Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Court orders Sallay to hand over passwords in Easter Sunday probe
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered former State Intelligence Service Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay to provide the Criminal Investigation Department with the passwords to his mobile phone and computer as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The order was issued on Wednesday by Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, while Sallay…

Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister meets EU in Brussels to regain GSP+

Dec 11, 2015
The European Union and Sri Lankan authorities met in Brussels to discuss the currently suspended GSP plus trade concession.

Sri  Lanka’s deputy Foreign Minister Dr Harsha de Silva said that the meeting was part for Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to regain the HSP plus concession from the EU, reports Colombo Gazette. 

The GSP plus is awarded based nations complying with the 27 international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In a statement made on World Human Rights Day the Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran said that Sri Lanka’s constitution violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Tamil rights violated by successive Sri Lanka governments says Chief Minister on World Human Rights Day (11 Dec 2015)

Sri Lanka businesses must lobby for improved human rights to see GSP+ reinstated says EU ambassador (27 Nov 2015)

Tamil rights violated by successive Sri Lanka governments says Chief Minister on World Human Rights Day

Dec 10, 2015

The rights of Tamils as individuals and as a People have been violated over the course of time by successive Sri Lankan governments said the Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran in his statement to mark World Human Rights Day.

Sri Lanka’s former Supreme Court judge, in his statement issued in Tamil and English, quoting article one of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights said,

“The legitimate right of self-determination has been denied to the Tamils instead their right to equality, a central human right, has been violated throughout the period of Sri Lanka’s existence. The right to life of individual Tamils has been violated through extra-judicial killings in which the State and its agents actively participated. There has been no accountability for any of the killings that have taken place.”

On the right to liberty, Mr Wigneswaran added,

“Again a non-defeasible right stated in the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights continues to be violated with the incarceration of many hundreds of young Tamils detained without trial or deprived of proper hearings. Their continued imprisonment is a continuing violation of this important right by the Government of Sri Lanka.”

Welcoming the establishment of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and drawing upon an Northern Provincial Council passed in February, the Chief minister of the predominantly Tamil Northern Province said,

Norwegian foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka in January

Dec 10, 2015
Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende is set to visit Sri Lankan in the first week of January 2016, to hold high level talks with senior government officials.

Mr Brende, the Former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum and Former Minister of Trade and Industry in Norway, will be holding discussions regarding increasing trade and investment opportunities on the island. He will also address the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Trade between Sri Lanka and Norway during 2014 accounted for US$ 30 million.
The visit comes after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe ruled out signing a trade deal with India this week, stating his government would never sign such an agreement.

Sri Lankan navy arrests 10 Indian fishermen

Dec 10, 2015
Yet another group of Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on Thursday, as the detention of fishermen for reportedly crossing the international boundary continues. 

The group of 10 fishermen from Karaikal were reportedly apprehended 26 miles off Point Pedro and taken to Karainagar naval base, where they will be prosecuted, reports the Times of India.

The latest incident comes as the remand of six Indian fishermen from Rameswaram, who were also arrested by the Sri Lankan navy, was extended to December 21.

Labour MPs question UK's funding of Sri Lankan military reform

Dec 10, 2015

The UK opposition MPs have expressed concern about the British government's decision last month provide £6.6 million to the Sri Lankan government which will include funds towards military reform without sufficient clarity on what sort of reform is expected.

"The conduct of the Sri Lankan military is in need of serious improvement, but if the UK Government is intent on providing taxpayer’s money to Sri Lanka you must be explicit about what reforms you want to see in return. In addition, we request that you clarify how this part of the funding allocation will be spent and whether any of the £6.6m pledged will be given directly to the Government of Sri Lanka," the Labour MP and Senior Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, Siobhain McDonagh, backed by fellow opposition MPs - Joan Ryan MP, John Mann MP, Stephen Pound MP, Steve Reed MP, Wes Streeting MP, and Stephen Timms MP, in a letter on Thursday to the Minister of State, Hugo Swire. "We attended the Freedom from Torture parliamentary reception on Tuesday 8th December where we were informed that they have received 7 referrals for people tortured in Sri Lanka since the elections in January, including as recently as July 2015." "In light of these circumstances we would urge, at the very least, extreme caution by the UK Government when making decisions to significantly increase assistance to Sri Lanka and we would not be willing to support any changes to Home Office asylum policy in Sri Lanka which might make it even more difficult for survivors to secure protection in the UK."

Indian High Commission opens Tamil language lab in Jaffna Library

Dec 10, 2015
 A Tamil language centre was opened by the Indian High Commission on Indian history, cultural heritage, Tamil art and culture in Jaffna Library on Friday.

A statement released by the Indian High Commission, read,

Tamils are a persecuted nation says Canadian MP on World Human Rights Day

Dec 10, 2015
Tamils are a persecuted nation said the Canadian Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Rouge Park in his maiden parliamentary speech on World Human Rights Day.
 

What an Incredible First Week!It was an absolute honour to serve my first full week at Parliament Hill as the first elected Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Rouge Park. I was able to rise for the first time on Tuesday Dec. 8th to make my Maiden Speech in the House of Commons, as well as make a statement on Thursday Dec. 10th on the United Nation's Human Rights Day. I'd like to thank my constituents again for putting their trust in me. There is much work ahead and I look forward to working with each and every one of you.Yours very truly,Gary

Posted by Gary Anandasangaree on Friday, December 11, 2015


In his maiden statement at Canadian parliament Gary Anandasangaree MP, speaking on the experiences of Tamil refuges, said,

“The Tamil people are a persecuted nation. Over 100,000 Tamils have died in a bloody war. The UN HC for human rights has found that war crimes and crimes against humanity took place in Sri Lanka in the last phase of the war. Tamils are seeking justice. An international independent criminal investigation into war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Although the war ended in 2009 peace has evaded the island. Reported cases of sexual violence, military occupies land traditionally owned by Tamils and Tamil political prisoners linger in jail, in some cases for decades. It is in this context that people fled seeking a safe secure place to raise their family. In 2010 I had the opportunity to meet some of the Tamil refugees who came on the MV Sun Sea… I met countless men women and children. I will never forget the stories of one of the women. In the last days of the war she was hiding in a bunker with her husband and there children. She left the bunker to get water for her family. Has she left the bunker a shill hit and destroyed her life. her three young children and husband vanished in seconds. This mother had the courage to get on ship with strangers risk her life in order to put her life back together. This is one refugee experience.”

Top US envoy to visit North-East

Dec 10, 2015

A senior US official will visit Sri Lanka between December 14 and 16 and will visit the North-East.

Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Counselor of the Department of State, will travel to the island with Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia Manpreet Singh Anand.

Sri Lanka government gives clearance to resume China funded port project

Dec 10, 2015
The Sri Lankan government has given clearance to resume the Chinese funded Colombo Port City project reports Colombo Page.

Speaking to Chinese press on Friday, Sri Lanka’s finance minister Ravi Karunanayake said,

“On our part, the government is happy with the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the project. It is now under public consultation.”

The Colombo Port project was temporarily suspended in March 2015 by the new government. I twas valued at a total of US $1.4 billion at the time.

Indian High Commission opens Tamil language lab in Jaffna Library

Dec 10, 2015
A Tamil language centre was opened by the Indian High Commission on Indian history, cultural heritage, Tamil art and culture in Jaffna Library on Friday.

A statement released by the Indian High Commission, read,
Tamil rights violated by successive Sri Lanka governments says Chief Minister on World Human Rights Day
Norwegian foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka in January
Sri Lankan navy arrests 10 Indian fishermen
Labour MPs question UK's funding of Sri Lankan military reform
Indian High Commission opens Tamil language lab in Jaffna Library
Tamils are a persecuted nation says Canadian MP on World Human Rights Day
Top US envoy to visit North-East
Sri Lanka government gives clearance to resume China funded port project
Indian High Commission opens Tamil language lab in Jaffna Library
Kilinochchi hit by floods again
Tamil rights violated by successive Sri Lanka governments says Chief Minister on World Human Rights Day
Norwegian foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka in January
Sri Lankan navy arrests 10 Indian fishermen
Labour MPs question UK's funding of Sri Lankan military reform
Indian High Commission opens Tamil language lab in Jaffna Library
Tamils are a persecuted nation says Canadian MP on World Human Rights Day
Top US envoy to visit North-East
Sri Lanka government gives clearance to resume China funded port project
Indian High Commission opens Tamil language lab in Jaffna Library
Kilinochchi hit by floods again