Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

This week, the number of skeletal remains uncovered at Chemmani reached a stark record of 387. With that figure, a patch of earth on the edge of Jaffna town became the largest mass grave ever uncovered on the island, surpassing the 376 remains recovered at Mannar. Recent days alone have seen the bodies of several children exhumed, alongside beads and bangles. These are the contents of the…

BJP MP Swamy meets with Mahinda Rajapaksa

The BJP MP, Subramanian Swamy met with the former Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa today in Medamulana. 

Describing him as a "long-time friend of Sri Lanka who has always so vehemently spoken out against LTTE Terrorism", Mr Rajapaksa tweeted that he had accepted Mr Swamy's invitation to speak at an event in New Delhi. 

Committee reviewing Singapore FTA seeks public opinion

The expert committee appointed by the Sri Lankan president to re-examine the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with Singapore in January, has announced it will be seeking public opinion. 

Maithripala Sirisena appointed the committee after the Joint Opposition reiterated its threat of legal action against it. 

Objecting against the FTA, the JO MP Bandula Gunawardene said, "the government has claimed that a gazette notification containing a list of items for which tax and duty will be removed was issued, but such a document cannot be found. Therefore the FTA is illegal."

Sri Lankan navy arrests 8 Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan navy arrested eight Indian fishermen on Tuesday night for alleged poaching. 

The men were apprehended off the cost of Kalpitiya. 

Their fishing boat was impounded and has been transferred to the authority of fishing officials in Puttalam.

The arrest is the latest in a series of arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, despite ongoing talks by both governments on the issue. 

4.5 acres released in KKS after 27 years army occupation

4.5 acres of land in Kankesanthurai were released by the Sri Lankan Army today, after 27 years of occupation.

Vavuniya protest against Archaeology Dept take-over of ancient Tamil temple

Vavuniya residents protested on Tuesday against attempts by Sri Lanka’s Archaeology Department to seize the lands of an ancient Tamil temple in the district.

M.I.A. documentary to preview at British Film Institute with artist Q+A

MATANGI/MAYA/M.I.A., the critically acclaimed documentary based on 22 years of archival footage from the career and personal life of international star M.I.A. will be screened at the British Film Institute next month.

Sri Lankan navy leaves to participate in Australian military exercise

A Sri Lankan navy ship left Trincomalee for Australia yesterday, to participate in a military exercise with 26 other countries, including the United States, Canada and China.

Japanese navy ship arrives at Trincomalee as defence minister visits Colombo

A Japanese navy ship arrived in Trincomalee yesterday as part of a goodwill visit to the island.

Sri Lankan police arrest Tamil youth in Jaffna

A 19-year-old Tamil youth has been arrested by the Sri Lankan police in Jaffna, accused of being involved in an attack on a doctor’s house earlier this week.

The youth is reportedly accused of attacking the house of Dr Emmanuel Santhakumar, a member of the surgical department at Jaffna Teaching Hospital. A gang on motorbikes broke windows and items within the property, situated in Kokkuvil, on Sunday.

The arrest comes amidst an increase in reported gang violence in the region, with Sri Lankan police stepping up security operations.

Sri Lankan rupee falls to all time low

Sri Lanka's rupee fell to an all time low of 160.60 per dollar, Reuters reported yesterday. 

Foreign outflows, importer dollar demand as well as the absence of remittances and dollar conversions by exporters were blamed. 

The rupees fall comes as the country's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said he was hopeful of a strong economy.