Tamil Affairs

IMF is ‘monitoring situation closely’ in Sri Lanka

Nov 07

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated it was “monitoring the situation closely” in Sri Lanka, political turmoil in Colombo continues. "The IMF is not in the political realm but clearly we take note of recent developments," IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said. "We are monitoring the situation closely and we remain in contact with our counterparts at the technical level."

‘No action’ on MCC program as US assesses situation in Sri Lanka

The United States has said that “no actions” were being taken on Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funding worth several million dollars, as political turmoil continues to rock Sri Lanka. “No actions are being taken either to move the compact forward or to suspend it while we assess the situation,” press secretary Laura Allen told the Tamil Guardian on Tuesday. “MCC is closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka to determine its potential impact on the proposed compact,” she added.

Gotabhaya hits out at critics and denies that ‘a single Tamil journalist was killed’

Sri Lanka’s former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa denied that any Tamil journalists were killed during his tenure and lashed out at critics in an interview this week.

Speaking with Johan Mikaelsson, Rajapaksa claimed he was “100% sure” that no Tamil journalists were killed or disappeared and lamented that “there is no end to complaints”.

Sinhala monk storms Muslim-owned store in Trinco over Buddha print fabrics

A Muslim-owned textile boutique in Trincomalee was the centre of tensions on Saturday for selling fabrics bearing prints of the Buddha’s face.

Tensions rose to a head after the head monk of a nearby Buddhist vihara turned up at the popular boutique in Trinco town on hearing word of the fabrics being sold.

BBS and Buddhist monks slam ‘Western interference’

A group of Buddhist monks and leaders from the extremist Bodu Bala Sena organisation have slammed Western countries for “unnecessary interference and influence” amidst calls to reconvene parliament as Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues.

Protestors condemn 'sell-out' Tamil MP who defected to Rajapaksa

The former TNA MP S Viyalendiran who defected to the Rajapaksa-Sirisena government was condemned by protestors in Batticaloa on Sunday.

At a UNP-organised protest against the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister, protestors accused Viyalendiran of selling out his Tamil constituents.

“Don’t bring us slave status for your minister status,” one placard read.

Sinhala monk requests presidential pardons for fellow Sinhala monks and murderers

The Buddhist monk who leads the Sinhala Buddhist group ‘Sinhala Ravaya’ has requested presidential pardons for fellow monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, the founder of the Sinhala Buddhist hate group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) who is currently serving jail time for contempt of court, and Duminda Silva, the SLFP politician with strong links to the drug trade and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, currently on death row accused of the murder of a fellow politician.

Sri Lanka's LGBTQI+ community disappointed by Sirisena's homophobic remarks

The Sri Lankan President has been roundly criticised following homophobic remarks he made at a rally of over a hundred thousand supporters in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s LGBTQI+ community expressed their disappointment in Sirisena, claiming many among them had voted for him hoping for relief from the ‘rampant homophobia’ which marked the Rajapaksa presidency.

At the rally with his now de facto prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Sirisena accused his former coalition partner and prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had rejected ‘national values’ for a ‘butterfly’ lifestyle, implying a queer lifestyle.

As well as drawing criticism from high profile Sri Lankan commentators on social media, his remarks were condemned by Sri Lanka’s LGBTQI+ community and allies in a statement:

More than USD$1 billion of US, Japanese aid to Sri Lanka frozen claims Ranil

Over USD$1 billion of development aid destined for Sri Lanka from the United States and Japan has been frozen due to the political turmoil on the island, claimed Ranil Wickremesinghe this week.

"Countries are sensitive, they have concerns (about a government led by Rajapaksa) democratic countries have concerns," claimed Wickremesinghe, who is tussling with Mahinda Rajapaksa for the position of Sri Lankan prime minister.

Sirisena orders Sri Lanka’s parliament to reconvene on Nov 14

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena has ordered parliament to reconvene on November 14th, more than two weeks since he appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister.

Marie Colvin new biography describes visit to de-facto state of Tamil Eelam

An upcoming posthumous biography of the widely acclaimed journalist Marie Colvin, Lindsey Hilsum’s ‘In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin is an extraordinary account of one reporter’s fearless and ultimately fatal dedication,” includes accounts of Colvin's time in the defacto state of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during their ceasefire with the Sri Lankan government.

Tamil families of disappeared concerned about security with possible Rajapaksa return

Amidst the ongoing political crisis in Colombo, Tamil families of the disappeared spoke about their concerns over security in the North-East, following a possible return to a Mahinda Rajapaksa led government.

Militarisation continues – air force marks anniversary in Vavuniya

The Sri Lankan air force continued with its militarisation of Vavuniya, despite calls for the military to vacate the region, with a series of events to mark its 40^th anniversary.

Tamil youth en route to Colombo reported missing