Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Bharatanatyam world record in Colombo sparks row over recognition and costs
A Guinness World Record set by nearly 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers at Galle Face in Colombo has sparked controversy, after activists questioned why the official recognition was awarded to organisers and an overseas instructor rather than the thousands of performers who paid to take part. The SANGAMAM-2026 event, held on 14 June, saw 4,988 dancers successfully set a new Guinness World Record for…

Sri Lankan soldiers oversee another Hindu ceremony in HSZ

May 29, 2016

Sri Lankan troops oversaw a Hindu ceremony at a temple located within the Palali High Security Zone (HSZ) in Jaffna on Sunday, as Tamil devotees were allowed in to pray.

The Sri Lankan military organised transport in and out of the Manampirai Pillayar Temple and escorted civilians around the site, situated within the Palali Army Cantonments.

Sri Lankan president defends land releases with talk of bolstering security

May 28, 2016
Sri Lanka’s president has defended the small scale release of land held by the military to their rightful Tamil owners in the North-East by pledging that national security “has been further strengthened”.

Speaking to a gathering of the Sri Lankan community in Japan, Maithripala Sirisena emphasised that “the national security of Sri Lanka has been further strengthened and it has not weakened in any way,” according to the President’s official media division.

He also “vehemently rejected the claims by some websites that the Government is betraying the security forces,” it reported.

Defending the release of land by his government in the Tamil North-East, the president assured the crowd that he has taken "every step" to ensure the national security. "There is no threat whatsoever,” he said. “We have taken every step to ensure the national security."

Mr Sirisena was responding to a question from the audience, with regards to criticism he has received for releasing the land – an issue that has seen dozens of protests by Tamils in the North-East in this year alone.

"They (the Tamils) have waited not one or two years but 27 years to get their lands back," Mr Sirisena said.

No foreign involvement in war crimes probe - Ranil

May 28, 2016

The war crimes mechanism mandated by a UN resolution last October will not include foreign participation, despite the binding resolution's call for international involvement in any accountability mechanism.

Eastern province CM says everyone should apologise

May 28, 2016
The chief minister of the Eastern province, Nazeer Ahamed criticised the military's decision to boycott future events over the incident with the navy officer last week, calling instead for everyone to apologise.

Mr Ahamed told a navy officer to "just get out from here" at an event on May 20th in a school in Sampur.

In a letter to the prime minister and president, Mr Ahamed said the navy officer should apologise for his "grossly offensive conduct, an offence under the Penal Code", Colombo Page reported.

"I would not hesitate to express my unequivocal regret and apologies to all those who were present, including the staff and students of the school, the foreign dignitary and the concerned naval officer for my strong but justifiable reaction," he added.

Sri Lankan police shoot at Tamil youth in Mullaitivu

May 28, 2016

Sri Lankan police on Saturday shot at a Tamil man in Mullaitivu after he demanded to see an arrest warrant.

Police in civil pictured with the gun used to shoot at the Tamil man

The 26 year old man, Vivekanandan Thijeevan was at home in the highly militarised Keppapilavu mode village when two police officers from the Mulliyawalai police station arrived stating the magistrate had issued an arrest warrant for him.

When Mr Thijeevan demanded to see the arrest warrant prior to being taken in custody, one of the police officers who was dressed in civilian clothes fired two shots at his feet. He was then forcibly taken into custody.

Multimillion dollar projects in Polonnaruwa to go to China

May 28, 2016
Five projects in the Sri Lankan president's home town of Polonnaruwa are to be given to Chinese companies, despite the government's previous announcement of competitive bids, the Sunday Times reported.

A memorandum of understanding between the two countries was signed in April for projects including drinking water supply, infrastructure and an agro-econonomic centre, the paper added.

The projects will be funded by Chinese loans, dependent on Chinese companies, workers and goods being recruited.

Sinhala farmers settled on state land in Batticaloa

May 28, 2016
Eastern Provincial Council officials say a "well-planned strategy" was underway to settle Sinhalese farmers on state lands with the backing of a Buddhist monk.

District Secretary PSM Charles and Agriculture Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council K.Thurairajasingham made the discovery during their visit to the border of Mathavanai and Mayilathamadhu, just within the borders of the Batticaloa district.

In Senkalady and Kiran Divisional Secretariats, state lands have also been acquired illegally and at least 300 families are living in temporary shelters. The construction of a Buddhist Vihara is also under way in the middle of the resettlements.

The Chief Monk of the Vihara told government officials that they had been living in these areas since 1967 and following the resumption of war in 2006, they displaced to other Sinahala areas. They claimed they resettle in their own lands three years ago and most of the families are engage in farming for survival in paddy fields located adjacent to the resettlements.

Eastern University students protest against attack on Tamil student

May 27, 2016

Tamil students at Eastern University staged a protest yesterday condemning the recent attack on a Tamil university student by Sinhalese students after he posted a picture commemorating the Mullivaikkal massacres on May 18 on a Facebook page.

The protesting students called on the university administration to take action against the perpetrators and to put an end to racially motivated attacks. The incident, which took place earlier this week, has seen no arrests and has seen the university authorities and Sri Lankan state condemned for its inaction and "partisan approach".

No confidence motion brought against SL finance minister

May 27, 2016
A debate on a no-confidence motion against Sri Lanka's finance minister Ravi Karunanayake has been scheduled in parliament on June 8.

The motion, brought by 37 members of the joint opposition, accuses the minister of "mishandling the economy and putting the country in an economic crisis", the Colombo Page reported.

Stating that the MPs had lost faith in the minister, the MP Bandula Gunawardena presented the motion to the Speaker and stated "the government obtained loans without making any records and it is difficult to serve as the Finance Minister without revealing the truth to parliament".

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission issues guidance on treatment of arbitrarily detained prisoners

May 27, 2016
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is to issue a directive on the treatment of people detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The directives are aimed to regulate the arrest process, process to be followed after arrest and special measures related to the arrest of women and people under 18 years.
Sri Lankan president defends land releases with talk of bolstering security
No foreign involvement in war crimes probe - Ranil
Eastern province CM says everyone should apologise
Sri Lankan police shoot at Tamil youth in Mullaitivu
Multimillion dollar projects in Polonnaruwa to go to China
Sinhala farmers settled on state land in Batticaloa
Eastern University students protest against attack on Tamil student
No confidence motion brought against SL finance minister
Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission issues guidance on treatment of arbitrarily detained prisoners
Buddhist monks protest over Eastern CM remarks
Sri Lankan president defends land releases with talk of bolstering security
No foreign involvement in war crimes probe - Ranil
Eastern province CM says everyone should apologise
Sri Lankan police shoot at Tamil youth in Mullaitivu
Multimillion dollar projects in Polonnaruwa to go to China
Sinhala farmers settled on state land in Batticaloa
Eastern University students protest against attack on Tamil student
No confidence motion brought against SL finance minister
Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission issues guidance on treatment of arbitrarily detained prisoners
Buddhist monks protest over Eastern CM remarks