Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Protest in Vavuniya over encroachment on a vital irrigation tank
Farmers and residents staged a protest in Vavuniya on Monday, alleging that the encroachment and development of the water catchment area of Kovilkulam pose a serious threat to the tank’s natural water inflow and the livelihoods dependent on it. The demonstration began in front of the Kudiyiruppu Pillaiyar Temple and proceeded in a march to the Vavuniya District Secretariat, where protesters…

UN Special Rapporteur to visit North-East

Nov 23, 2013

Sri Lanka’s external affairs ministry announced today that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, will visit Sri Lanka next week.

UNP slams Rajapaksa over possibility of int'l inquiry

Nov 23, 2013
Sri Lanka's opposition, the UNP, has slammed the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government for allowing the country to be brought up in front of an international inquiry.

In a special statement, the UNP condemned the government's signing up to the 39th sentence of a declaration signed by all leaders of the Commonwealth during the summit held earlier this month, which said all nations would adhere to the Vienna Declaration.

Police destroy posters promoting self-determination in North-East

Nov 23, 2013

Police in the area of Velvettithurai have recently had to destroy posters and stickers on walls in support of a separate state for the North-East of Sri Lanka.

Credentials worthy of the SL Cabinet

Nov 23, 2013
The Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena, who organised the protests in Anuradhapura during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet which mobbed the Channel 4 news team who were on board a train towards the North, has been appointed a Cabinet Minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reports the Colombo Telegraph.

Poet's arrest part of 'on-going witch hunt' - Jaffna Uni lecturer

Nov 23, 2013
Speaking to Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) on the arrest of the Norwegian Tamil poet Jayapalan, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Jaffna, said that the arrest  “was part of the ongoing campaign of witch-hunt against Tamils journalists, university students and academics”.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the lecturer added,

Norwegian Tamil poet arrested by SL intelligence in Maankulam

Nov 22, 2013
The acclaimed poet and actor, Jeyapalan, was arrested in Maankulam on Friday by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) at taken to the TID office in Vavuniya.

Jeyapalan, who resides in Norway having fled the ethnic conflict, had returned to pay his respects at his late mother's grave in Maankulam.

According to reports, at approximately 5pm, security forces arrested him stating he had violated visa regulations. He is understood to have entered Sri Lanka on a tourist visa.

However, according to PTI, the Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said that Jayapalan had been arrested for holding seminars in Jaffna.

SL military seize 3200 acres in Mullaitheevu district

Nov 22, 2013
The Sri Lankan military has seized 3200 acres of land in Odduchuddaan DS division in Mullaitheevu district, reported TamilNet, citing sources in Vanni.

See here for more.

Rajapaksa blessed at the Sacred Tooth for assuming Commonwealth Chair post

Nov 22, 2013
Photographs News.lk


The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa received blessings from the Buddhist clergy at the Scared Tooth relic in Kandy on Friday, for assuming the post of Commonwealth Chair. 



Jet Airways cancels daily Chennai-Colombo flights

Nov 22, 2013
Jet Airways, India's largest domestic airlines, is due to cancel it's daily service from Chennai to Colombo, reported ColomboPage.

The daily service from Chennai is due to be stopped from the 3rd of January 2014, although flights from Mumbai will still serve Colombo.

Cricketer Murali criticised for remarks to Cameron

Nov 22, 2013
The Sri Lankan Cricker Muralitharan was criticised by members of the Chaavakachcheri Urban Council on Thursday for his comments to the British Premier David Cameron, asserting that reconciliation was well under way.

Passing a resolution, Councillor P Sritharan, said,
UNP slams Rajapaksa over possibility of int'l inquiry
Police destroy posters promoting self-determination in North-East
Credentials worthy of the SL Cabinet
Poet's arrest part of 'on-going witch hunt' - Jaffna Uni lecturer
Norwegian Tamil poet arrested by SL intelligence in Maankulam
SL military seize 3200 acres in Mullaitheevu district
Rajapaksa blessed at the Sacred Tooth for assuming Commonwealth Chair post
Jet Airways cancels daily Chennai-Colombo flights
Cricketer Murali criticised for remarks to Cameron
Jaya slams 'meek and pusillanimous' Indian government
UNP slams Rajapaksa over possibility of int'l inquiry
Police destroy posters promoting self-determination in North-East
Credentials worthy of the SL Cabinet
Poet's arrest part of 'on-going witch hunt' - Jaffna Uni lecturer
Norwegian Tamil poet arrested by SL intelligence in Maankulam
SL military seize 3200 acres in Mullaitheevu district
Rajapaksa blessed at the Sacred Tooth for assuming Commonwealth Chair post
Jet Airways cancels daily Chennai-Colombo flights
Cricketer Murali criticised for remarks to Cameron
Jaya slams 'meek and pusillanimous' Indian government