Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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'Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing' - Mannar chairman demands rapper's release
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 looks to ‘address’ language issues

Oct 8, 2012
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of National Languages and Ethnic Integration announced that it planned to introduce a hotline for resolving the language issues affecting the public service.

The minister of the Ministry National Languages and Ethnic Integration, Vasudeva Naanyakkara, assured that the Ministry was fully committed to implement the Official Languages Policy, which alleges to promote language rights and equality, throughout the country.

A militarised education

Oct 8, 2012
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapksa has rewarded principals from the country’s Ministry of Education by promoting them to the military rank of Brevet Colonels, reported the Ministry of Defence.

In a ceremony held in Colombo on Monday, 23 officials from the Ministry of Education and Education Administration Service

Recalling his earlier days as a schoolchild, the Defence Secretary also reportedly,

Defence Secretary praises ‘Buddhist revivial’

Oct 8, 2012
Speaking at the opening of a new hall at a Buddhist centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary has praised the role of the Buddhist clergy in “safeguarding the motherland” and stated that the country was in the midst of a “Buddhist revivial”.

See the report from Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence, which reported on the Vihara opening, here. Excerpts have been reproduced below.

SL lifts travel advisory on Tamil Nadu

Oct 8, 2012

Sri Lanka lifted its travel advisory against travel to Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.

The ban was instigated citing attacks against Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said:

“Following a series of unfortunate incidents faced by Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu, in particular a group of Sri Lankan pilgrims visiting the Poornimatha Church in Thanjavur in early September 2012, the Government of Sri Lanka was compelled to issue a travel advisory for Sri Lankan nationals visiting the state of Tamil Nadu.

Judges strike against judge attack

Oct 7, 2012

Judges in Sri Lanka protested on Monday, after a High Court judge was beaten with pistols and stabbed. In a statement, judicial association would not work for one day in protest at the attack.

Sexual attacks on Tamil women in the East

Oct 7, 2012

A 38-year-old mother of five was sexually assaulted and killed in Batticaloa on Monday, repored TamilNet on Monday.

Ms A Sinnapillai was gagged and dragged out of her home by two Sinhalese workers and allegedly raped and murdered in a nearby jungle. Her body was found dumped upside down in a pit.

Malaysia to sign trade deal with SL

Oct 7, 2012

Malaysia is planning to sign a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka regarding the oil and gas sector, reported the Daily News.

Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Azmi Zainuddin said the MoU could help the Sri Lankan Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat to formalise business and investment opportunities with Malaysian firms.

“We recognise the potential that Malaysian oil and gas companies could offer Sri Lankan companies in this sector.

UN official calls for “greater attention” to resettled people

Oct 7, 2012
A visiting senior UN official to Sri Lanka has stated that more focus needs to be shifted towards the allocation of land and job creation of those who have been displaced by war.
 
Dr. Ajay Chhibber, who is the UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific visited the island from earlier this week, as part of the United Nations Development Programme.

Marking the conclusion of his visit he stated,

Tamils accused of 'conspiring' with diaspora to be prosecuted

Oct 6, 2012
Around 80 Tamils are to face prosecution by the Sri Lankan state after being accused of conspiring with activists in the country and in the diaspora to set up a separate state.

These Tamils are accused of being “hardcore LTTE cadres” and will be prosecuted under the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act according to Additional Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath.

He told the Daily Mirror,

Senior member of the judiciary attacked after speaking out

Oct 6, 2012
A senior judge, openly critical of the Sri Lankan government, has been admitted to hospital after being stabbed several times.

The secretary of the independent Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Manjula TIlakaratne, was assaulted by four armed men and robbed of his mobile phone.  Reports suggest that it did not appear to be an act aimed at killing him.

Tilakaratne recently issued a statement outlining the targeting and intimidation that the JSC was facing. He said,
A militarised education
Defence Secretary praises ‘Buddhist revivial’
SL lifts travel advisory on Tamil Nadu
Judges strike against judge attack
Sexual attacks on Tamil women in the East
Malaysia to sign trade deal with SL
UN official calls for “greater attention” to resettled people
Tamils accused of 'conspiring' with diaspora to be prosecuted
Senior member of the judiciary attacked after speaking out
You will determine our means of resistance – Jaffna Civil Societies tell the UN
A militarised education
Defence Secretary praises ‘Buddhist revivial’
SL lifts travel advisory on Tamil Nadu
Judges strike against judge attack
Sexual attacks on Tamil women in the East
Malaysia to sign trade deal with SL
UN official calls for “greater attention” to resettled people
Tamils accused of 'conspiring' with diaspora to be prosecuted
Senior member of the judiciary attacked after speaking out
You will determine our means of resistance – Jaffna Civil Societies tell the UN