Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Sri Lankan justice minister rejects war crimes allegations

Sri Lanka's justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said he "categorically rejects all allegations of war crimes against the armed forces" in an interview to the BBC Sandeshaya. 

Mr Rajapakshe warned that "legal action would be taken against anyone who alleges that the country’s armed forces had committed war crimes", reported News Radio

"Anyone who brought up the subject of mass graves in the North was an enemy of the nation and the war heroes," Mr Rajapakshe added. 
 

‘Resettle us in our native land’ - Vali North Resettlement Society

The president of the Valikamam North Resettlement Society called for displaced Tamils to be resettled in their native land and not in any other alternate locations, in an interview with Ceylon Today published on Tuesday.

Arunasalam Gunapalasingham said everyone “must understand reality”. “Our people are looking forward to resettle in their native places and everyone has their own lands.”

Sri Lankan foreign minister meets UN human rights chief

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera met with UN human rights chief Zeid Al Hussein in New York this week, where the two discussed the “reconciliation” on the island, according to a government spokesperson.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit, currently underway in New York.

Sri Lankan government is contradicting itself over federalism says PHU

The secretary of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) said the Sri Lankan government is confusing its electorate by giving contradictory statements on federalism and the prominence of Buddhism on the island.

Udaya Gammanpila, a Sinhala nationalist MP, said whilst Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister have pledged to ensure Buddhism still holds prominence across the island as in the current constitution, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has contradicted them.

Sri Lankan soldiers released on bail over case of disappeared journalist

Four members of the Sri Lankan military’s intelligence unit have been released on bail, after being arrested over the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

The suspects were released on a cash bail by the Avissawella Provincial High Court and will have to report weekly to Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department.

‘War secrets will go with me to the grave’ says Sri Lankan army commander

The commander of the Sri Lankan Army’s 53 Division said secrets from the war “will go with him to his grave,” as he battled off claims that he revealed military secrets in his newly published book.

Major General Kamal Gunaratne was speaking to reporters outside the Seethawakapura Urban Council when he made his comments, according to Colombo Gazette

Tamil man dies in Sri Lankan prison

A 30 year old Tamil man was found dead whilst under police custody in a Sri Lankan prison in Kandy. 

The man, Kaviraj Ravichandran, who was arrested on Saturday, was reportedly found hanging in his cell. 

The subinspector and police constable on duty that night have been suspended pending investigation, the Daily Mirror reported.

 

Sri Lankan PM looks to spend over $2 million on US firm

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister has proposed the hiring of a US-based management consultancy firm to set up a “Central Programme Management Unit,” on a US$2.3 million contract, reports the Sunday Times.

The aim of the unit will be to create “integrated and accelerated economic development across the country and restructuring and transformation of the economy to a vibrant and sustainable social market economy,” said Ranil Wickremesinghe.

We will not bow down to pressure, minister tells UN peacekeeping conference

Sri Lanka’s Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene told an international peacekeeping summit in London that his government would not bow down to international pressure and would protect Sri Lankan troops.

Mr Wijewardene met with members of the British Sri Lanka Forum on the sidelines of the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Meeting in London last week.

Ranil pledges political solution to Tamils in Jaffna

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister told Tamils in Jaffna that his government would enact a political solution to the island’s ethnic conflict which would solve porlbems faced by the Tamil people.

Speaking at the opening of a new administrative building of the Jaffna District Secretariat, Ranil Wickremesinghe said that many had expected the implementation of the 13th amendment and a further devolution of powers to the North-East following the end of the armed conflict in 2009. Though the previous government did not implement the amendment, the prime minister pledged that this government would address Tamil grievances and end racism on the island.