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.…

Further 5 arrested in connection with attack on Rohingya refugees in Mount Lavinia

A further 5 people have been arrested on Saturday in connection with the storming of a UN safe house in Mount Lavinia on Tuesday where 31 Rohingya refugees had been sheltering, the Colombo Page reported. 

The arrests following the initial arrest of a 34 year old suspect, a resident of Moratuwa. He is understood to be a member of the Bodu Bala Sena. 

He was brought before Mount Lavinia magistrate's court on Saturday and is to be detained until an identification parade on October 9. 
 

Protests by Boosa Detention Center banned

A Sri Lankan court has banned protests by Sinhala Ravaya organisation and Buddhist monks from the Sinhala National Force by the Boosa Detention Center, where 31 Rohingya refugees are currently sheltering. 

The order was issused by Galle Magistrate's Court following the storming of a UN Safe house in Mount Lavinia on Tuesday where the group of Rohingya refugees were previously sheltering. 

Sri Lanka consolidates army base in Mullaitivu

The Sri Lankan army declared open a new generator room for its military base in Mullaitivu last month.

An official military website reported that the 591 Brigade headquarters in Mullaitivu received a newly constructed generator room on the 26th of August.

Tamil and Muslim farmers attacked by Sinhalese Home Guards in Muthur

Three Tamil and Muslim farmers in Kankuveli - Padukadu, Muthur were hospitalised on Saturday morning after being attacked by Sinhalese workers attached to Sinhalese Home Guards from the Neelapola village.

34-year-old Tharmalingam Sivakumar was most severely injured in the attack, with the other victims Muhammad Jihad, age 51, and Muhammad Rishad, age 38, also having to receive treatment.

 

Sri Lanka's military to plant 135,000 saplings across Kilinochchi

 The Security Forces Headquarters – Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) started an initiative to plant 135,000 saplings across the Kilinochchi District reports Sri Lanka’s army website.

The project led by Commander of Security Forces – Kilinochchi Major General AJith Kariyakarawana will see the military plant and distribute 100,000 saplings in the area, whilst 35,000 saplings will be distributed across army Battalions.

Sri Lanka's military constructs and opens house for family in Jaffna

The Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna (SFHQ-J) took part in the opening ceremony of a house for a family in Jaffna.

The house was built by 14 troops under the directive of Commander of the Security Forces in Jaffna Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, who presented the keys of the house to the family during the opening ceremony.

One arrested over attack on Rohingya refugees in Sri Lanka

One man has been arrested in connection with the storming of a UN safe house in Mount Lavinia where 31 Rohingya refugees were sheltering, the police spokesperson, Ruwan Gunasekara said. 

“The suspect was arrested on charges of obstructing the duties of the Police, acting in an unruly manner,” Mr Gunasekara was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

The suspect has been identified as Weerasekarage Deshantha Chamiruwan Rodrigo of Moratuwa. The arrest has raised tensions in the area following the incident on Tuesday. 

Idea of federalism rejected in new constitution says Sri Lankan president

Reiterating his commitment to an undivided Sri Lanka, the president, Maithripala Sirisena, said the new constitution was "totally rejected" in the new constitution. 

Attack on Rohingya refugees is an attempt to cover up rape by police officer - CHR

Sri Lanka's Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR) has made a complaint to the Ministry of Law and Order that the storming of a UN safe house where 31 Rohingya refugees were sheltering was an attempt to cover up the rape of a Rohingya refugee by a Sri Lankan police officer by removing the witness from the country. 

“People have been incited by a perpetrator of sexual violence in order to remove witness from Sri Lanka,” CHR Executive Director Rajith Keerthi Tennekoon, was quoted by JDS as saying. 

JDS reported: 

TNA MP condemns detention of Rohingya refugees in Boosa

The Tamil National Alliance MP and spokesperson, M A Sumanthiran on Friday condemned the detention of 31 Rohingya refugees in Boosa detention camp by Sri Lankan police. 

"Strongly condemn the violation of the rights of #Rohingya refugees and incarceration in Boosa detention camp by Sri Lankan authorities #lka," Mr Sumanthiran tweeted

The refugees, mainly women and children, were transferred to Boosa after a mob led by Sinhala Buddhist monks stormed the UN safe house in Mount Lavinia where they were staying.