Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Tamil Eelam shows resilience in stunning victory

Tamil Eelam in the pre-match lineup

Tamil Eelam made a great start to their Tynwald Hill international  Football tournament campaign today, in a thrilling match, which saw the

Sri Lanka plays down Basil visit to India

A Sri Lankan minister has played down the importance of a trip to meet with Indian officials over the 13th Amendment, saying they were only keeping India informed.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Basil Rajapakse had flown to New Delhi to meet with officials including Manmohan Singh and will explain plans to devolve power to Tamils.

"The government of Sri Lanka has scientifically evaluated the situation and found that these two areas, police and land powers, have to be reviewed, revisited and it is by common courtesy since the 13th amendment stems from Rajiv-J.R, heads of two states," he said.

Indian Security advisor to enter talks with Rajapaksa

The Indian National Security Advisor, Shiv Shankar Menon, will visit Sri Lanka on the basis of holding tri-lateral talks between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, announced the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS).

According to the MCNS director, Lakshman Hulugalla, the Indian National  Security Advisor will call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya.  

No sincere effort by SL govt says GTF 

Speaking to the Island the Global Tamil Forum said it was not possible to comment on whether South Africa could be a facilitator in talks between the TNA-GTF and the Sri Lankan government. 

GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran said: 

Malaysian No Fire Zone screening raided by police

Human rights activists that helped set up the screening of the ‘No Fire Zone’ documentary were detained by the Home Ministry in Malaysia today.

The event was organised by the human rights group Pusat Komas, in an attempt to raise awareness about the war crimes and atrocities that happened at the end of 2009 in Sri Lanka.

SL asks US to lift travel advisory

The Sri Lankan government has called upon the US to lift warnings about travelling to the island, after an update to the travel advisory by the State Department.

The US ambassador to Colombo, Michelle Sison, was summoned to a meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs, where they requested the US to withdraw the advisory.

The Buddha pops up in Muslim school playground

Residents of Oddamavady, Batticaloa have been disturbed by the appearance of a Buddha statue in the middle of the playground of a Muslim faith school reports BBC Tamil.

While the district is home to a mainly Muslim population, the school is located close to a Buddhist vihara, with which it has reportedly experienced many years of dispute regarding land rights.

Sri Lanka bans Time July 1st issue

The July 1st issue of Time magazine has been banned in Sri Lanka, due to its cover sotry -  "The Face of Buddhist Terror".

According to the AFP, the spokesperson for the Customs Department Lesley Gamini said the issue was banned as it 'could raise religious tensions in the country'.

Gamini said:

"By operation of law these magazines will be confiscated,"

Uthayan’s “racist” writing sowing hatred – SLFP member

A former MP and member of President Rajapakse’s SLFP has slammed the Tamil newspaper Uthayan’s content, saying it is attempting to sow communal hatred.

The paper had recently carried comments by a catholic priest and a former judge, who had criticised the oppression and militarisation in the Tamil homeland.

The Daily News reported that they said that Tamils remained oppressed by the government and still lived in fear across the island, although the war had ended.

Sri Lanka makes nuclear agreement with Russia

Sri Lanka and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate vocational training for Sri Lankan nuclear scientists in Russia, reports Colombo Page.

The agreement includes managing nuclear and radiation safety issues and development of nuclear technology infrastructure in Sri Lanka.