Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Hundreds march in Kilinochchi against limestone, sand mining and wind turbines
A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Sri Lankan CID officers probe 'anti-national' groups in Jaffna

May 24, 2015
Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officers arrived in Jaffna on Saturday to probe whether protests over the rape and murder of a Pungudutivu school girl involved "anti-national groups" who were trying to destablise the Jaffna peninsula, the Sunday Times reported.

Vithiya, who went missing after school on May 13, was found dead with her hands and feet tied to logs the next day. Arrests have been made regarding the incident as demonstrations were held across the North-East, demanding prompt action against the perpetrators.

Peaceful protests calling for those responsible to face justice turned violent on Wednesday, as distrust and scepticism over whether the Sri Lankan police and legal system would ensure justice increased, following the escape of one of the suspects to Colombo. The suspect was later found and returned to Jaffna police station.

Still no ray of light for Tamils despite new Sri Lankan government says Trinco bishop

May 24, 2015
The Bishop of Trincomalee, Rt Rev Dr Kingsley Swampillai, said that despite the new government that came to power in Sri Lanka there was "still no ray of light" for Tamils seeking a solution to the islands ethnic conflict.

“Although the Tamils have been waiting for a solution to relieve their plight for a long time, there is still no ray of light in this regard,” Bishop Swampillai said in an interview to TamilNet this week.


Profiles of May 2009: Kumaran

May 24, 2015
Tamils Against Genocide (TAG)
The following account is based on interviews to Tamils Against Genocide. Personal details of Kumaran (not his real name), place names and dates have been changed to protect his identity.

 Illustration Keera Ratnam


When Kumaran wakes up in the room he has been given by the Home Office, it takes him a few minutes to adjust to his present surroundings. Sleepless nights, recurrent nightmares and depression help contribute to this disorientation. He feels an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia, of the walls moving in, caging him once again. His room, his present day cage, reminds him of the cell he had been kept prisoner in for two years. It is difficult for him to differentiate between the nightmares of his sleep and his present reality. For Kumaran, life in his room in the UK is one of living torture: uncertainty and threat of deportation mirror the uncertainty and fear which shadowed him when locked away for so many months. For Kumaran the years ahead seem to hold nothing but ceaseless striving: to reconcile the trauma of his past with the relative security of his present.

Cameron discusses reconciliation progress with Sri Lankan PM

May 24, 2015
The British prime minister, David Cameron, discussed progress on reconciliation with the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe on Monday, as he congratulated Mr Cameron on his electoral victory.

In tweet this morning, Number 10 said: "PM congratulated by PM Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka on election. Discussed progress on reconciliation & agreed to build bilateral relations."

South African delegation meets Tamil diaspora organisations to discuss issues of settling Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict

May 24, 2015
A South African delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Nomaindiya C Mfeketo, held an official consultation with Tamil diaspora organisations with regards to Tamil affairs in Sri Lanka and work towards bringing a sense of normalcy to the North-East of the island.

A series of discussions were held on Monday at the South African embassy in London, with representatives from Tamil diaspora organisations including, the South African Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in Sri Lanka (SGPJ), British Tamil Forum (BTF), United States Tamil Political Action Campaign (USTPAC), Global Tamil Forum (GTF), International Council of Eelam Tamils (ICET), National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT), Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) and Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE).

A source from the meeting said that some of the discussions were centered around actions needed to produce a conducive environment in the North-East to foster a future process to end the ethnic conflict on the island.

The South African delegation consisted of the Deputy Director General for Asia & Middle East Dr Anil Sooklal, Special Advisor to Deputy President Ms Nokukhanya Jele, Deputy Director for South Asia Mr Tielman Furter and the South African High Commissioner to the UK Mr Obed Mlaba.

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian, the SGPJ General Secretary, Pregasen Padayachee said,

“We outlined the importance of bringing about a sense of normalcy to the Tamil North-East before any actual negotiation process is put in place with the Sri Lankan government to solve the ethnic conflict.”

The Deputy Minister for International Relations Nomaindiya C Mfekto met with the SGPJ earlier this month in South Africa.

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in a statement released on Monday said,

"One of the cornerstones of the South African Initiative in Sri Lanka is to consult with stakeholders within and external to Sri Lanka as part of South Africa’s initiatives aimed at promoting a lasting political solution, peace initiatives, truth-telling and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. This includes some members of the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora"

Unacceptable presence of war criminal soldiers in North-East - CV Wigneswaran

May 24, 2015

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran has criticised the continued militarisation of the North-East by forces that he describes as “threatening” and perpetrators of war crimes.

“In order for normality to return to our daily lives, the military must withdraw from our lands,” the chief minister said, speaking at the 150 year anniversary of Inuvil Hindu College.

“Saying we are all brothers and sisters and getting on stage and calling for goodwill and amiable relations between us while continuing to stations soldiers that committed war crimes to occupy our lands is not acceptable in any way,” he said.

Local priest says Tamils braved threats from Sri Lankan officers to mourn dead

May 23, 2015
A local Jesuit priest in the North-East, described how Tamils braved harassment and threats from Sri Lankan intelligence officers on Monday to mourn their loved ones who were massacred during the final stages of the armed conflict six years ago.

Writing in Colombo Mirror, Father Elil Rajendram described how he feared no one who come to the memorial event on May 18th, organised as the epicentre of the blood shed, in Mullivaikkal, after locals were warned by Sri Lankan security forces not to attend the event.

"Having learnt that our vehicle was parked at the premises, the police and army intelligence officers quickly made their presence felt. As we left the place at dusk there were four officers from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and Military Intelligence who took photos of us. Even though I am a priest, I was frightened when they did this because of Sri Lanka’s history of abductions in unmarked white vans which we all know about," Father Rajan, who is also a spokesperson for the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) wrote.

Sri Lankan president asks party activists to support government

May 23, 2015
The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena asked activists within the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), which he now leads, to support the coalition government, reports Colombo Page.

Speaking at Monaragala District Sri Lanka Freedom Party Convention on Saturday, Mr Sirisena, called on activists to support him in order to help him build a new country.

Govt to ensure honour of Sri Lankan flag

May 23, 2015
The Sri Lankan government appointed a committee this week to design a decorative flag, so that the honour of the 'national flag' may be safeguarded.

In a statement published on the defence ministry's website, the Sri Lankan government said:

"It has been observed that the National Flag of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is being used in contrary to the codes of regulations approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in the year 1986 and national flags not prepared in accordance with the standards proclaimed by the Sri Lanka Standards Institutions are being introduced to the market."

New parliament by September says Sri Lankan president

May 23, 2015
The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena said the government would dissolved in August, and a general election called, ensuring a new government was in place by September, reported Sri Lankan newspapers. (See here and here).

Mr Sirisena, who met with heads of media institutions on Monday, said that a constitutional council would be appointed before the dissolution of parliament took place.

Still no ray of light for Tamils despite new Sri Lankan government says Trinco bishop
Profiles of May 2009: Kumaran
Cameron discusses reconciliation progress with Sri Lankan PM
South African delegation meets Tamil diaspora organisations to discuss issues of settling Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict
Unacceptable presence of war criminal soldiers in North-East - CV Wigneswaran
Local priest says Tamils braved threats from Sri Lankan officers to mourn dead
Sri Lankan president asks party activists to support government
Govt to ensure honour of Sri Lankan flag
New parliament by September says Sri Lankan president
Tamil man injured after Sri Lankan police open fire in Jaffna
Still no ray of light for Tamils despite new Sri Lankan government says Trinco bishop
Profiles of May 2009: Kumaran
Cameron discusses reconciliation progress with Sri Lankan PM
South African delegation meets Tamil diaspora organisations to discuss issues of settling Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict
Unacceptable presence of war criminal soldiers in North-East - CV Wigneswaran
Local priest says Tamils braved threats from Sri Lankan officers to mourn dead
Sri Lankan president asks party activists to support government
Govt to ensure honour of Sri Lankan flag
New parliament by September says Sri Lankan president
Tamil man injured after Sri Lankan police open fire in Jaffna