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.…

Sirisena assures Rajapaksa of state protection

Jan 10, 2015
The new president Maithripala Sirisena has assured the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family of full state protection, reports The Island.

The new prime minister Ranil Wickremasinghe reiterated these assurances, stating that Rajapaksa and his brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa would continue to receive the same level of security, the paper added.

Maithri won because TNA worked on separatism says Rambukwella

Jan 10, 2015
The new president Maithripala Sirisena won because of the support of minority political parties that "basically worked on separatism" said the SLFP member and former government's spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella.

Asked by the Sunday Leader what went wrong for Rajapaksa in the election, Rambukwella replied:
"Nothing went wrong. If you look at the map won by President Maithripala you can see that is also very much equal to the Eelam map. That speaks all about it. It is not an accusation. Everybody has the right to vote. It is a matter that minority political parties basically worked on separatism. Because Sampanthan is seriously talking in parliament about the division of the country and at the same time they talk about full autonomy and federal system. Chandrika being a champion of federalism I won’t be surprised at the outcome. That made the difference. 450,000 votes came from the North and East."

We will punish war crimes locally, no one will be handed over to international inquiry says Sirisena spokesperson

Jan 10, 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena's spokesperson, Rajitha Senaratne, said Sri Lanka's new government will not hand over anyone to the international inquiry investigating allegations of war crimes committed against the Tamil people, but instead would hold a domestic independent inquiry and punish those found guilty locally.

"I heard Sarath Fonseka say that mistakes happen during a war, but if accepted international laws are violated - like shooting people with white flags, killing those who surrendered - they will be punished, because you cannot kill those who have surrendered," Senaratne told BBC Sinhala, when asked what the new government would do if the OHCHR Investigation into Sri Lanka found former president Mahinda Rajapaksa guilty of war crimes.

"Even during the WW2 the fascist Japanese and Germans were given a trial and not shot against a wall. So no one can murder like that, there are local laws and international laws, but we will not hand over anyone for an international inquiry. We will investigate locally and do the needful here," he added.

TNA councillor appeals to Pope over disappearances

Jan 10, 2015
Tamil National Alliance councillor Ananthy Sasitharan appealed to Pope Francis for assistance in locating a missing Catholic priest who was taken by the Sri Lankan army in 2009, alongside thousands of other cases of enforced disappearances.

Writing ahead of the Pope's visit on January 13, Sasitharan said,
"As a member of the Northern Provincial Council and as one of the affected victims, I urge Your Holiness to reach out for us in demanding a clear answer from the Sri Lankan Government and its military on what had happened to Rev Fr Francis Joseph, the hundreds of our family members and relatives who were taken into SLA custody on 18 May, 2009."

JHU - it was us, not TNA or SLMC, that won it

Jan 9, 2015
The Buddhist monks' political party, the JHU, rejected analysts stating the Tamil and Muslim vote was the deciding factor in Maithripala Sirisena's presidential win, claiming instead it was their voter base that was key.

The JHU was part of the newly elected president's coalition of opposition parties along side the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC).

Japan hopes for promotion of 'reconciliation, democracy and economic development'

Jan 9, 2015
The Japanese government says it hopes for the promotion of "reconciliation, democracy and economic development" under the newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, in a statement congratulating him on his election victory.

The statement also former president Mahinda Rajapaksa for the smooth transition of power, after he gave up office the day the election results were announced.

No threat to military in North says military

Jan 9, 2015
The Sri Lankan military's spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya rejected reports of army camps being stoned and the Tamil Eelam flag being raised in Jaffna following the presidential win of Maithripala Sirisena, and stressed that there was no threat to the military in the North.

"Information spreading about several incidents like hoisting the L.T.T.E. flag in Jaffna, groups pelting stones at army camps and  explosions are merely rumours spreading through social media," Wanigasooriya told Ceylon Today.

Tamil Nadu parties demand Sirisena allow access to UN investigators

Jan 9, 2015

Parties across Tamil Nadu have reiterated demands for a United Nations investigative panel to be allowed access to Sri Lanka, in the wake of newly elected president Maithripala Sirisena taking office.

Their statements come as India's opposition Congress Party spokesman Sanjay Jha tweeted hailed former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's defeat, saying "majoritarian politics has a limited shelf-life".

In another tweet, he added, "President Rajapaksa was intoxicated with arrogance".

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) founder Vaiko called for UN investigators to be allowed into the country, but added he does not expect Sirisena to deliver justice to the Tamil people.

Noting that Sirisena was a member of the ruling party until just a few months ago, Vaiko added Sirisena's election pledges included not demilitarising the Tamil North-East. Vaiko concluded by calling on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "stop his attitude of betrayal" towards Tamils on the island.

UPFA reminds Maithripala of its parliamentary majority whilst committing to 100 day programme

Jan 9, 2015
The former ruling party which was defeated at Friday’s presidential polls, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), stated that it will support president Maithripala Sirisena’s 100 day work programme to abolish the executive presidency, whilst noting that a new cabinet would need approval of the majority in parliament.

Noting that the UPFA hold majority in parliament, UPFA parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena, commenting on appointing a new cabinet, said,

A cell in The Hague, the nightmare for Colombo’s rulers' - Trevor Grant

Jan 9, 2015

Sri Lanka's new president Maithripala Sirisena will do "everything he can" to stop former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to be taken to the Hague and face charges of war crimes said Trevor Grant, author and convenor of the Tamil Refugee Council (TRC).

In an opinion piece written in the wake of Sri Lanka's presidential election, Grant says "as acting minister of defence, including during the closing weeks of the war, [Sirisena] sat high in the command structure, and thus in culpability for war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Maithri won because TNA worked on separatism says Rambukwella
We will punish war crimes locally, no one will be handed over to international inquiry says Sirisena spokesperson
TNA councillor appeals to Pope over disappearances
JHU - it was us, not TNA or SLMC, that won it
Japan hopes for promotion of 'reconciliation, democracy and economic development'
No threat to military in North says military
Tamil Nadu parties demand Sirisena allow access to UN investigators
UPFA reminds Maithripala of its parliamentary majority whilst committing to 100 day programme
A cell in The Hague, the nightmare for Colombo’s rulers' - Trevor Grant
KP missing, govt to press for prosecution says Sirisena spokesperson
Maithri won because TNA worked on separatism says Rambukwella
We will punish war crimes locally, no one will be handed over to international inquiry says Sirisena spokesperson
TNA councillor appeals to Pope over disappearances
JHU - it was us, not TNA or SLMC, that won it
Japan hopes for promotion of 'reconciliation, democracy and economic development'
No threat to military in North says military
Tamil Nadu parties demand Sirisena allow access to UN investigators
UPFA reminds Maithripala of its parliamentary majority whilst committing to 100 day programme
A cell in The Hague, the nightmare for Colombo’s rulers' - Trevor Grant
KP missing, govt to press for prosecution says Sirisena spokesperson