Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Activists protest mineral sand mining threatening East coast
Environmentalists and civil society activists protested at Galle Face in Colombo on 17 June against proposed heavy mineral sand mining along the eastern coastline from Oluvil to Pothuvil, warning that the project threatens the land, fisheries and livelihoods of Tamil and Muslim communities across the Eastern Province. According to the People's Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), exploration…

Tamil disappearances rights group in Vavuniya appoints new committee

Apr 9, 2016

 

A new committee has been appointed for the Forum for Searching, Handed, Kidnapped and Forcibly Disappeared Relatives in the Vavuniya District this week.

 

The organisation, which has branches in all the districts across the North-East, has been active in staging demonstrations and writing petitions to help locate the tens of thousands of disappeared.

Rajapaksa commends Ranil's trip to China

Apr 9, 2016
Sri Lanka's former president has commended current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to China, after an announcement that a project that began under his tenure were set to continue.

Mahinda Rajapaksa told reporters in Angunukolapelassa that though the current government had attempted to blame the state of the island's economy on his regime's projects with China, Mr Wickremesinghe had now looked to the country for support.

"Not only did they speak against China funded projects but they also halted work on them once they came to power,” said Mr Rajapaksa. “If they continued with the envelopment projects, the country could have had more extensive expressway network today".

India firm on Palk Strait bridge

Apr 9, 2016
The Indian government was firm on building a bridge across the Palk Strait connecting Talaimannar with the Rameswaram, The Hindu quoted the Union Minister, Pon Radhakrishnan as saying.
 
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Mr Radhakrishnan reportedly said the "Sri Lanka government is expected to give its nod for the project."

He said the project was however in the "preliminary stage".

Sri Lankan minister dismisses Tamil concerns on 65K housing project

Apr 9, 2016
Sri Lanka's minister of prison reforms, rehabilitation, resettlement and Hindu religious affairs, D M Swaminathan this week dismissed concerns raised by the Northern Provincial Council on the government's proposed 65,000 housing project.

The NPC's chief minister, C V Wigneswaran had earlier sent a letter to Mr Swaminathan informing him that the housing project had been unanimously rejected by the Council as not fulfilling Tamil needs or concerns.

Dismissing the letter, Mr Swaminathan accused the NPC of only talking with no action.

Protest in Jaffna against land survey for military camps

Apr 8, 2016
Woman holds poster reading, "[Sri Lankan] government, is it our land you want to build military camps for yourself?"


Tamils in Jaffna protested on Friday against land survey work being undertaken for the purpose of constructing navy and army camps on public land.



Holding posters, protesters sat outside the Tirunelveli Land Survey Office in Jaffna district.

Sirisena restores military security for Rajapaksa following protests

Apr 8, 2016

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has restored military security for his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa just days after stepping down his protection.

Mr Sirisena announced that a contingent of 103 Sri Lankan soldiers will remain with the former president for his personal security, reversing an earlier Ministry of Defence decision.

Protest over Sampur power plant, Chunnakam oil contamination

Apr 8, 2016


Protesters gathered in front of the Central Bus Stand in Jaffna on Saturday to voice their concern at the government's plans for housing and the Sampur coal plant as well as the Chunnakam oil contamination.



Laying forward these three points of concern, the protesters urged the government to abandon plants to build the coal fired power plant in Sampur and demanded compensation for those affected by the contamination of ground water with oil.

Next round of US Trade Framework Agreement Talks with Sri Lanka to be held in April

Apr 8, 2016
The next round of US Sri Lanka Trade Investment Framework Agreement talks will be held in April 2016 in Washington DC, said the US State Department in a fact sheet released last week.

Describing US relations with Sri Lanka the fact sheet said,

“Relations between the United States and Sri Lanka are based on mutual interests and a shared commitment to the ideals of democratic governance. U.S. policy toward Sri Lanka is characterized by respect for its independence, sovereignty, and moderate nonaligned foreign policy; support for the country's unity, territorial integrity, and democratic institutions; and encouragement of its social and economic development. The United States is a strong supporter of ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka following the end of decades of civil conflict in 2009.”

China and Sri Lanka release joint statement strengthening bilateral relations

Apr 8, 2016
China and Sri Lanka issued a joint statement reiterating their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in various field, reports Xinhua.

Noting China’s support to reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka’s support to the ‘One China’ policy, the statement said,

Buddhist monks pledge to protect Rajapaksa

Apr 7, 2016
Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Maha Sangha council marched through Colombo in protest against alleged suppression of the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Buddhist Sangha.

Over 100 Buddhist monks pledged to protect Mahinda Rajapaksa and demonstrated in front of the Colombo Foundation Institute this week.

The Buddhists monks launched a campaign based on the theme “The Maha Sangha Council against Government’s Suppression of Buddhist Monks,” reports Hiru News.
Rajapaksa commends Ranil's trip to China
India firm on Palk Strait bridge
Sri Lankan minister dismisses Tamil concerns on 65K housing project
Protest in Jaffna against land survey for military camps
Sirisena restores military security for Rajapaksa following protests
Protest over Sampur power plant, Chunnakam oil contamination
Next round of US Trade Framework Agreement Talks with Sri Lanka to be held in April
China and Sri Lanka release joint statement strengthening bilateral relations
Buddhist monks pledge to protect Rajapaksa
China offers 500m Yuan as goodwill donation to Sri Lanka
Rajapaksa commends Ranil's trip to China
India firm on Palk Strait bridge
Sri Lankan minister dismisses Tamil concerns on 65K housing project
Protest in Jaffna against land survey for military camps
Sirisena restores military security for Rajapaksa following protests
Protest over Sampur power plant, Chunnakam oil contamination
Next round of US Trade Framework Agreement Talks with Sri Lanka to be held in April
China and Sri Lanka release joint statement strengthening bilateral relations
Buddhist monks pledge to protect Rajapaksa
China offers 500m Yuan as goodwill donation to Sri Lanka