Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A fisherman in Keppapulavu, Mullaitivu, was assaulted during a visit by Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister, Ramalingam Chandrasekaran, as tensions flared during the Minister’s local government election campaign on 24 April. Chandrasekaran, who was touring the North-East with National People’s Power (NPP) candidates, visited Keppapulavu where he met with representatives of the Keppapulavu Fishermen…

International mediation of talks welcome - TNA

Following the stalled talks, the TNA stated they would welcome "international facilitation" of any future talks with the government of Sri Lanka, if the government approved.

The TNA's media spokeperson, Suresh Premachandran, said,

 “There is no favoured choice in this case.  However, we are for an external facilitator if the government is willing,”

MEPs support Sri Lanka’s ‘whitewash’

A group of EU parliamentarians have highlighted the need for Europe to support Sri Lanka’s reconciliation and reconstruction efforts.

Government to set up 'media authority'

The Sri Lankan government will establish a media authority, by the end of the year, announced the media minister, Keheliya Rambukwella.

Ramkukwella said the new body would aim to "obtain the support of the media persons in the development of the post-war Sri Lanka", as well as providing "training" to media workers.

See related articles:

Sri Lanka press freedom worsens – RSF (26 Jan 2012)

Alleged war criminal appointed to UN Peace Keeping group

The suspected war criminal, Major General Shavendra Silva of the Sri Lankan Army, has been selected to the UN Special Advisory Group on Peace Keeping Operations on Thursday, representing the Asia-Pacific states.

The body will mainly examine issues of reimbursing countries who donate troops to UN Peace Keeping Operations, such as Sri Lanka has done in Haiti.

Oman may support SL if sanctions imposed on Iran cause crisis

A delegation from the Omani government has discussed ways to support Sri Lanka in the event of a crisis due to sanctions placed on financial institutions dealing with Iranian crude oil, according to a Sri Lankan official.

"The two ministers discussed in detail how Oman could assist Sri Lanka in the event of a crisis, if Sri Lanka is unable to import crude oil from Iran," a ministry official with knowledge of the talks between Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha and Mohammad bin al-Rumhy told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Retailers boycott Sri Lankan goods after consumer pressure - Chennai

R.G Sakthi Saravanan, the head of the oldest consumer cooperative society, the TUCS (Triplicane Urban Coopoerative Society) has instructed the chain of affiliated shops to remove products from Sri Lanka, following increasing pressure from Tamil activists on the ground.

Lankan Navy arrest 43 Indian fishermen

At least 43 Indian fishermen and 6 boats have been held under the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy, in the latest of a series of alleged attacks and arrests on Indian fishermen.

The arrest follows growing allegations of attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy, evoking strong protests in Tamil Nadu. The Sri Lankan Navy though has denied all such claims that it has been behind these attacks.

In a statement on its website, the Navy declared,

Sri Lanka press freedom worsens – RSF

Sri Lanka's press freedom is continuing to deteriorate according to the World Press Freedom Index.

The annual report, compiled by Reporters without Borders (RSF), saw Sri Lanka drop to 163rd place out of 178 countries that are ranked, placing it below countries such as Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and just one place above Somalia.

Tracking tourists

Not content with the military running hotels and conducting whale watching tours, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department announced Tuesday that a permanent monitoring unit would be established to keep track of Sri Lanka's tourists.

The decision came after 161 Muslim tourists who had overstayed their visas and engaged in activities "other than tourism", were asked to leave.

The department's head, Chief Chulananda Perara, said,

Lapping it up

 Daily Mirror 24/01/12 

Sri Lankan daily newspaper, the Daily Mirror, illustrates its conclusions of India's external affairs secretary's visit to Sri Lanka.