimes.lk

Sri Lanka seeks Iranian oil sanctions get-out clause

Responding to US sancions on Iranian oil, Sri Lanka's petroleum resources minister, Susil Premajayantha, reiterated Sri Lanka's dependency on Iranian oil.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency Premajayantha said,

"We don't have any other alternative than getting oil from Iran,"

A Fairy Story For The Galle Literary Festival By Popular Demand'

Critically acclaimed Sri Lankan born novelist Roma Tearne has released a satirical short story ahead of the Galle Literary Festival, which she, along with Reporters Without Borders, Noam Chomsky and Arundhati Roy amongst others, called to boycott last year.

Extracts from her piece have been reproduced below.
“The festival was in full swing. All the great writers from around the world were present, topping up their tan by the pool. Sorry I mean all the great white writers. The UK-returned natives were keen to stay out of the sun. Listen, you must understand, on this island paradise, the darker you were the harder it was to find a spouse and the more likely you were to be killed. It’s true.”

“The Festival sponsors strutted about and got lots of exposure. The organisers played at blind-man’s bluff. And the tan-toppers drank a lot. I’m telling you, all was as it should be.”

 “One or two people were a bit worried about security.

            ‘Did you hear a Russian girl was raped?’

            ‘No, no,’ SS told them, waggling his head. ‘That didn’t really happen! It was a play put on for the purpose of the Festival. It wasn’t the real thing!’

            ‘What about that Red Cross guy who was killed?’

            ‘That was in the play, too. Remember your Hamlet? The play’s the thing and all that…’

            ‘Oh okay,’ said the foreigners and off they went for a swim thinking, gosh, these people are incredibly friendly. They just smile and smile…. wasn’t there something like that in Hamlet, too?”

TNA rejects LLRC report, calls for international action

Dismissing the LLRC report for falling "dramatically short of international standards applicable to accountability processes", the TNA (Tamil National Alliance) called on the "international community to institute measures that will advance accountability", in a 70-page response to the LLRC report, released Sunday.

Forcibly displaced Tamils urge TNA to act

Tamils from Manalaaru in Vanni, who remain forcibly displaced by the Sri Lankan army since 1984, have urged the TNA to act or else the "structural genocide [of Eelam Tamils] will be complete in Mullaiththeevu in 2 years" reported Tamilnet.

The displaced Tamils put their demands to TNA MPs Mavai Senathirajah and S Sritharan when the pair visited the area on a fact finding mission on Friday. The civilians stated that the Sri Lankan Army, citing 'land mines', was preventing them from visiting their lands.

Ontario Premier sends Thai Pongal greetings

Marking the Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal, the Premier of Onatrio Dalton McGuinty realised a video statement praising the contribution the Tamil community have made to Canada. 


Extracts from the statement have been reproduced below.

Ministry of impunity

The Sri Lankan president's advisor on reconciliation, Rajiva Wijesinha, called for a "ministry of reconciliation" to be created and "be charged with fulfilling the recommendations of the commission". 

Meticulously addressing any false hope raised by the government's latest fallacy, Wijesinha stipulated that it would work "as best as possible", and would "be given a limited lifespan, of two years perhaps, after which it should be made redundant."