Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka extends emergency rule as only Tamil MPs oppose the measure
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.…

Abbott calls on Sirisena for 'continuing cooperation' on boats

Jan 11, 2015
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called on the newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena for his continued cooperation in tackling asylum seekers fleeing the island, in a congratulatory phone call on Saturday.

Abbott's office said that he had emphasised  Australia and Sri Lanka’s “continuing cooperation” on people smuggling, as well as praising outgoing president Mahinda Rajapaksa's “positive role in supporting a peaceful transition of power.”

In the run up to the election, Phil Lynch from the  International Service for Human Rights had earlier criticised Australia's "misguided approach to 'stopping the boats', which actually involved close cooperation with alleged war criminals".

From this moment forward' Sirisena must address human rights, says Kerry

Jan 11, 2015
US Secretary of State John Kerry said that there are “still real challenges” in Sri Lanka and called on the newly led government to begin addressing issues such as human rights immediately.

Speaking at a press conference at the Vibrant Gujarat summit in India yesterday, Kerry told reporters,
“We offered very immediately to engage in a dialogue to begin to work at guaranteeing that the problems with respect to human rights, the problems with inclusivity, challenges with respect to governance, are going to be addressed.”

“We will engage in that conversation from this moment forward, and hope that we can now forge a different outcome in Sri Lanka."
Kerry said that he had talked to the newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, adding "we are very hopeful that, in the days ahead, we can make some progress on all fronts.”

I planned the entire operation' states Fonseka

Jan 11, 2015
Former army general Sarath Fonseka claimed responsibility for conducting Sri Lanka's military campaign during the armed conflict, stating he had “planned the entire operation” and rejected cooperating with an United Nations inquiry into mass atrocities.

In an interview to the Times of India, Fonseka criticised former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa for claiming he would engage in peace talks in 2005, saying,
“Every President wanted to finish the war. But in the 2005 election manifesto, Rajapaksa said he will have peace talks with Prabhakaran.”
Fonseka went on to claim responsibility for the culmination of the armed conflict, which ended with the systematic shelling of civilian hospitals and execution of those who surrendered, saying,
“When the army was chasing the LTTE, he didn't even know what was happening on the ground in 2007. He did not even allocate money for ammunitions. I was recruiting additional 85,000 army men. When I became commander I recruited 4,000 men in a month. Earlier only 3,000 people joined the army for a year.”
“I planned the entire operation and I was communicating with all levels of army persons.”

UN Sec General discusses 'post-war agenda' with new president

Jan 11, 2015
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon discussed Sri Lanka's "post-war agenda" with the new president Maithripala Sirisena in a telephone conversation on Monday, just a few days after President Sirisena took office.

Congratulating him on the campaign, Ban Ki Moon also raised the issue of Sirisena's 100 day plan for reform.

In a statement on Friday, the Ban Ki Moon's spokesperson said the UN would "continue to support development, reconciliation, political dialogue and accountability in Sri Lanka."

New govt policies maybe seen as 'investor unfriendly' says global banking group

Jan 11, 2015
Pledges made by Sri Lanka's new president introduces some economic uncertainties said a leading international banking group, Standard Chartered Bank, stating that President Sirisena's manifesto was "perceived as investor unfriendly". 

"While the election removes near-term political uncertainty, we believe it also introduces some economic uncertainty," it said in a global report, entitled, 'Sri Lanka - A Change of Guard'.

"Sri Lanka's fiscal deficit is high compared with its 'B-' rated peers and faces a heavy external debt amortization burden of 3.5 billion US dollars in 2015," it added, reported Economy Next.

TNA raises issues on land grab and detention of Tamil youth with Sirisena

Jan 11, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance, called on Maithripala Sirisena to address land issues faced by the people in the North-East and release detained Tamil youth, in their first official meeting with the new president of Sri Lanka on Monday, reports BBC Tamil.
 
The meeting between Maithripala Sirisena and senior TNA personnel happened in Sirisena’s residence at Midday, reports the Colombo Gazette.

Maithri won on Eelam vote says Rajapaksa

Jan 10, 2015

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa attributed Maithripala Sirisena's victory to the votes from "Eelam", referring to the Tamil votes.

While addressing his supporters in Medamuluna, Rajapaksa told crowds said that he was only defeated in the North, East and Estate districts.

Asked by a member of the crowd "Sir, why didn't you kill and take it? Why didn't you kill and win?", Rajapaksa replies, "we can't do that.. there should be democracy in the country. Remember, they got the majority of the votes.. from Eelam or wherever."

New govt to reopen inquiry into killing of Lasantha

Jan 10, 2015
Sri Lanka's new government is to re-open the investigation into the killing of the editor of the Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunge, President Sirisena's spokesperson said.

Lasantha Wickrematunge, a Sinhala journalist who was very critical of the former President Rajapaksa, was killed in January 2008.

Promising freedom of the press, the new prime minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe said on Friday, the media is "free to report whatever you want without the fear of being abducted", The Guardian newspaper reported.

TNA assures Ranil it will not allow 'LTTE activities' in North

Jan 10, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) assured the new prime minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe, that it would not allow "LTTE activities of protests against the army in the North", reports Colombo Gazette.

According to the news site, Wickremasinghe said "he had also spoken to the TNA and the TNA was also against the LTTE flag being raised in the north and also want all issues resolved within a united Sri Lanka."

Ranil assures Buddhist clergy security tight in Jaffna, probe to be launched

Jan 10, 2015
New government meets with Buddhist clergy in Kandy. Photographs @AHemmathagama


Sri Lanka's new prime minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe, assured the chief Buddhist clergy that security was tight in the Tamil area, dismissing reports of stones being pelted at army bases and the hoisting of Tamil Eelam flags shortly after the election victory of the common opposition's candidate, Maithripala Sirisena.

Meeting the Buddhist clergy at a religious ceremony, along side President Sirisena and Chandrika Kumaratunge, in the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in Kandy, Ranil said that such reports were "false and baseless".



From this moment forward' Sirisena must address human rights, says Kerry
I planned the entire operation' states Fonseka
UN Sec General discusses 'post-war agenda' with new president
New govt policies maybe seen as 'investor unfriendly' says global banking group
TNA raises issues on land grab and detention of Tamil youth with Sirisena
Maithri won on Eelam vote says Rajapaksa
New govt to reopen inquiry into killing of Lasantha
TNA assures Ranil it will not allow 'LTTE activities' in North
Ranil assures Buddhist clergy security tight in Jaffna, probe to be launched
Sirisena assures Rajapaksa of state protection
From this moment forward' Sirisena must address human rights, says Kerry
I planned the entire operation' states Fonseka
UN Sec General discusses 'post-war agenda' with new president
New govt policies maybe seen as 'investor unfriendly' says global banking group
TNA raises issues on land grab and detention of Tamil youth with Sirisena
Maithri won on Eelam vote says Rajapaksa
New govt to reopen inquiry into killing of Lasantha
TNA assures Ranil it will not allow 'LTTE activities' in North
Ranil assures Buddhist clergy security tight in Jaffna, probe to be launched
Sirisena assures Rajapaksa of state protection