Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Vanni District parliamentarian Thurairajha Ravikaran has called for the immediate release of detained Tamil rapper Ganeshkumar Sangeethsan and renewed demands for the repeal of Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Speaking in parliament on Wednesday during a debate on regulations under the Central Bank Act and a resolution on Essential Public…

Fonseka should be sacked for betraying army - Weerawansa

Sri Lanka's Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka should be stripped of his portfolio over his comments which betray the army, the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) Wimal Weerawansa said on Sunday. 

Mr Fonseka this week said he would be prepared to testify against the former military general Jagath Jayasuriya who has been accused of committing war crimes in the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009. 

Describing Mr Fonseka's statement as "traitorous", Mr Weerawansa called on the government to act. 

Sri Lanka looks to strengthen Special Task Force

The Sri Lankan government is to strengthen its Special Task Force officers in order to combat "extremist" threats and "foreign terrorists", the Minister of Law and Order, Sagala Ratnayake said. 

"The officers should be provided with modern technological training to face new forms of terrorist threats that country could face in future, even though the Government is certain there is no LTTE threat," the minister was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying. 

Buddhist ceremony as new Sri Lankan brigadier takes charge in East

A Buddhist ceremony was held by the Sri Lankan military in the East earlier this month to mark the appointment of a new Brigadier General Staff.

US announces first ever naval exercise with Sri Lanka

The United States will hold its first ever joint naval exercise with Sri Lanka in October, announced US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells at the Indian Ocean Conference this week.

Dharmalingam remembered in Jaffna

The assassinated ITAK politician V. Dharmalingam was remembered in Jaffna today on the 32nd anniversary of his murder.

Tamil protestors in Jaffna call for an end to Rohingya genocide

Protestors in Jaffna called for an end to the massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar on Saturday.

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.