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…

War on drugs ‘identical to how we finished off LTTE’ warns Sri Lankan commander

The commander of Sri Lanka’s army warned the military will be launching a war on drugs that will be “identical to how we finished off LTTE terrorism”, in an ominous announcement in Colombo this month.

Sri Lankan president rejects UN resolution as ‘betrayal’ of military

Sri Lanka’s president lashed out against a UN resolution that his government co-sponsored at the Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, calling it a “betrayal” of the military and rejecting its terms.

In a more extensive transcript of his speech that the AP reported on Wednesday, Maithripala Sirisena said "that he will not any way accept the agreement” signed by his government, that saw Sri Lanka granted a two year extension to set up a hybrid court with international judges to prosecute for mass atrocities.

Sri Lanka foreign ministry revives counter terrorism unit to lobby for continued ban of LTTE abroad

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has revived its counter terrorism unit with its most important priority being to coordinate efforts to lobby for the continued proscription of the LTTE abroad, Colombo Gazette reports.

The unit was revived to coordinate more closely between defence, law enforcement authorities and other relevant agencies, and Sri Lankan missions abroad on counter terrorism and crime, according to the newspaper.

Sri Lankan plantations to be probed after labour abuse exposed

Sri Lankan plantations are under investigation by international ethical label groups after an expose found illegal wage deductions were leaving some workers taking home as little as 26 rupees (14 US cents) a day.

In an investigation of nine Rainforest Alliance-certified tea estates by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, daily earnings were found to be widely cut by more than three-quarters for debt repayments, salary advances and several other fees. Six of the estates were also backed by Fairtrade.

UN human rights chief - Sri Lankan officials ‘seriously misrepresent’ discussions

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has hit back at claims by Sri Lankan government officials that have appeared in the Colombo media, stating it “seriously misrepresents” her meetings with the government delegation.

“I am deeply disappointed by the spin that has been put on my discussion with the Sri Lankan Government delegation,” said Michelle Bachelet in a press release this morning.

Sri Lanka hesitates on Japan loan citing conditions too harsh

The Sri Lankan government is reported to be hesitating over Japan's US $1 billion loan for the third phase of the Central Expressway project, stating the conditions attached are too severe. 

Families of disappeared furious at UN resolution extension

Families of the disappeared this week expressed fury at the UN Human Rights Council's decision to grant a two year extension to Sri Lanka to implement resolution 30/1. 

Mullaitivu residents accuse police of complicity in Buddhisation

Devotees and residents of Neeraviyadi temple in Mullaitivu accused police of partiality over the occupation of the temple by a Buddhist monk. 

UN resolution co-sponsored without my knowledge claims Sri Lanka’s president

Sri Lanka’s president claimed that the government’s representative at the United Nations had co-sponsored a resolution on accountability without his knowledge and claimed that doing so was a betrayal to the military, earlier today.

Maithripala Sirisena claimed Sri Lanka’s UN representative in Geneva committed his government to co-sponsor a resolution at the Human Rights Council without his consent. The Associated Press added that he called the co-sponsorship “akin to betraying the armed forces”.

Eelam Tamil refugees welcome prospect of Indian citizenship citing ongoing risk in Sri Lanka

Tamil refugees who fled Sri Lanka and sought asylum in Tamil Nadu, India have welcomed efforts to grant them citizenship in the country, stating the risk to Tamils continued on the island.