Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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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…

Fast in support of Tamil political prisoners as hunger strike enters second day

A fast in support of Tamil political prisoners was held on Tuesday in front of Nallur temple in the Jaffna district.

The protest fast, organised by the Jaffna Tamil Youth Organisation, was attended by relatives of political prisoners, politicians, including TNA MP Saravanapavan, and NPC members, Sukirthan, Kajatheepan and Paramsothy and other members of the public.

Over 200 Tamil political detainee across the island started a hunger strike on Monday, demanding to be released.

Wigneswaran urges president to ensure fasting Tamil detainees are not harmed (12 October 2015)

NFF leader 'immensely appreciates' Russian military intervention in Syria

The leader of Sri Lanka's National Freedom Front stated his party is "pleased" to hear Russian military intervention in Syria is "continuing unabated," stating it was a "noble objective".

In a letter to the ambassador of Russia in Sri Lanka, Wimal Weerawansa said his party is "very pleased to hear about the military capabilities and the achievement of the Russian forces who conduct those humanitarian operations with noble objectives in mind".

"We are also very pleased to learn about the technological prowess of the Russian forces in using cruise missiles with perfect precision targeting terrorists as far as 1500 km away without causing any deliberate harm to innocent civilians anywhere in the region," he added. "The noble objective of this intervention is diametrically opposed to the objectives of military interventions carried out by the USA and its allies."

Tamil refugee in India goes on hunger strike calling for release of his wife

A Tamil refugee in India has gone on hunger strike, calling on Indian authorities to release his wife from Mandapam Camp prison in Rameswaram.

The 34 year old B Suthakaran from Mullivakkal fled Sri Lanka with his family in May last year, after repeated harassment from Sri Lankan security forces. The intelligence wing of the Sri Lankan Navy arrested and detained him for almost 2 years in 2008, reported The New Indian Express.  

However, once he arrived in India, despite claiming refugee status, he was imprisoned for a year in Puzhal Prison in Chennai.

"After I reached Dhanuskodi, I telephoned the Q branch police," said Mr Suthakaran. "I informed them that I am Sri Lankan and had come with my family thinking that they will register us as refugees and put us in the camps."

"But everything went awry as my wife and I were imprisoned and my children were separated from us," he said.

Sri Lanka's state minister of defence praises Buddhist education

Sri Lankan state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene donated Rs. 100,000 to Buddhist viharas as he praised religious education as the best way to cut the island's crime rate.

Receiving blessings from Buddhist monks, the minister donated the cash to five Temples in Biyagama on Sunday.

He added that his donation was for the Buddhist viharas' educational programs , stating, "this noble initiative would indirectly contribute to trim-down the rising crime rate in the country while making younger generation aware and attentive on religious based education."

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence hands over houses to 'War Heroes'

Thirty-five houses built for families of Sri Lanka’s ‘War Heroes’ were presented to recipients during a formal ceremony at the Defence Services College in Colombo on Monday.

The Secretary to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence Karunasena Hettiarchchi, speaking at the event welcomed the initiative as a “show of gratitude to the fellow servicemen who stood shoulder to shoulder to safeguard the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.”

BBS leader surrender to Sri Lankan police

The general secretary of Bodu Bala Sena Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara has handed himself in to Sri Lankan police in Colombo, after a warrant was issued for his arrest earlier this week.

Tamil Nadu chief minister writes to Modi over repeated arrests

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jaylalithaa called on the Indian prime minster not to be a “mute spectator” after the Sri Lankan navy arrested another group of Indian fishermen this week.

"India cannot continue to be seen as a mute spectator as the rights of Indian fishermen are repeatedly infringed upon," said Ms Jayalalithaa, calling for the fishermen issue needs to be placed at the top of the agenda in any interaction with Sri Lanka."

"This is a livelihood issue of thousands of our fisherfolk and is taking on a huge social and political dimension," she added.

Hangman interviews take place amid calls for death penalty abolition

The Sri Lankan government interviewed 14 applicants for the post of hangman today, amidst calls for the abolition of the death penalty on the island.

There are two vacant positions said Prisons Commissioner Rohana Pushpakumara, adding that “those selected will have to undergo three weeks training and a medical check-up.”

Detained LTTE cadre launch hunger strike in Sri Lanka prison

Former LTTE cadre detained at Magazine prison in Colombo launched a hunger strike on Monday, calling on the authorities to release them from indefinite detention under Sri Lanka's notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The prison officers reported that detainees were refusing to come out of their cells and accept food.