Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Number of skeletal remains identified at Chemmani rises to 302
  A total of 302 skeletal remains have been identified during the excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site so far, whilst 298 have been completely exhumed.  Eight skeletal remains, including those of two children, were exhumed on Sunday (June 7), during the 18th day of the third phase of excavations. According to a legal expert from the excavation site, six additional skeletal…

TNA yet to decide on whether to join govt if Maithri wins

Jan 4, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has not reached a decision on whether to join a government led by the common opposition's candidate Maithripala Sirisena if he should win the presidential election on January 8, said the TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran.

Asked by LankaSri whether the TNA would join the government, Sumanthiran replied: "When a question was asked regarding this at a press conference the other day, [TNA leader] Sampanthan said we [TNA] had not made a decision on this yet."

"However, until the party takes a decision I would like to state my own views. My view is that we should not take part in such a government. There are many reasons for this," he said.

Body found in Eravoor

Jan 4, 2015
The body of a man in his late 30s was found in the Murakkoddanchenai river in Eravoor, reports BattiNews.

The body, which has not been identified was spotted by locals on Saturday morning.

Eravoor police are reportedly investigating the death.


Stones thrown at Ananthy Sasitharan's house

Jan 4, 2015
20:54 GMT

Stones were thrown at the house of Ananthy Sasitharan, the TNA's popular Northern Provincial Councillor by unidentified persons during the early hours of Tuesday morning local time.

"I was sleeping at my house in Vadakkamparai, Chullipuram with my three daughters and a lady who stays with us, when I heard stones smashing against the house at around 1.30am," Sasitharan told the Tamil Guardian shortly after the incident.

"I got up and switched on the light and then they ran away," she said, adding that she had reported the incident to the police and the NPC chairman C. V. K. Sivagnanam via telephone.

The house in Vadakkamparai was previously attacked ahead of the Northern Provincial Council election in 2013.

SL military placed on standby to 'control violence'

Jan 3, 2015
The Sri Lankan military said that it will be on standby to prevent and control violence on and before election day.

Speaking to the Sunday Leader, military spokesperson, Ruwan Wanigasooriya, said,

"in the event that troops are needed, we are prepared to offer assistance of the police and civil authorities formally requested."

Dismissing claims that extra troops had been deployed to intimidate voters in certain areas, he added,

9 years on from 'Trinco 5' killings, the struggle for justice continues

Jan 3, 2015

Photograph TamilNet
This week marks 9 years since the murder of five Tamils students, who were executed by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force, whilst they spent an afternoon on the beach in Trincomalee.

The 'Trinco 5' case has been one of the highest profile killings in Sri Lanka to receive international attention, listed in 2014 by the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' report on the island as one of  four ‘emblematic cases’ of the government's failure to ensure accountability.

Sampanthan threatens disciplinary action against Ananthy if not toeing party line

Jan 3, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R. Sampanthan warned that the party would take disciplinary action against Northern Province Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan if she did not fall in line with the party's decision to endorse the common opposition's presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the election on January 8.

Asked by the Daily Mirror about a split in the TNA over the election, following her decision not to endorse either candidate and boycott the election, Sampanthan said:
"She is bound by the decision of the TNA. I am not aware of her having made any such statement. If she is not bound by the TNA decision, disciplinary action will be taken against her."

International election monitors raise concern over military involvement in elections

Jan 3, 2015
International election monitors in Sri Lanka to observe the presidential elections raised concerns about election law violations and voter intimidation.

The team of monitors told press that they had received complaints that the military were being used to discourage Tamil voters in the North.

Dr S Quraishi, the head of the observer group of Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) said they received complaints that the military had set up 400 roadblocks in Tamil areas, reports Colombo Page.

SLMC is raising issue of Sinhala nationalism, says Rajapaksa

Jan 3, 2015
Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is only raising the issue of Sinhala nationalism now after spending 10 years with the ruling coalition, following their defection last week.

Speaking at a rally in Kaduwela earlier this week, Rajapaksa slammed the SLMC, saying,
“They are auctioning their votes today. Leaders! Are they saviours of the Muslim people?... It's time for the Muslim community to think decisively. They should not go behind people who betray them and sell them. They should support those who represent them.”
Rajapaksa went on to accuse the SLMC of “stirring up” the issue of Sinhala nationalism adding,
“They were with us for 10 years and received all the benefits with us. And suddenly they move to the side and accuse us. Now they say we are against Muslims and against Tamils; didn't they know this when they were with us for 10 years?”
“The era when the innocent people of this country, be it Muslim or Tamil, danced to their leaders' tunes has passed!”

Body found in Jaffna well

Jan 3, 2015
The body of a man was found in the Neerveli region of Jaffna on Saturday. The body, which was discovered after local residents reported an offensive smell, was found in a decomposing state inside a well near the Neervali Kanthaswamy temple.

The body has not been identified yet, however, Kopai police suspect it may be that of a 45 year old man who was recently reported missing in the region, said the Uthayan newspaper.

‘Change nature of the state, not just government’ say 63 Tamil organisations worldwide

Jan 2, 2015
Thusiyan Nandakumar

Tamil organisations across the world called on the international community to recognise that both candidates in the Sri Lankan presidential election have rejected a United Nations investigation into mass atrocities and offered no political solution to the Tamil people.

In a joint New Year message, 63 organisations pledged to work towards “dignity, freedom, justice, and peace” for the Tamil nation, adding they were hopeful the upcoming United Nations investigation into mass atrocities “will lead to accountability and remedial justice for genocide, war-crimes, and crimes against humanity committed against the Tamil people.”

The statement went on to add,

“As the Sinhala leaders campaign for the next Sri Lankan Presidential election scheduled for January 8th 2015, the International Community should be cognizant of the belligerent declarations by both major Sinhala candidates against the OISL investigation."

Body found in Eravoor
Stones thrown at Ananthy Sasitharan's house
SL military placed on standby to 'control violence'
9 years on from 'Trinco 5' killings, the struggle for justice continues
Sampanthan threatens disciplinary action against Ananthy if not toeing party line
International election monitors raise concern over military involvement in elections
SLMC is raising issue of Sinhala nationalism, says Rajapaksa
Body found in Jaffna well
‘Change nature of the state, not just government’ say 63 Tamil organisations worldwide
Minister warns of ‘powerful countries’ trying to destroy Sri Lanka
Body found in Eravoor
Stones thrown at Ananthy Sasitharan's house
SL military placed on standby to 'control violence'
9 years on from 'Trinco 5' killings, the struggle for justice continues
Sampanthan threatens disciplinary action against Ananthy if not toeing party line
International election monitors raise concern over military involvement in elections
SLMC is raising issue of Sinhala nationalism, says Rajapaksa
Body found in Jaffna well
‘Change nature of the state, not just government’ say 63 Tamil organisations worldwide
Minister warns of ‘powerful countries’ trying to destroy Sri Lanka