Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka's parliament on Tuesday approved a further extension of the country's state of public emergency, with all seven votes against the measure cast by Tamil Members of Parliament. The motion was passed by 135 votes in favour and seven against, a majority of 128. The seven MPs who opposed the extension were Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Sivagnanam Shritharan, K. Kodeeswaran, G. Srineshan, T.…

Two fishermen reported missing

Two fishermen have been reported missing in Kayts this week after they failed to return home after a fishing trip. 

Kodeswaran Kukapriyan (23) and Thavaraja Sathiyaraj (25) left to go fishing on June 3. 

Their families filed a missing persons complaint with Kayts police. 
 

UK travel advisory altered but continues to warn of terror attacks

The United Kingdom's travel advisory to Sri Lanka was downgraded but the High Commission continued to warn of the possibility of further terror attacks as 'very likely'. 

"The UK is no longer advising British travelers and tourists against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka," the High Commission said in a statement today. 

Police chief says president promised ambassador post if he resigned

Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara told the Special Parliamentary Select Committee today of how the president, Maithripala Sirisena, had co-erced him into resigning following the Easter Sunday bomb attacks and even offered him an ambassador position if he did so. 

TNA activist found dead in Neduntheevu

A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) activist was found dead in Neduntheevu (Delft) on Tuesday.

The body of 50-year-old Nadesu Ananthakumaran, known as Kannan, was found with stab wounds, leading locals to believe he was murdered.

Police sent the body to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for investigation.

Injured Batticaloa bombing victim dies

A Tamil man has died from the injuries he sustained in the Easter Sunday bombings, 45 days after the attack took place.

The victim, 30-year-old S Arunprasath of Iruthayapuram, Batticaloa, was admitted to the district’s Teaching Hospital for his injuries from the bombing at the Zion church on April 21.

He was transferred to Kandy by helicopter on April 22.

Arunprasath died on June 4, bringing the Batticaloa death toll to 30.

Buddhist monk leads protest against Mullaitivu Hindu temple

A Buddhist monk led Sinhala protesters at a demonstration today by the Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple, calling on the Sri Lankan president to intervene on the long-running dispute. 

Sivakumaran remembered in Urumpirai

Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle was remembered today in his hometown of Urumpirai, Jaffna. 

Countries express concern over demonising Muslims

<p>The United States yesterday expressed concern over what it described as the demonising of Muslims, following the mass resignation of Muslim ministers from the front benches.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a tweet the US House Foreign Affairs Committee wrote: "The demonizing of Muslims by certain religious and political forces in Sri Lanka is a concerning development for the country. Leaders in the country need to calm communal tensions and ensure safety for people of all faiths in the country."</p> <p>The German embassy in Colombo also tweeted on the subject highlighting the importance of freedom of religion and mutual tolerance.&nbsp;</p>

Resurgence in attacks against Tamil journalists says Reporters Without Borders

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned this week of a resurgence in attacks against Tamil journalists by Sri Lanka's security forces. 

Highlighting recent cases of attacks against journalists, including two Tamil Guardian correspondents, RSF called on the Sri Lankan authorities to punish those responsible for the acts of violence and to stop police intimidation and harassment of Tamil journalists. 

Vavuniya families of disappeared protest outside ITAK office

Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya held a protest on Saturday outside the office of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in Jaffna, demanding action over enforced disappearances.