• Sri Lankan navy and STF arrest 3 Indian nationals in East

    Three Indian nationals were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy and the Special Task Force on Friday for allegedly violating immigration laws. 

    All three people arrested are from Tamil Nadu and aged 27, 36 and 41, Colombo Page reported. 

    They had been harvesting a paddy field in Nindavur where they were arrested, the paper added. 

  • Eastern Uni to be evacuated as tensions prevail after Sinhala students attack staff

    The Eastern University has been ordered to be evacuated as tensions remained high following the attack on security staff by Sinhala students on Tuesday. 

    The order was issused on Saturday by the Eravur Magistrate Court, the Daily Mirror reported. 

    Two security staff, including one female member of staff, were hospitalised following the attack. 

  • Sri Lankan government 'has not lived up to its commitments' - GTF

    Criticising the failure of the Sri Lankan government to make significant progress on implemented the UN Human Rights Council resolution it co-sponsored, the Global Tamil Forum reiterated the need for accountability, stating the "the present coalition government has not lived up to its commitments and yet to take any meaningful steps in this respect."

  • TNA meets with Norwegian ambassador

    The Tamil National Alliance met with Norway's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Thorbjørn Gaustadsæther on Friday. 

    The TNA was represented by its leader, R Sampanthan and TNA spokesperson, M A Sumanthiran. 

  • Tamil preschool children given tour of Palaly air base by Sri Lankan Army

    Tamil preschool children were given a tour of Palaly air base by Sri Lankan soldiers on Friday.

    The base is inside a high security zone, military-occupied land which is usually inaccessible to locals.

    48 children from the Karaveddy Child Jesus Pre-School, along with their parents and 5 members of staff were given the tour.

  • Ceylon Electricity Board fencing off 200 acres private paddy land in Sampur

    Fencing activity by the Ceylon Electricity Board on paddy lands in Sampur has angered the land’s recently resettled owners.

    Trincomalee MP K. Thurairetnasingam wrote to President Sirisena following outcry by the owners of paddy land in Kilalveli that their livelihood lands were being encroached upon.

  • Sri Lankan soldier turned Buddhist monk in Jaffna  to preach to troops

    A former Major General in the Sri Lankan army who was accused of murder and torture and has since been ordained as a Buddhist monk was in Jaffna this week, delivering a lecture to Sri Lankan soldiers.

  • Sri Lanka's public debt to rise to 85% of GDP warns IMF

    Sri Lanka’s public debt is expected to rise to 85% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with the current account deficit widening to 2.5% of GDP warned the International Monetary Fund. 

    The IMF's second review of Sri Lanka under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF)., released on Thursday, further found that though progress on structural fiscal reform had been made “political resistance” was stalling some processes including energy pricing reform.

  • US House of Representatives delegation meets with TNA

    A cross-party delegation from the US House of Representatives met with the Tamil National Alliance on Thursday during a visit to Sri Lanka. 

  • Asian Human Rights Commission urges action over Tamil boy killed by Sri Lanka's STF

    The Asian Human Rights Commission in a statement on Thursday urged action over the death of a Tamil boy who was killed during a police chase by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force. 

    "The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information about Mr. Sathasivam Madisam of Karadiyanaru in the Batticaloa District," the AHRC said in its statement. 

  • Sri Lankan military on study tour in Rwanda

    Sri Lankan military officers and students from the Sri Lanka Defense Service Command are currently visiting Rwanda for a two week 'study tour'. 

    The team was welcomed by the Rwanda Defense Forces' air force chief of staff, Brigadier General Charles Karamba. 

    "Both countries have undergone periods of calamities," Sri Lanka's Colonel Ekanayake was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. 

  • Outgoing Sri Lankan ambassador praises US relations

    Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United States praised relations between the two governments, stating that they had reached “unprecedented heights”, as he leaves his post to take up a new assignment as the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    “The list of Sri Lanka’s landmark achievements are too many to mention,” said Prasad Kariyawasam at a farewell event held in Washington DC.

  • Provincial Council polls to be next year at earliest

    Sri Lanka's minister of provincial councils and local government, Faiszer Musthapha said that provincial council elections would all be held on one day, which would be next year at the earliest. 

    Three provincial councils elections, including that in the Eastern province were due to be held this October. 

  • Sri Lanka's Commercial Bank of Ceylon to receive US $100 million from World Bank Group

    The World Bank Group will partner with Sri Lanka’s Bank of Ceylon to set up a US $100 million financing structure to allow for an increase in lending for renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page.

    The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a constituent member of the World Bank Group, will provide a 7 year finance deal to the Bank of Ceylon to support the expansion of conventional and non-conventional renewable energy projects.

  • Sri Lanka's Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana vows to reclaim Hambantota port from China

    Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe vowed  to regain ownership of the recently leased Hambantota Port.

Subscribe to Tamil Affairs