Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan has accused the National People's Power (NPP) government of hypocrisy over the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), pointing to NPP politicians who had themselves circulated songs glorifying the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during election campaigns. Sangeethsan, known…

Human Rights Watch calls on Sri Lanka to protect all communities whilst safeguarding basic rights

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a statement calling on the government to protect refugees and asylum seekers whilst ensuring basic rights are safeguarded.</p> <p>This statement follows local attacks on Muslim minorities in retaliation for the Easter Sunday bombings which killed over 250 people.&nbsp;</p> <p>The report states that nearly a thousand refugees and asylum seekers were displaced from their homes as landlords came under pressure to evict them. They have since sought shelter in nearby mosques or at the police station in Negombo.</p>

Bullets and camouflage holster found in Jaffna mosque

Sri Lankan police reportedly found two rifle bullets and a camouflaged holster following a raid on a mosque in Jaffna, as the security forces continue to carry out raids across the North-East.  

The ammunition was found along with firecrackers at the Mankumpan Mosque, in Thevagam, Jaffna in a raid on Monday.

One person has reportedly been taken into police custody. 

‘The stupidest thing to do’ - Muslims react to Sri Lanka’s veil ban

Sri Lanka’s Muslims have reacted to the the government’s announcement of a ban on full face coverings, which make up part of traditional Muslim attire for some women, calling it “the stupidest thing to do”.

Hilmy Ahmed, vice-president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council, told the BBC that the Muslim community had already been told its women to avoid leaving the house wearing a full face veil.

Hundreds attend funeral of Swiss Tamil couple killed in blasts

Hundreds attended the funeral of a Swiss Tamil couple who were killed in the Easter Sunday blasts in Colombo.

The funeral of Mr and Mrs Vigneswaranathan, who were killed while eating breakfast at the Kingsbury Hotel, took place in Bern on Monday.

Sivaram remembered 14 years on

The abduction and murder of the Tamil journalist, Sivaram, was remembered today at events in Batticaloa and Jaffna, 14 years on. 

Military summon former LTTE cadres to army camp

Four former LTTE cadre were summoned by Sri Lankan military to attend Gajabahu regiment army camp in Jaffna tomorrow at 4pm local time. 

Sri Lanka's president and police chief were warned about impending terror attack

<p>Sri Lanka’s president was personally warned about imminent terror attacks on three separate occasions, reports the Colombo Telegraph.</p> <p>The Head of State Intelligence Service Senior (SSIS) DIG Nelantha Jayawardane, met Sirisena personally to brief him on the 11th April and 16th April to inform &nbsp;him about imminent terror attacks, and gave him a phone call whilst he was on holiday.</p>

Police hunt former Sri Lanka soldier suspected of training suicide bombers

Sri Lankan police investigating the Easter Sunday attacks are on the hunt for a former soldier who they suspect may have helped trained the bombers that attacked churches and hotels last week.

The former soldier, named as Bathrudeen Mohammed Mohideen or ‘Army Mohideen’, may have trained the suspects, according to Sri Lankan police.

See more from the Washington Post here.

Govt claims attacks planned on Buddhist temples

The Sri Lankan government announced today that it had received information on planned attacks targetting Buddhist temples using female suicide bombers associated with the National Thawheeth Jamaath group. 

Rajapaksa chairs meeting with former defence chiefs

The former president and current opposition leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday chaired a meeting with previous defence chiefs on Sri Lanka's security situation following the Easter Sunday blasts.