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.…

KP missing, govt to press for prosecution says Sirisena spokesperson

Jan 9, 2015
Sri Lanka's new government said it is seeking to prosecute Kumaran Pathmanathan (known as "KP"), who was reported missing shortly after the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election.

KP, who was a former member of the LTTE, was apparently arrested by the Sri Lankan government in August 2009 before being welcomed by the then Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

"We heard he escaped through the airport's VIP lounge. We are investigating," the  spokesperson for President Maithripala Sirisena, Rajitha Senaratne, was quoted by The Hindu as saying.

Rajapaksa attempted to deploy military before conceding power

Jan 9, 2015
Mahinda Rajapaksa attempted to persuade the Sri Lankan army chief to deploy troops when it became clear that he would lose the elections, reports Reuters.

“The army chief was under pressure to deploy but he did not. He declined to do anything illegal,” the chief spokesperson for the new president, Rajitha Senaratne told reporters on Saturday.

UPDATE: Presidential Election - Maithri leads as Rajapaksa closes gap

Jan 8, 2015
Updated 00:35 GMT

The common opposition's presidential candidate, Maithripala Sirisena is currently in the lead at 53.48% (116,300,5 votes) to incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa at 45.20% (982,967 votes), as of 06:00 local time.

Votes are still being counted in several districts with results are awaited from Trincomalee, Puttalam, and other districts in the south, including Colombo.

Rajapaksa concedes election defeat - latest reports

Jan 8, 2015
Updated 0155 GMT

According to latest reports by AFP, Sri Lanka's incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa has conceded defeat in the presidential election to opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Reuters quoted an official at the president's office as saying,
"The president conceded defeat at a meeting with opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the new president will be sworn in this evening."

Maithri wins presidency, to be sworn in today

Jan 8, 2015
Last updated 07:56 GMT

The common opposition's candidate, Maithripala Sirisena claimed victory on Friday, as the next president of Sri Lanka.

Maithri, who was endorsed by a coalition of parties, including the UNP, JVP, TNA and SLMC, won 51.28% (6,217,162 votes), beating incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, who won 47.58% (5,768,090).

With just under 4 million votes having been counted, Rajapaksa conceded defeated, vowing to "ensure a smooth transition of power bowing to the wishes of the people".

TNA congratulates Maithri

Jan 8, 2015
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which openly endorsed the now president-elect, Maithripala Sirisena, who ran as a candidate representing a coalition of opposition groups, extended its "warmest congratulations" to the new president.

"The TNA extends to the people of Sri Lanka – in particular to the people of the North-East – its sincere thanks for extending their overwhelming support to President-Elect Mr Maithripala Sirisena in accordance with the advice of the TNA," the TNA leader R. Sampanthan said in a statement.

Look forward to working with Sirisena for 'inclusive, democratic' SL says Kerry

Jan 8, 2015
The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, commended incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa for accepting his election defeat, and said he looked forward to working with president-elect Maithripala Sirisena to ensure Sri Lanka was "inclusive" and "democratic".

"I look forward to working with President-elect Maithripala Sirisena as his new government works to implement its campaign platform of a Sri Lanka that is peaceful, inclusive, democratic, and prosperous," Kerry said in a statement.

Modi congratulates Maithri

Jan 8, 2015
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, congratulated the newly elected president, Maithripala Sirisena on his election victory.

“I spoke to Shri Maithripala Sirisena and congratulated him. I congratulate the people of Sri Lanka on the peaceful & democratic poll process," Modi tweeted.

Election fever will fade, but the need for justice will not' says Freedom From Torture

Jan 8, 2015
UK rights group, Freedom From Torture called on newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to cooperate with the UN investigation into mass atrocities on the island and ensure justice is served for human rights violations.

"Sri Lanka's new president, Mr Sirisena, needs to face up to the human rights violations that have been perpetrated during and since the end of the civil war, rather than hoping they will go away. Hundreds of thousands of people were affected by this brutal civil war and healing can only truly begin when justice is done," Susan Munroe, Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture, said in a blog post entitled “Election fever will fade, but the need for justice will not."

Opportunity for SL to be peaceful and inclusive says UK Foreign Sec

Jan 8, 2015

The British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, congratulated newly elected president Maithripala Sirisena and said "Sri Lanka has a renewed opportunity now to grow as a stable, prosperous and inclusive country, reflecting the wishes of all its people."

"I commend the people of Sri Lanka on the successful completion of their elections and offer my congratulations to Maithripala Sirisena. Sri Lanka has a renewed opportunity now to grow as a stable, prosperous and inclusive country, reflecting the wishes of all its people," the Foreign Secretary said in a statement released on Friday.

Rajapaksa attempted to deploy military before conceding power
UPDATE: Presidential Election - Maithri leads as Rajapaksa closes gap
Rajapaksa concedes election defeat - latest reports
Maithri wins presidency, to be sworn in today
TNA congratulates Maithri
Look forward to working with Sirisena for 'inclusive, democratic' SL says Kerry
Modi congratulates Maithri
Election fever will fade, but the need for justice will not' says Freedom From Torture
Opportunity for SL to be peaceful and inclusive says UK Foreign Sec
Cameron calls on Maithri to support UN inquiry
Rajapaksa attempted to deploy military before conceding power
UPDATE: Presidential Election - Maithri leads as Rajapaksa closes gap
Rajapaksa concedes election defeat - latest reports
Maithri wins presidency, to be sworn in today
TNA congratulates Maithri
Look forward to working with Sirisena for 'inclusive, democratic' SL says Kerry
Modi congratulates Maithri
Election fever will fade, but the need for justice will not' says Freedom From Torture
Opportunity for SL to be peaceful and inclusive says UK Foreign Sec
Cameron calls on Maithri to support UN inquiry