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…

Sri Lanka wants ‘domestic inquiry without outside pressure’ says minister

Jul 29, 2015
The Sri Lankan minister of finance reiterated his government’s demand for a domestic inquiry into violations of international humanitarian law committed during the final phase of the armed conflict and called for international pressure to cease.

Mahinda Samarasinghe, who held the position of special envoy of the President of Sri Lanka on Human Rights during the previous government, said Sri Lanka should be allowed to investigate any violations without international pressure.

Speaking during at the launch of his book in Colombo, Mr Samarasinghe said Sri Lanka was still unaware of the contents of an ongoing investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. “However a copy of the report will be sent to Sri Lanka before they take it up at the UNHRC session,” he said, adding “I hope to represent Sri Lanka in September as I have ten years’ experience in the area.”

LSSP criticises TNA call for federalism

Jul 29, 2015

The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) has stated it is against federalism and criticised the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) call for devolution.

Leader of the LSSP Tissa Vitharana said at a press conference that his party was “displeased” and that they “condemn the call for a Federal State by the TNA at this crucial juncture”.

Mr Vitharana went on to accuse the TNA of fuelling “racist elements in the South”. The LSSP joins a wide range of other Sinhalese parties across the political spectrum to have spoken out against devolving powers to the North-East, a key demand in the TNA election manifesto.

His comments came as he called on the public to vote against the UNP in the upcoming general election, stating that the United States wants to establish military bases in Sri Lanka and the UNP had agreed to do so.

Wigneswaran says he will remain neutral and non-partisan at Sri Lanka election

Jul 29, 2015
The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran said he would remain neutral and non-partisan during next month's general election, despite being elected to his seat by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

"I feel it would be wrong for me to be seen at any political meeting of the TNA candidates though it was they who elected me. I am one who would be able to work with whomsoever our people are pleased to elect. Whatever the result may be it is hoped that whosoever is elected should work united for the betterment and well being of our people. The welfare and wellbeing of our people takes precedence over Party considerations," the former chief justice said in a statement released on Wednesday, comparing his current predicament to a similar situation when he was elected to be the president of the Law College.

Drawing attention to a recent address made to Tamils in London on July 17, Mr Wigneswaran reiterated:
"As far as the Tamil representatives are concerned we need those who would conform to the norms set by Valluvar - honest in politics, strong in principles, dedicated in people's service, far in sight and incorruptible in spirit. Such persons must stress the individuality of our community, they must confirm our right to self determination, they must be prepared to work ceaselessly to obtain the rights of our people and to obtain justice for them."

UNP coalition partner calls for on Tamils to ‘integrate’ with Sinhalese

Jul 29, 2015

A senior leader of the United National Front has called on Tamils to integrate with the larger Sinhala society in order to progress.

Sri Lanka will ‘not agree’ to international war crimes probe against Mahinda

Jul 29, 2015

The Sri Lankan government will not agree to an international investigation looking into former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s involvement in war crimes.

Cabinet spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne said the government will set up a domestic mechanism to investigate the allegations.

He said the government would not agree, even if the report by the OHCHR Investigation in Sri Lanka (OISL) recommended an international court for those accused of war crimes.

Sri Lankan election commissioner says candidates must affirm commitment to unitary state

Jul 29, 2015
Sri Lanka's election commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya, said on Tuesday that all candidates in next month's general election, must reaffirm their commitment to keeping the country as a unitary state, reports The Island.

Speaking at a press briefing, Mr Deshapriya made these remarks in response to allegations that candidates within the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were promoting separatism.

Three men found dead in Batticaloa

Jul 29, 2015
The bodies of three males were discovered in separate incidents in Batticaloa this month.

The body of a 44 year old man was found in the Keechchaan region og Kaaththaankudi in Batticaloa on Sunday, reported BattiNews and TamilNet.

Photograph BattiNews


On the same day, the body of an unidentified male was spotted in a lagoon in Batticaloa, the paper also reported.

ITJP report highlights structural genocide against Tamils under complete impunity says Australian senator

Jul 29, 2015
The Australian Greens Senator for New South Wales Lee Rhiannon, described the findings of the International Truth & Justice Project (ITJP) report into Sri Lanka as a “horrifying” account of ongoing torture against Tamils “under complete impunity.”

In a media release that called for accountability and an independent international war crimes investigation and action to stop the “on going structural genocide” in Sri Lanka, Ms Rhiannon said:

“The newly documented evidence of torture, sexual violence and harassment of Tamils by officials in Sri Lanka under complete impunity and as recently as July 2015, is horrifying."

Sri Lanka's investment chairman pledges post-election 'tranquillity' for foreign investment

Jul 29, 2015

Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment Chairman Upul Jayasuriya expressed confidence that the upcoming parliamentary elections would see the current government “re-elected with confidence.”

Speaking to Bloomberg Business, Mr Jayasuriya said that there would be “better tranquillity” in Sri Lanka for foreign investment after the upcoming parliamentary elections, adding,

“This is going to create more hope or better tranquillity in the state power in the investment climate. A lot of hope has been given by the election manifesto placed in front of the people in Sir Lanka by the ruling party.”

Sri Lankan election commissioner says candidates must affirm commitment to unitary state (30 Jul 2015)

UNP coalition partner calls for on Tamils to ‘integrate’ with Sinhalese (30 Jul 2015)

Sri Lanka will ‘not agree’ to international war crimes probe against Mahinda  (30 Jul 2015)

Sinhala nationalist organisations rally against federalism (30 Jul 2015)

Sri Lanka made ‘minimal progress’ to tackle human trafficking says US State Dept

Jul 28, 2015
The US State Department stated that “the Government of Sri Lanka does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” in its annual ‘Trafficking in Persons Report’.

Released this week, the report placed Sri Lanka on the’ Tier 2 Watch List’ for a third consecutive year, noting that it was only granted a waiver from dropping even further as the “government has a written plan” to combat trafficking. The report noted that it has not yet been implemented.

The report also stated that “for the fourth consecutive year, authorities failed to convict any traffickers under Sri Lanka’s trafficking statute—indicative of a continued lack of understanding of trafficking and inability to adequately investigate these crimes”.

Despite Sri Lanka’s inter-ministerial anti-trafficking taskforce continuing to meet monthly, “the government made minimal progress in its efforts to prevent trafficking,” the report added.
LSSP criticises TNA call for federalism
Wigneswaran says he will remain neutral and non-partisan at Sri Lanka election
UNP coalition partner calls for on Tamils to ‘integrate’ with Sinhalese
Sri Lanka will ‘not agree’ to international war crimes probe against Mahinda
Sri Lankan election commissioner says candidates must affirm commitment to unitary state
Three men found dead in Batticaloa
ITJP report highlights structural genocide against Tamils under complete impunity says Australian senator
Sri Lanka's investment chairman pledges post-election 'tranquillity' for foreign investment
Sri Lanka made ‘minimal progress’ to tackle human trafficking says US State Dept
JVP slams TNA manifesto and opposes federalism
LSSP criticises TNA call for federalism
Wigneswaran says he will remain neutral and non-partisan at Sri Lanka election
UNP coalition partner calls for on Tamils to ‘integrate’ with Sinhalese
Sri Lanka will ‘not agree’ to international war crimes probe against Mahinda
Sri Lankan election commissioner says candidates must affirm commitment to unitary state
Three men found dead in Batticaloa
ITJP report highlights structural genocide against Tamils under complete impunity says Australian senator
Sri Lanka's investment chairman pledges post-election 'tranquillity' for foreign investment
Sri Lanka made ‘minimal progress’ to tackle human trafficking says US State Dept
JVP slams TNA manifesto and opposes federalism