Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

British Tamil engineer takes F1 podium spotlight after Mercedes win
British Tamil engineer Arun Rajkumar became an unexpected face of Mercedes’ Austrian Grand Prix celebrations after stepping onto the Formula 1 podium and lifting the race-winning constructors’ trophy for the team. Rajkumar, who was born into an Eelam Tamil family, is a trackside power unit engineer for Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, the Brixworth-based division that designs,…

UN hopes Sri Lanka follows pledges

Jul 12, 2016
The spokesperson to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon acknowledged there were "issues" between the international community and Sri Lanka on ensuring accountability.

Asked to comment on the Sri Lankan president's recent refusal to allow foreign judges in any judicial mechanism to look at mass atrocities committed against the Tamil people in 2009, the spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said,

“I haven't seen those exact comments.  There are issues between the international community and Sri Lanka and agreements to ensure accountability.  And we hope those are followed."

US officials hold discussions with TNA

Jul 12, 2016

The US assistant secretaries, Tom Malinowski and Nisha Biswal met with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Wednesday whilst on their visit to Sri Lanka.

"Met w/Opp Leader Sampanthan and TNA colleagues to share perspectives on #SriLanka and their hopes for the country," Biswal tweeted.

Sri Lanka's economic future inextricably linked to political - Biswal

Jul 12, 2016
The US assistant secretary Nisha Biswal stressed the need for Sri Lanka to find a political solution in order to achieve its economic potential.

Addressing an event in Colombo on Wednesday Ms Biswal said Sri Lanka "is now prime to become the economic success story it was always meant to be," but added:

"Lee Kuan Yew talked about Sri Lanka becoming the next Singapore when the economy opened up in the late 1970s. Decades of conflict delayed that potential. But now is the time to make good on that promise.

For that promise to be fulfilled, we must recognize that the economic future of Sri Lanka is necessarily and inextricably linked to its political future, which must reflect the needs, aspirations, and diversity of all its people."

Namal Rajapaksa arrested

Jul 11, 2016

The son of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa was arrested on Monday on fraud charges,

Namal Rajapaksa, MP for Hambantota, was arrested on money laundering charges, in another sign of Mahinda Rajapaksa's waning power.

Since former president Rajapaksa was defeated in elections last year, several of his confidantes and family members have been arrested on fraud charges, as the current government seeks to distinguish itself from the former regime by cracking down on corruption.

Another high ranking US official visits Sri Lanka

Jul 11, 2016

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour Tom Malinowski will visit Sri Lanka from July 12 to 20, where he will engage with government officials and local civil society representatives.

Assistant Secretary Malinowski will focus on Sri Lanka’s continued progress in meeting the commitments made during last September’s UN Human Rights Council session. He will also discuss the work that remains in the areas of justice and reconciliation, and confirm that the United States continues to support Sri Lankan efforts to tackle these issues, according to a State Department press release.

Shared responsibility to see through resolution says US

Jul 11, 2016
The United States as a co-sponsor of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka last year, has a shared responsibility to see the process through, the US assistant secretary Tom Malinowski said on Tuesday during a visit to Colombo.

"The United States was a co-sponsor of that resolution, and as such we feel we have a shared responsibility to help see this process through.  So we look forward to supporting Sri Lanka as it puts into place the remaining institutions and reforms that the resolution endorsed.  We very strongly commend the government for working closely with United Nations and High Commissioner Zeid to advance that progress,"

British Tamil man tortured in Sri Lanka returns to UK

Jul 10, 2016
A British Tamil man who said he was detained by Sri Lankan authorities and tortured after travelling to the country last month to get married, returned to the UK earier this week, The Guardian reported.

"I was arrested at my mother’s house and put inside a van where the men who arrested me started punching and beating me. I was taken to an empty house somewhere in Jaffna that I believe is used for torture. There was dried blood on the walls. I was beaten with wooden sticks and a metal bar on my head and face and leg and I lost consciousness," the 36 year old  Velauthapillai Renukaruban told newspaper.

The men accused him of involvement in the LTTE.

“I kept telling them that I had lived in the UK for many years and have nothing to do with LTTE. But they didn’t listen. I thought I was going to die," he said.

Batticaloa domestic airport opened

Jul 10, 2016
Batticaloa's domestic airport was opened on Sunday following renovation for the past 4 years, reports the Daily Mirror.

The airport, which includes a newly constructed passenger terminal building, was constructed partly by the Sri Lankan Air Force which was ordered to do so by the Sri Lankan Cabinet.

The airport was formally opened by the Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena.

It is not clear when the domestic service will commence.

Sirisena slams media for false reporting on 'foreign judges'

Jul 9, 2016

Sri Lanka's president Maithripala Sirisena has denied that foreign judges will be allowed to prtake in any accountability mechanism, the second time he has done so in two days.

The president slammed sections of the Sinhala press for reporting that the accountability mechanism would include foreign participation, Ceylonews reported.

No reduction in army in Jaffna says commander

Jul 9, 2016
The Sri Lankan army said there was no reduction in security in Jaffna with the number of troops and army camps remaining the same.

"there has not been any reduction in the number of camps or the troops and the Army Camps are maintained in the required locations for the safety of the public," the Colombo Page quoted the Jaffna commander, Major General Mahesh Senanayake as saying.

"The recent hand over of lands does not mean giving up camps", Major General Senanayake said.
US officials hold discussions with TNA
Sri Lanka's economic future inextricably linked to political - Biswal
Namal Rajapaksa arrested
Another high ranking US official visits Sri Lanka
Shared responsibility to see through resolution says US
British Tamil man tortured in Sri Lanka returns to UK
Batticaloa domestic airport opened
Sirisena slams media for false reporting on 'foreign judges'
No reduction in army in Jaffna says commander
Sirisena postpones Batticaloa event near site of Sinhala mob attack
US officials hold discussions with TNA
Sri Lanka's economic future inextricably linked to political - Biswal
Namal Rajapaksa arrested
Another high ranking US official visits Sri Lanka
Shared responsibility to see through resolution says US
British Tamil man tortured in Sri Lanka returns to UK
Batticaloa domestic airport opened
Sirisena slams media for false reporting on 'foreign judges'
No reduction in army in Jaffna says commander
Sirisena postpones Batticaloa event near site of Sinhala mob attack