Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing". Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the…

Sri Lanka increases defence budget by 12.25% to new high

Sri Lanka has increased its 2015 defence budget by 12.25% to a record high despite the end of the armed conflict over 5 years ago.

According to the government's official figures released on Friday in a bill tabled in parliament, 285 billion rupees have been allocated to defence in 2015, reports
AFP.

Sri Lanka's spending on defence has increased year on year since the end of the armed conflict, despite increasing
international calls for the military to scale down following the end of the armed conflict.
 

Three Tamil youth injured in sword attack

Three Tamil youths were injured in a sword attack in Alavetti on Sunday night, reports Uthayan.

Santhirasekaram Collins, 20, Thevarasa Jeganathan and Sinnarasa Jude Anthony both aged 23 and all from Mallakam were attacked on their way home from a sporting event by men on motorbikes.

They were admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital with serious injuries.

#FreeJeyakumary campaigners protest in Colombo

Protestors gathered in Colombo on Monday to call for the release of a prominent Tamil rights campaigner, Balendran Jeyakumari, who has been detained under the Sri Lankan Prevention of Terror Act (PTA) since March 2014.

The demonstrations, held outside Colombo Railway Station, were met with pro-government protestors, who yielded posters mocking members of the Sri Lankan civil society.


Photographs: Pathivu

Tamil politicians, including Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M A Sumanthiran and the leader of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) G G Ponnambalam,
attended the rally.


Pro-government demonstrators protesters oppose #FreeJeyakumary campaigners Photograph: @Mari_desilva

Sri Lankan police was eventually called to form a barrier between the protesters calling for the release of Jeyakumari from the Boosa detention facilities and the pro-government demonstrators.

Australia commends LLRC progress in Sri Lanka

The Australian prime minister commended Sri Lanka's successful implementation of the LLRC recommendations and the country’s ability to maintain a remarkable economic growth.
Photograph: ColomboPage

Military presence causing fear in North-East says Wigneswaran

The Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council C. V. Wigneswaran condemned the heavy Sri Lankan military presence in the Tamil North-East of the island, stating that is was causing fear across the region.

Addressing the Northern Province Tourism development conference on Saturday, Wigneswaran highlighted the danger that women in particular faced from the Sri Lankan military, stating that there were 150,000 soldiers in the Northern Province.

Wigneswaran said the situation was getting worse, adding,

“The government is restricting our independence by considering North-East provinces as foreign regions that need to be under supervision, even after the war has ended.”

Hindu community centre attacked in Jaffna

A Hindu Saivite community centre in Jaffna, the Mallakam Koattaikaadu Saiva Youth Club, was attacked by unidentified persons on Friday night, reports Uthayan.

Doors and windows were destroyed in the attack, resulting in more than Rs. 75,000 worth of damage, said the centre's administrators.

They have filed complaints with police in Chunnakam, Jaffna
.


969 leader attends BBS conference in Sri Lanka

2nd lead
Wirathu welcomed on stage at conference by BBS leader


The leader of the 969 extreme Buddhist group in Myanmar, U. Wirathu, attended the Bodu Bala Sena's conference in Sri Lanka today.



The conference, which is currently underway, is aimed at forming a political framework that will be “based on Buddhist principles, creating an environment within which minorities can live peacefully with Sinhalese" instead of "so-called devolution of power”, a BBS official, Dilanthe Withanage said.

Wirathu honoured on stage at BBS conference

Arson destroys house in Eravur in Batticaloa

A house in Eravur within Batticaloa district, was set on fire by an unidentified person on Friday night, reports BattiNews.

The owner of the house, Shanmugam Sinnathangam, said the arsonist escaped, adding that the roof of the house has been fully damaged in this incident, alongside valuable goods inside.

The house was in
Siththandi-3 on Paththinisami Street. Sinnathangam has filed a complained with Eravur police, who are reportedly investigating the incident.


O. Panneerselvam to be Tamil Nadu Chief Minister after Jaya conviction

Tamil Nadu's current Finance Minister, O. Panneerselvam, is to be appointed as the state's new Chief Minister after J. Jayalalitha was forced to step down following her conviction in a corruption case.

Panneerselvam, considered a Jayalalitha loyalist, was elected by AIADMK members on Sunday, at a meeting held in Chennai and will be formally appointed on Monday.

See related article:

Jayalalithaa convicted in corruption case, will have to stand down as CM (27 Sep 2014)


Sri Lanka Navy arrests four Indian fishermen

Four fishermen from Rameswaram were apprehended on Sunday near Kachchatheevu by the Sri Lankan Navy who also allegedly damaged 50 boats, reports the Press Trust of India.

According to T Sesuraja, the president of the local fishermen's association, the Sri Lankan Navy approached the fishermen in eight boats and detained four fishermen, taking them to Kankesanthurai along with their boats.