Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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‘Where is the LTTE?’ Lawyer challenges terror charges against jailed Tamil rapper
  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…

CaFFE calls for repeal of anti terror legislation

Aug 25, 2015
The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) urged the Sri Lankan government to repeal the country's draconian anti-terror legislation, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), reports the Daily Mirror.

The PTA, which has been used by successive governments to detain without charge a number of Tamil political activists and human rights workers on alleged charges of "terrorism", has long been criticised by international NGOs.

Biswal meets with wife of missing Sri Lankan cartoonist

Aug 25, 2015
Photograph US embassy


The US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal, who is currently visiting Sri Lanka, met with the wife of the missing political cartoonist, Prageeth Eknaligoda on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department has questioned four army officers over the disappearance of cartoonist, who his wife says disappeared after he had uncovered evidence of the Sri Lankan army’s use of chemical weapons against the Tamil people.

“In 2008, Prageeth wrote and informed the diplomats about the Sri Lankan government’s usage of chemical weapons against the people in the north," Mrs Eknaligoda told the BBC in 2010.

Sri Lankan military remains on alert – Army commander

Aug 25, 2015
The commander of Sri Lanka's army stated the military was still on alert, despite more than 6 years since the end of the armed conflict on the island.

Lieutenant Crishanthe De Silva said terrorism, as well as human trafficking and drug peddling were issues that the army was wary of and ready to tackle. His comments came at a press conference announce the '5th Defence Seminar' due to take place at the Colombo Galadari Hotel next month.

Biswal meets with TNA and Wigneswaran

Aug 25, 2015
The US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, Nisha Biswal, met with the Tamil National Alliance and the chief minister of the northern province on Wednesday.

The TNA delegation, which included the leader, R Sampanthan, Mavai Senathirajah and M A Sumanthiran, stressed to Ms Biswal that the party would continue pushing for an international inquiry into mass atrocities, despite the US announcement on Wednesday to support a credible domestic inquiry in Sri Lanka.

South African Tamils call on TNA to ensure ‘political and economic rights’

Aug 25, 2015

The South African Tamil Federation congratulated the Tamil National Alliance on its recent election victory in the North-East and called on the party to ensure “peace, stability, political and economic rights for the Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka”.

US officials arrive in Sri Lanka for talks on justice

Aug 24, 2015

Senior US officials have arrived in Sri Lanka for talks with government officials and civil society leaders on issues including reconciliation and justice, announced the US State Department.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

A State Department press release said talks would focus on “US-Sri Lanka cooperation to further economic growth, strengthen good governance and democratic institutions, and promote reconciliation and justice”.

Sri Lanka tells US about domestic mechanism for human rights violations

Aug 24, 2015

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera addressing reporters after meeting US official Nisha Biswal today.

Govt's missing persons interim report to be released ahead of OISL

Aug 24, 2015
The Sri Lankan government's Presidential Commission into Missing Persons is to release a second interim report, just days before the release of the UN's report, the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka.

“We handed over the First Mandated Interim Report in April and the Second Mandated Interim Report will be handed over to President Sirisena on Friday. It will mainly deal with the issues of the violation of the International Humanitarian Law or War Crimes allegedly committed by both parties and the recommendations to prevent a repetition,” the report's chairman, Maxwel Paranagama, was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.

The paper also stated that "highly placed diplomatic source told Daily Mirror the government should present the Paranagama Commission report in Geneva to counter the allegations levelled at the Sri Lanka government and the armed forces personnel by pro-LTTE groups".

The commission, which has been marred by claims of military intimidation of witnesses, has been criticised by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), who labelled it “deceptive”. Highlighting Sri Lanka's historic failure of domestic inquiries, the Bishop of Mannar refused to testify before it and protests were held outside other hearings in the North-East.

US to provide $1m to resettlement efforts in North-East

Aug 24, 2015

The US Embassy in Colombo has announced it will provide $1 million to support resettlement efforts in Sampur, in the Trincomalee district, as part of its “continuing commitment to strengthen Sri Lanka’s peace and development”.

“Our goal is to help Sri Lankans around the country overcome the effects of conflict and displacement, improve the lives of their families and communities, and live with dignity,” said the new US Ambassador Atul Keshap.

The first $100,000 will be managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide the newly-resettled communities with a range of services and means of support to meet their basic needs, the embassy said in a statement. Another $900,000 is earmarked to build two schools in the Sampur region with facilities to support and house displaced families.

Sri Lanka to hold seminar on 'non-military threats to national security'

Aug 24, 2015
Sri Lanka’s annual defense seminar will focus on threats to national security including “non-military threats to national security,” reports Colombo Page.
Biswal meets with wife of missing Sri Lankan cartoonist
Sri Lankan military remains on alert – Army commander
Biswal meets with TNA and Wigneswaran
South African Tamils call on TNA to ensure ‘political and economic rights’
US officials arrive in Sri Lanka for talks on justice
Sri Lanka tells US about domestic mechanism for human rights violations
Govt's missing persons interim report to be released ahead of OISL
US to provide $1m to resettlement efforts in North-East
Sri Lanka to hold seminar on 'non-military threats to national security'
Holding Tamils in refugee camps is ‘condemnable’ – Tamil Nadu outfit
Biswal meets with wife of missing Sri Lankan cartoonist
Sri Lankan military remains on alert – Army commander
Biswal meets with TNA and Wigneswaran
South African Tamils call on TNA to ensure ‘political and economic rights’
US officials arrive in Sri Lanka for talks on justice
Sri Lanka tells US about domestic mechanism for human rights violations
Govt's missing persons interim report to be released ahead of OISL
US to provide $1m to resettlement efforts in North-East
Sri Lanka to hold seminar on 'non-military threats to national security'
Holding Tamils in refugee camps is ‘condemnable’ – Tamil Nadu outfit