Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Tamil residents intervene to block Sri Lankan military land grab in Maruthankerni
Tamil residents, landowners and activists in Maruthankerni have halted a land survey linked to an attempted acquisition reportedly for Sri Lankan military purposes in Vadamaradchi East. The move, which took place in the Maruthankerni area of the Jaffna district, drew strong opposition from the landowner and local residents, who warned that handing land to the Sri Lankan military could lead to…

Sri Lanka gives itself a pat on the back

Sep 10, 2012

Having submitted to its National Report for the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council, the new ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, told the 21st session that Sri Lanka was looking forward to the process.

Claiming that the government the military was "no longer involved in civil administration in the Northern and the Eastern provinces", and "the Security Forces presence in the Jaffna peninsula has been reduced from 50,000 at the height of the conflict, to 15,000 at present", Aryasinha also claimed that "Sri Lanka's democratic credentials were yet again re-asserted 2 days ago with the successful conduct of Provincial Council elections, including in the previously conflict affected Eastern Province."

Civil society groups and rights groups on the island, within the Tamil diaspora and internationally, sumitted rather different reports however.

Prime Minister praises 'answer to international conspiracies'

Sep 9, 2012
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister D M Jayaratna has praised the government's recent victory at the Eastern Provincial Council elections, stating that the government had now negated "hostile attempts... against the motherland".

Army camp construction jeopardises basic needs of locals

Sep 9, 2012
The locals of Karainagar have expressed concern of the inconveniences they will face due to the construction of an expansive army camp in Sambalodai area.

Sambalodai holds the most fresh water resources in the Karainagar area as well as being a significant location for carrying out funeral rites.

Uthayan reports that locals have expressed concern that the camp would cut them off from water supplies and restrict access to the areas many crematoriums.

Chairman of the Karainagar regional council S. Thurgeswaran said,

US wants to boost trade with SL

Sep 9, 2012

The American Chamber of Commerce in Colombo has said it is keen to boost investment and trade in Sri Lanka.

"The US has expressed its desire to increase more FDI (foreign direct investment) flows to Sri Lanka and also see an increase in Sri Lankan exports to the US," Vijaya Ratnayake, president of AMCHAM Sri Lanka said, according to LBO.

South Africa to make US $122 million investment

Sep 9, 2012

The South African High Commissioner to Colombo, Geoff Doidge has announced that his country will make an initial investment of US$ 122 million, whilst speaking at a dinner hosted by the Export Development Board of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for a South African business delegation.

UPFA wins most seats in controversial Eastern Provincial Council elections

Sep 8, 2012
Sri Lanka’s ruling UPFA coalition has won 14 seats in the Eastern Provincial Council elections to the TNA’s 11, in an election mired with controversy.

The margin and manner of victory has been hotly contested, with the loss of a seat for the Tamil National Alliance during a reported “power cut”, whilst votes were being counted in Batticaloa (See report from TamilNet here).

The UPFA also managed to gain two ‘bonus seats’ through the Provincial Councils Elections Act (see here) despite having an overall winning margin of less than 7,000, according to government figures. If the TNA had won the ‘bonus seats’, they would have come first in the elections.

Furthermore, low voter turnout and reports of threats and intimidation along with a massive Army and Police presence, marred the elections.

Nonetheless, the Tamil National Alliance emerged as the single largest party in both Trincomalee and Batticaloa, only losing to the UPFA in the Amparai district.

The TNA also saw a marked increase in votes from the 2010 Parliamentary elections in both Trincomalee and Batticaloa. In 2010, the TNA gained 33,268 and 66,235 votes in both districts respectively, but now obtained 44,396 and 104,682 votes in the district.

The Eastern province has seen a flurry of colonisation and Sinhalisation, with the ICG reporting earlier this year that this was part of a strategy to ""change the facts of the ground", as has already happened in the east, and make it impossible to claim the north as a Tamil-majority area deserving of self-governance."

Almost 100 civil society leaders earlier wrote to the Tamil National Alliance urging them to reject the provincial council system and the demerging of the North and East, as they prepare to contest in the upcoming Eastern Provincial Council Elections. See here.

The Tamil National Alliance boycotted provincial council elections in the east in 2008, claiming the environment was not safe to operate in due to the activity of paramilitary groups.

Mannar Church attacked with stones

Sep 8, 2012
Kappalenthi Mary’s Church in Karusal, Mannar was attacked by a group throwing stones, reports Uthayan.

Stones were thrown into the Church during evening prayers on Friday and fire crackers were reportedly lit in an attempt to further disrupt worship. The bishop delivering mass is believed to have sustained minor injuries from the attack.

Two young worshippers who went outside to check on the commotion were also assaulted by the attackers.

TNA MP for Vanni S Adaikalanathan said of the incident,

Elections over but security forces remain

Sep 8, 2012
Despite the end of the Eastern Provincial Council elections, Sri Lanka’s police force have declared that they will remain out in full force in five areas across the province.

Colombo Page reported that the police will remain in Akkaraipattu, Pothuvil, Thirukkovil, Sammanthurai and Kalmunai where there were reportedly high levels of election violence.

Low turnout at Provincial council polls in the east

Sep 7, 2012

The Eastern Province elections saw low turnout by Muslims reported TamilNet.

The polls, held on Saturday, saw around 60% of registered voters casting their vote.

TamilNet said that turnout was low, especially in Muslim areas, thought to be due to an “internecine fight between Muslim political parties”.

Blake to visit Colombo next week

Sep 7, 2012

Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake is visiting Sri Lanka next week and will meet with External Affairs Minister GL Peiris to discuss ‘a wide range of issues, including progress in implementing the LLRC action plan’, according to the State Department.

He will also hold a roundtable with civil society representatives said a statement on the State Department’s website:

Prime Minister praises 'answer to international conspiracies'
Army camp construction jeopardises basic needs of locals
US wants to boost trade with SL
South Africa to make US $122 million investment
UPFA wins most seats in controversial Eastern Provincial Council elections
Mannar Church attacked with stones
Elections over but security forces remain
Low turnout at Provincial council polls in the east
Blake to visit Colombo next week
Southerners ‘summoned’ in connection with Tamil Eelam flag incident
Prime Minister praises 'answer to international conspiracies'
Army camp construction jeopardises basic needs of locals
US wants to boost trade with SL
South Africa to make US $122 million investment
UPFA wins most seats in controversial Eastern Provincial Council elections
Mannar Church attacked with stones
Elections over but security forces remain
Low turnout at Provincial council polls in the east
Blake to visit Colombo next week
Southerners ‘summoned’ in connection with Tamil Eelam flag incident