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…

Police in Jaffna construct new checkpoint

The Sri Lankan police have announced the construction of a new checkpoint in Jaffna town.

The new checkpoint will be constructed by the main bust station and will function 24 hours a day, manned by officers from the crime branch, road traffic and the sub inspector.

It will be functioning from Tuesday September 29th, with Fredrick Woodler Headquarters Inspector (HQI) of Jaffna saying crime, including theft and robbery, had increased in the town.

Sri Lankan military visits homes in Jaffna for ‘dengue control’

Sri Lankan security forces have visited houses in Jaffna over the last week, under the pretext of dengue control.

Security forces accompanied public health inspectors as they went door to door in Jaffna, with several villagers expressing fear over the visits.

Jaffna municipal Commissioner Vakeesan, who is responsible for dengue control activities in the North, stated that the military did not have permission to accompany public health officials on their visits.

He would be raising the matter with the appropriate officials to ensure it is stopped, he added.

Children of Tamil political prisoners protest in Cheddikulam

Children of Tamil political prisoners held a protest on Monday in Cheddikulam demanding the release of their parents.


The protesting children expressed that they had suffered from insecurity, hunger and lack of education due to their parents, particularly fathers, being imprisoned without trial for years.

Woman missing in Mannar

A 20 year old woman has been reported missing in Mannar. Kalaivani, from the Uyilankulam region of Mannar has not been seen for eleven days, her mother, Pusparani Jayakumar said.

Speaking to media on Monday, Ms Jayakumar wept as she spoke about her daughter’s disappearance.

Kalaivani went to Mannar by bus on the morning of July 17th at 7.45 am, to go to work at a private telecom company in Mannar town. She never returned home.

We await credible implementation of resolution says Pasumai Thaayagam

Urging UN member states to remain vigilant to ensure the consensus resolution on Sri Lanka is implemented, the NGO, Pasumai Thaayagam said they awaited “meaningful and credible implementation to gauge progress by Sri Lanka”.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council’s 30th session on Monday, Pasumai Thaayagam called on all states to “actively assist Sri Lanka in setting up an accountability process”.

“The resolution is founded on the new government's said commitments to pursue justice. Tamil victims on the ground and in diaspora await meaningful and credible implementation to gauge progress by Sri Lanka. We expect to see significant international involvement in the justice process. As the High Commissioner said, "for accountability to be achieved in Sri Lanka, it will require more than a domestic mechanism.”

Ranil to visit Japan for talks

The Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is to hold talks in Japan with his counterpart, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, reports The Japan Times.

The meeting is likely to take place on October 5, the paper reported.

Prime Minister Abe is also to hold talks with the French and Turkish prime ministers.

Implementing resolution and OISL report will be real test of progress' - GTF

The Global Tamil Forum cautiously welcomed the tabled UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, stating that it is of the view it will lead to “a credible accountability process with substantial international involvement”.

“The GTF has consistently called for an international accountability mechanism, and though the tabled resolution falls short, still we view that the proposed resolution can lead to a credible accountability process with substantial international involvement,” said the GTF.

“We note that implementing the resolution and the recommendations of the OISL report of the High Commissioner will be the real test of progress, and not merely words,” it added. “Victims of Sri Lanka’s brutality have heard far too many words, and now deserve credible actions.”

See the full text of the statement below

Australia co-sponsors resolution on Sri Lanka

Australia has co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution calling for accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sri Lanka during the end of the armed conflict, reports AAP.

In a statement on Sunday, the foreign minister Julie Bishop said that if the resolution is implemented effectively it “would provide Sri Lanka a platform to heal the wounds of war crimes committed during the nation's civil conflict”.

Ban Ki Moon urges Sirisena to advance dialogue on political settlement

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urged the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena, to advance dialogue on political settlement in Sri Lanka, during a meeting in New York as President Sirisena attended the UN General Assembly.

In a statement Mr Moon's spokesperson said, “the Secretary-General discussed recent political developments, congratulated the President on the elections, and commended his message of national unity, reconciliation and good governance.

He encouraged the President to advance the dialogue on a political settlement and seize this opportunity to lay the foundation for long-lasting peace and stability.”

India and Sri Lanka to hold joint anti-terror exercises

The Indian and Sri Lankan military are to hold a joint “anti-terror” exercise in Pune later this week, according to a statement released by New Delhi.

The 14 day exercise, entitled ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti’, will begin on September 29 once the Sri Lankan military contingent arrives in India.