Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Sri Lanka earlier this month, New Delhi’s media was already hailing the visit as a diplomatic triumph. A raft of development projects had been announced and a significant new defence pact between the two governments signed. Images broadcast showed Modi beside a smiling Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arms raised aloft in symbolic…

Eid-al-Adha celebrated in North-East

Muslims across the North-East celebrated Eid-al-Adha on Friday and Saturday.

Sri Lankan police official angers Vadamaradchi crowd with anti-LTTE remarks

A senior police official was heckled off stage by angry crowds in Vadamaradchi after lashing out against the LTTE leader, reports the Uthayan.

Speaking as chief guest at an inauguration event for a police mobile service in the Vadamaradchi village of Kottravaththai on Monday, the senior police superintendent of Kankesanthurai reportedly railed against the LTTE, its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, and other senior LTTE commanders.

The superintendent’s remarks angered the crowd who shouted for him to get off stage before he was able to finish his speech.

TNA discusses delay in new constitution with Sushma

Meeting with India's external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj who was visiting Colombo, the Tamil National Alliance discussed the ongoing delays in the constitutional process.

Sri Lanka's war crimes accused former ambassador rejects 'baseless allegations'

Sri Lanka's former military general, Jagath Jayasuriya on Friday rejected allegations of war crimes as "baseless" and denied that he had fled Brazil after law suits were filed against him.

Earlier this week human rights groups filed lawsuits in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Chile over his role in the military in 2009 where he oversaw Sri Lankan units that bombed hospitals, as well as the execution and torture of surrendees and disappeared civilians. 

Sushma discusses delay in Indian projects with Sri Lankan president

India's external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj raised the issue of a "perceived delay" in Indian backed projects with Sri Lanka's president on Friday, as she met him for discussions at the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference taking place in Colombo. 

According to The Hindu, Ms Swaraj met with Mr Sirisena at his resident, where she "assured President Sirisena that New Delhi appreciated the domestic political challenges facing his government, she urged Colombo to expedite decision-making on the terms of the projects". 

Fonseka says ready to testify against Jayasuriya, as servicemen question why he is not accused

Former army commander Sarath Fonseka, with then commander Jagath Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka's former army commander, Sarath Fonseka on Friday said he was ready to testify against the former military commander, Jagath Jayasuriya who has been accused of war crimes. 

India-Sri Lanka to recommence ETCA talks in Delhi next month

The next round of talks on India’s Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with Sri Lanka is due to be held in October reports the Dailymirror.lk.

A source close to the ETCA negotiation team said,

“progress is likely after the next round of talks in October. Service liberalisation is a difficult point coming up for discussions.”
Speaking at the inauguration of the Indian Ocean Conference organised by the India Foudnation in Colombo, India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said a revitalised maritime economy in the iNdian

Eyewitness in Chunnakam police station murder of Tamil man receives death threats

An eyewitness in the case of the 2011 murder of a Tamil youth by Sri Lankan police received death threats prior to testifying at the Kayts Magistrates Court, the court heard.

The witness, a detainee at Welikada prison, received death threats by unidentified individuals while being held at Anuradhapura prison on Wednesday night, en route to the Kayts court.

Five police officers charged with the murder were also being detained at Anuradhapura prison.

Appearing in court on Thursday, the witness complained to the magistrate judge, A. M. M. Riyaal about the threats.

The judge has ordered prison staff to look into the threats and take action.

No country talks about war crimes' boasts Sri Lankan president

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena claimed his government had “defused” the issue of accountability for war crimes since coming in to power and avoided an international criminal tribunal.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Mr Sirisena reiterated his opposition to foreign judges or lawyers participating in an accountability mechanism and went on to state that it “is premature to talk about a domestic inquiry now”.

Former president says Sri Lanka should support war crimes accused Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka's former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa called on the government to support Jagath Jayasuriya, the former military general who has been accused of war crimes. 

"The government should take a strong stance in support of former Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya in his defence against the allegations of war crimes levied against him by a South American Human Rights Organisation," Mr Rajapaksa was quoted by Ada Derana as saying.