Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Hundreds march in Kilinochchi against limestone, sand mining and wind turbines
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…

Government intends to divide Sri Lanka warns Rajapaksa

Jul 7, 2016
The former president Mahinda Rajapaksa warned the new government was attempting to divide the country by introducing the new constitution.

“We have come to know that the government is trying to pass a new constitution. The constitution may include some hidden terms and clauses that will only divide the country and which are detrimental to Sri Lankan Buddhists and Buddhism. The People and especially the Buddhist clergy must be alert to this situation,” he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.

Tamil refugees return to find army assisting southern settlers in homes says Wigneswaran

Jul 7, 2016
Eelam refugees who have returned from India after years of displacement to find the Sri Lankan army assisting settlers from the South to live in their homes, the chief minister of the northern province, C V Wigneswaran warned.

"When those in possession of land permits visit their lands, they find that people from southern parts of the country have occupied their properties. They are also accusing the Army of supporting such occupants,” Mr Wigneswaran was quoted by The Hindu as saying at a gathering near Vavuniya last Thursday. 

"Those who have returned from India are saying that they have not received any aid from the government or non-governmental organisations," he added.

Highlighting pervasive discrimination, Mr Wigneswaran also said that "children of the refugees who were born in India were encountering difficulties in getting government jobs in Sri Lanka, despite having the necessary educational qualifications".

Cabinet approves IDPs task force

Jul 7, 2016
Sri Lanka's cabinet this week approved the establishing of a task force to resettle "protracted internally displaced persons" within the Northern province.

“IDPs were seen since the 1980s due to the conflict situation. These include Tamil as well as Sinhala and Muslim families in the Northern Province,” the cabinet paper said, reported LBO.

Tamil killed in Sinhala mob attack

Jul 7, 2016

Photo: Lankasri

A Tamil man was killed by a group of Sinhalese in the Batticaloa district on Thursday.

Thambipillai Pakkiyarasa, 51, was attacked in Kalkudah as he was returning home from the grocery store. A group of SInhalese, reported to be under the influence of alcohol, attacked him after an argument broke out, leaving him with fatal head injuries.

Eight suspects have been detained by Batticaloa police. One other person was admitted to Batticaloa teaching hospital.

China's Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka for bilateral cooperation talks

Jul 6, 2016
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to make an official visit to Sri Lanka upon the invitation of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minster Magnala Samaraweera.

Mr Yi will meet with Sri Lanka’s president, prime minister and hold talks with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson.

Minister says VAT will be revised, amidst protests

Jul 6, 2016

The recently increased Value Added Tax will only be revised and not repealed, according to Deputy Minister Ajith Perera.

The deputy minister said it was impractical to abolish the 4% increase in the tax rate, despite protests.

Cabinet approves amendment to permit witness testimonies from abroad

Jul 6, 2016
The Sri Lankan cabinet approved an amendment to the Assistance and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act no. 04 of 2015 in order to allow witnesses to testify from abroad, however made clear that such testimony “may be given at a Sri Lankan Diplomatic Mission in the respective country and provisions should be enacted to protect the freedom of witnesses and prevent any influence”.

2 former LTTE members detained by Sri Lanka's TID

Jul 5, 2016
Officers from Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) detained two former LTTE cadres on Tuesday evening in Mullaitivu.

The pair, Keetheeswaran originally from Trincomalee and Savithiri originally from Vaddkachchi, were a married couple who had been living in Sivanagar in Mullaitivu.

The reason for the arrest has not been officially stated, however locals said Mr Ketheeswaran was arrested due to a video clip on his mobile telephone.

Proposed accountability mechanism ready for discussion by early 2017 - Mangala

Jul 5, 2016
Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera said on Wednesday that the architecture for the mechanism for accountability would be ready by early next year for discussion.

Speaking at the press conference, Mr Samaraweera also sought to play down differences of opinion on foreign involvement in the mechanism, stating that a solution would be found in between the two positions.

"The best way to prove all these allegations wrong is to have a credible mechanism to look into these allegations and then we can respond once we have gone into it thoroughly," he reiterated.



Paranagama says cluster bombs legal in 2009

Jul 5, 2016
The chairman of Sri Lanka's presidential commission, Maxwell Paranagama on Wednesday rejected the UN High Commissioner's call for a fresh inquiry to look at the use of clusters bombs in 2009, stating that the convention against cluster munitions only came into force in August 2010.

Highlighting the second mandate of his commission Mr Paranagama said that it had already dealt with the allegations of cluster munitions.

"Having examined all available evidence, it had concluded that such ammunition hadn’t been used by the military during the offensive," he told the Island.

"As the Cluster Munitions Convention (CMC) had come into operation on August 1, 2010, the UNHRC couldn’t find fault with the then administration even if such ammunition had been used. Had a need arisen for using cluster ammunition, the Sri Lankan military could have done so without violating international laws," he added. 

Tamil refugees return to find army assisting southern settlers in homes says Wigneswaran
Cabinet approves IDPs task force
Tamil killed in Sinhala mob attack
China's Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka for bilateral cooperation talks
Minister says VAT will be revised, amidst protests
Cabinet approves amendment to permit witness testimonies from abroad
2 former LTTE members detained by Sri Lanka's TID
Proposed accountability mechanism ready for discussion by early 2017 - Mangala
Paranagama says cluster bombs legal in 2009
Sri Lankan police officers attack Jaffna businessman
Tamil refugees return to find army assisting southern settlers in homes says Wigneswaran
Cabinet approves IDPs task force
Tamil killed in Sinhala mob attack
China's Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka for bilateral cooperation talks
Minister says VAT will be revised, amidst protests
Cabinet approves amendment to permit witness testimonies from abroad
2 former LTTE members detained by Sri Lanka's TID
Proposed accountability mechanism ready for discussion by early 2017 - Mangala
Paranagama says cluster bombs legal in 2009
Sri Lankan police officers attack Jaffna businessman