Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Thirteen more skeletal remains were exhumed from the Chemmani mass grave on Monday and a further seven newly identified, bringing the total identified at the site to 412, of which 390 have now been exhumed, as the excavation, the largest at any mass grave on the island, entered its 31st day. Monday, the 31st day of the third phase of the court-supervised process, saw three sets of remains…

Macau pull out of football qualifier in Sri Lanka

<p>Macau have pulled out of a football World Cup qualifier set to take place in Sri Lanka this week, citing security fears following the Easter Sunday bombings.</p> <p>Although Sri Lankan football authorities insisted the country was safe for international matches, the Macau Football Association said it had decided not to send a team "due to the recent terrorist attack in Sri Lanka and for the sake of the team's personal safety".</p>

Sinhalese man arrested on drugs charges in Vavuniya

<p>A Sinhalese man was arrested on drugs charges in Vavuniya on Sunday.</p> <p>The 45 year old was arrested after being found in possession of over 2 grammes of heroin, Vavuniya police said.</p> <p>The arrest took place in the Thekavathai area of Vavuniya district.</p>

Sri Lanka says no transfer of land included in East Container Terminal deal

The Sri Lankan government yesterday took pains to defend its decision to sign an agreement with India and Japan to develop the East Container Terminal at Colombo Port. 

Sri Lanka's intelligence chief resigns 

Sri Lanka's chief of national intelligence, Sisira Mendis resigned today just days after he told the parliamentary select committee investigating the Easter Sunday bombings that the attacks could have been prevented. 

Modi visits Sri Lanka

The Indian premier, Narendra Modi today visited Sri Lanka for four hours, becoming the first foreign leader to do so since the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists. 

Families of disappeared protest Sri Lanka president's Mullaitivu visit

Tamil families of the disappeared protested the Sri Lankan president’s visit to Mullaitivu on Saturday.

The families, who have been protesting for over two years for answers on their forcibly disappeared relatives, criticised President Sirisena for failing to fulfil any of his promises made during his meetings with them.

Jihadi ideology' threat to India says HC to Sri Lanka

<p>The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka today warned that "Jihadi ideology" was a threat to both countries.&nbsp;</p> <p>Describing India as "first responder to Sri Lanka's needs and priorities", Taranjit Singh Sandhu said that the Indian premier Narendra Modi had offered all possible assistance to combat this threat to regional security and global peace.&nbsp;</p> <p>Singh's comments came just before Modi's visit to Sri Lanka - the first visit by a foreign leader since the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists.&nbsp;</p>

OIC calls for justice over anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka

The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) today called for judicial action against those responsible for anti-Muslim violence following the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists supportive of Islamic State. 

Jaffna uni students remember Sivakumaran

Students at the University of Jaffna this week remembered Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle. 

Northern governor removes local journalists from another meeting

Local journalists were removed from a meeting about development of the Mullaitivu District, at the the behest of the Northern Province governor.

A broadcast journalist attached to a private Tamil media firm was stopped from filming a confrontation between the governor Suren Raghavan and TNA MP Shanthi Sriskantharajah, and made to leave.