Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A New Year celebration titled the ‘Tamil-Sinhala New Year,’ organised by the Umanthava Buddhist Village and the Sri Sathagam Ashram group, was held in Neduntheevu on Monday, raising concerns over the growing Sinhala-Buddhist presence and cultural encroachment in the Tamil homeland. The event took place at Maviddapuram Roman Catholic School in Neduntheevu (Delft Island), with around 350 Tamil…

Sri Lankan diaspora protest in Geneva against war crimes investigations

Sri Lankans from across Europe and Australia gathered in Geneva on Sunday to protested against the UN's investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by the country's security forces against the Tamil people. 

See video of the protest here

Carrying the Sri Lankan flag, protesters from the group, Global Sri Lankan Forum, condemned the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and accused him of acting beyond his scope, Adaderana reported. 

Highest debt repayment still to come - Ranil

The Sri Lankan prime minister warned this week that the country's debt was still high and the highest debt repayments were in 2018 and 2019. 

Outlining his vision for a new tourism industry, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe explained, "tourism brings in foreign exchange."

"We need the foreign exchange to correct the balance of payment and to repay national debts," he added. 

“When we took over in 2015 we did not have enough money to service debt. We needed money to pay debt and for recurrent expenditures. What we have done during the last two years is trying to manage the debt situation. Today our revenue exceeds debt services."

SLMC concerned about Eastern Province's election postponement

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) expressed concern about the postponement of the election in the Eastern Provincial Council and that the province would be brought under the purview of the governor after the current term expired. 

Criticising the prospect of governor run administation, the SLMC secretary Nizam Kariapper told the Daily Mirror that "his party was against such a move because it would lose political authority in the council in such an eventuality."

Sri Lankan minister praises president’s UN address

Sri Lankan government minister Mahinda Samarasinghe praised his president’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly last week, stating that it was a “plus point for Sri Lanka,” reports Colombo Gazette.

Mr Samarasinghe, said that Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena’s address “ensured the international community got an image of the progress taking place in Sri Lanka”.

He added that “the international community has begun to recognise the efforts of the Government led by President Maithripala Sirisena”.

Sri Lankan president looks to purchase US$135 million Russian vessel

Sri Lanka’s president has put forward to a proposal to purchase a US$135 million vessel from a Russian state-owned company for the Sri Lankan navy.

Maithripala Sirisena is reportedly keen to buy the Russian-built Gepard 5.1 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), telling cabinet ministers that the Sri Lanka Navy has “the requirement of this kind (sic) of a ship and already given the recommendation to purchase this.”

The cost of US$ 135 million is “exclusive of 15 percent of Sri Lanka Government’s contribution to the state credit together with which the total ship value including on-board spares and ammunition is US$ 158.5 million,” he added.

TNA leader pays tribute to Lt. Col. Thileepan

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance garlanded a photograph of Lt. Col. Thileepan in Batticaloa this week, paying tribute to the former LTTE political leader’s hunger strike.

NFF rallies against changes to Sri Lanka’s constitution

The leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) has spoken out against a new constitution for Sri Lanka, accusing the government of catering to “Western forces and the Tamil diaspora”.

Addressing a news conference, NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa warned that the “country will be divided” and “will become jumbled”.

“Is this for what 27, 000 war heroes sacrificed their lives?” he continued.

“The Federal system will not bring any justice to both Tamil and Muslim people,” he added. “Instead, they will have to suffer because this government does not care about them, but the Western based Tamil Diaspora." 

Blood drive to honour Thileepan at Jaffna Hindu College

Old students of Jaffna Hindu College organised a blood donation drive to commemorate 30 years since Thileepan’s fast unto death.

People of Pattalipuram in Muthur demand return of land from Sri Lankan Army

125 families from the Muthur East are of Trincomalee are demanding the return of their lands from military occupation.

Extremist Buddhist monk says he worked closely with Sri Lankan military intelligence

Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara the Secretary General of the Sinhala Buddhist nationalist organisation Bodu Bala Sena has said that he worked closely with the Sri Lankan military intelligence in the past.