• Militarisation: Army attends pre-school concert in Trincomalee

    Dec 21

  • Former LTTE cadres scapegoated while police killers roam free - TNA MP
    <p>The former LTTE cadres currently detained in connection with the murders of two police officers in Batticaloa are being scapegoated while the real perpetrators roam free, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP has said.</p> <p>Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Batticaloa representative G Sirinesan said those being targeted by police and security forces were innocent, while the killers were still at large.</p>
  • Yet another militarised Christmas in Jaffna

    The Sri Lankan military continued with its militarisation of the North-East by involving itself in Christmas proceedings in the Jaffna peninsula this week, in the face of continued criticism from locals.

  • Wigneswaran reiterates call for international accountability mechanism
    <p>The international community should set up an accountability mechanism for mass atrocities committed in Sri Lanka “without delay”, said C V WIigneswaran the former Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, just days after Sri Lanka’s president reiterated his opposition to any accountability for war crimes.</p> <p>"I am not saying that there should be two laws – one for the Sinhalese and another for the Tamils,” Wigneswaran <a href="http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&amp;page=article-de…">told reporters on Sunday</a>. “But it can be seen that the Tamils are the community which suffered most from the war. Therefore, it is natural for them to harbour doubts about the rulings given by the Sri Lankan courts with regard to the war crimes.”</p> <p>"The government forces should not be afraid of our insistence on international input into the war crimes’ inquiry if they had not committed any war crimes,” he added. “Instead, they should welcome the opportunity to clear their names and support us in this move.”</p>
  • Arrested Tamil youths refused bail, remanded 2 weeks
    <p>Nine Tamil youths, arrested in Jaffna on Monday for alleged involvement in sword attacks, were refused bail when they appeared before Mallakam Magistrate Court.&nbsp;</p> <p>The nine youths were ordered to be held in remand for 14 days.&nbsp;</p> <p>Chunnakam police claimed to have recovered six swords and one motorbike from the youths.&nbsp;</p>
  • Army officer aids attempted abduction in Jaffna
    <p>A Sri Lankan army officer helped 6 other Sinhalese men in the attempted abduction of an elderly Tamil man in Jaffna on Tuesday for allegedly owing them money.&nbsp;</p> <p>The elderly man was saved when locals caught sight of the abduction attempt and intervened. Three men escaped, however four were caught by local residents and handed over to the police.&nbsp;</p>
  • Almost 2 months on, Sri Lanka finalises new cabinet
    <p>Almost two months after Sri Lanka's political crisis began, ministers in the new Cabinet took their oath before the president today, who holds on the defence portfolio.&nbsp;</p> <p>The sacked then reinstated, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold the ministry for northern development, rehabilitation&nbsp;and prison reform.&nbsp;</p>
  • UK responds to petition calling for Sri Lanka to be referred to ICC
    <p>Responding to a petition signed by over 10,000 British citizens calling for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court, the UK government said that "international criminal justice and accountability is a fundamental element", however maintained that the UN Human Rights Council resolutions were the best way of acheiving accountability.&nbsp;</p>
  • Militarisation through sport in Mullaitivu

    The Sri Lankan army announced that it had launched a football workshop with Tamil schoolchildren in Mulllaitivu, despite calls for the armed forces to withdraw from civilian activities in the heavily militarised region.

  • US ‘looks forward to engagement with Wickremesinghe’

    The United States said it was “pleased” that Sri Lanka’s political crisis had taken a step towards resolution with the reinstatement of Ranil Wickremesinghe, and noted that “we look forward to engaging” with the reappointed prime minister.

  • Rupee ends weaker despite Ranil’s return
    <p>Sri Lanka’s rupee continued to fall this week, as the fallout from Colombo’s political crisis continued to dent sentiment, reports Reuters.</p> <p>“Political paralysis remained the main concern for investors,” added Reuters, who reported that dealers also pointed to a delay in appointing cabinet ministers contributing to the weakening rupee.</p>
  • Trinco residents condemn authorities' failure to protect against elephants

    Residents in Iralkuli and Navaladdy villages in Muthur, Trincomalee have condemned the failure of local authorities to protect locals from destruction by elephants and other wild animals. 

    Residents protested outside the Muthur Divisional Secretariat Office on Monday, accusing authorities of ignoring their request for a fence to be erected to stop elephants from entering the villages. 

  • Sampanthan says Sri Lanka has 2 opposition leaders

    The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan questioned the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka's opposition leader yesterday, arguing that he had never been removed from the post by the Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya and that move raised the questioned whether Sri Lanka was becoming a failed state. 

  • Mannar mass grave remains sent for carbon dating

    Skeletal remains uncovered at the mass grave site in Mannar were sent for carbon dating in Florida, USA on Tuesday. 

    The excavation and carbon dating process is being over seen by the Judicial Medical Officer, Shaminda Rajapaksa. 

  • ‘More theatrics to come in Sri Lanka’ – The Economist
    <p>As Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena continue to whip up nationalist Sinhala Buddhist sentiment, there “may be more theatrics to come” in Sri Lanka, warned The Economist on Tuesday.</p> <p>Stating it was “reassuring to see democracy prevail”, it praised the curbing of Sirisena’s attempt to “expand executive power”, adding that it was for many, “satisfying to watch the lushly mustachioed former strongman, Mahinda Rajapaksa, exit the stage with a scowl”.</p>
Subscribe to Tamil Affairs

Most-Read Articles

Senior Buddhist monk from Anuradhapura remanded over sexual abuse of minor
A senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and chief prelate of the Anuradhapura Atamasthana,…
Velupillay makes history as first Tamil at a FIFA World Cup
Photograph: @Socceroos Nishan Velupillay has been selected in Australia's squad…
17 years today - A massacre in Mullivaikkal
To mark 17 years since the Sri Lankan military onslaught that massacred tens…
In Pictures - Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day commemorated in Mullivaikkal
All photographs by Uthayarasa Shalin Thousands of Tamils gathered at Mullivaikkal…
Tamil rapper arrested for ‘terrorism’ over TikTok video
A Tamil rapper from Kilinochchi has been arrested and remanded under Sri Lanka's…