Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Sri Lankan police interrupt Mannar rally demanding Hip Hop Sangee's release
Sri Lankan police interrupted a protest in Mannar calling for the release of detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan and the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), after questioning participants over the wording of a Tamil-language placard. A demonstration demanding the repeal of Sri Lanka's PTA and the release of detained rapper Ganeshkumar Sangeethsan was held in Mannar on Thursday…

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.

Cameron calls on Maithri to support UN inquiry

Jan 8, 2015

British Prime Minister David Cameron, congratulating Maithripala Sirisena, called on the the new president to "support the ongoing UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights investigation into human rights abuses."

In a statement released by Downing Street on Friday, Cameron said:

"I congratulate Maithripala Sirisena on his victory in yesterday’s Presidential election.

Labour foreign office minister calls for Maithri to cooperate with UN

Jan 8, 2015
The British opposition party's shadow foreign office minister, Kerry McCarthy, urged Sri Lanka’s new government to cooperate with the Untied Nations inquiry into mass atrocities and urged the UK “to do everything it can to support the UN investigation.”

Condemning the previous regime's treatment of ethnic communities on the island she said, "minority groups were repressed, freedom of expression denied, torture and enforced disappearances common amongst the Tamil community, and human rights defenders threatened."

Tamil vote is against Rajapaksa, not for Maithri says TCSF spokesperson

Jan 8, 2015
The Tamil people are sceptical about Maithripala Sirisena delivering on Tamil demands,  the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) spokesperson, Guruparan Kumaravadivel, wrote in The Hindu on Friday.

The Tamil vote is against Rajapaksa and not an endorsement of Maithrapala Sirisena, he added.

"The Tamil people are skeptical about Mr. Sirisena delivering on any of the key Tamil demands - a political solution to the ethnic conflict beyond the unitary state, accountability for crimes committed during the war, demilitarisation, release of Tamil political detainees, return of land taken over by the military etc. Sirisena during the campaign had taken positions contrary to Tamil interests, "  wrote Kumaravadivel.

Canada calls on Maithri to address accountability and devolution

Jan 8, 2015
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird welcomed Maithripala Sirisena as the new president of Sri Lanka, stating it would be an "important opportunity to resolve concerns regarding the devolution of power, accountability and genuine reconciliation".

“It is our hope that President Sirisena seizes his mandate from the people of Sri Lanka to foster a transparent, responsive and pluralistic government," Baird said, highlighting and commending the role of civil society during the election process.

Conclusion of elections provide 'moment of hope' says Obama

Jan 8, 2015
US President Barack Obama called on newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to work with the United States to "advance peace, democracy and prosperity", stating the conclusion of the elections was a "moment of hope".

Ranil Wickremasinghe sworn in as prime minister

Jan 8, 2015
Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the United National Party (UNP), was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s prime minister before president Maithripala Sirisena at the Independence Square in Colombo on Friday.

Wickremasinghe urged the people to celebrate the election victory without resorting to any violence or political revenge, reports News.lk.

Election does not address immediate or fundamental Tamil issues - BTF

Jan 8, 2015
The British Tamil Forum (BTF) noting the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa at Sri Lanka's presidential election to the common opposition's presidential candidate, Maithripala Sirisena, warned that "this will not still resolve the immediate issues faced by the Tamil people nor address the fundamental issue that has affected the Tamils in Sri Lanka for a very long time."

"As stated by the newly sworn in president in his election manifesto, the policy towards giving autonomy to the Tamil people, de-militarisation of the Tamil areas and cooperation with the UNHRC's international inquiry will remain the same. The fundamental issue that has fuelled this conflict for well over 60 years since the independence of Sri Lanka or Ceylon is the nature of the state, which needs to be structurally reformed," the BTF said.

Liberal Party of Canada calls for accountability, devolution and demilitarisation

Jan 8, 2015

Canada's Liberal Party has called on the newly elected president Maithripala Sirisena to "work with the international community to achieve accountability", as well as to demilitarise the Northeast and introduce comprehensive devolution.

In a statement congratulating Sirisena, Marc Garneau, Foreign Affairs Critic for the Liberal Party, expressed hope that "that the President Elect will work to ensure that democracy and the rule of law is restored, freedom of religion is respected, and the north and the east are demilitarized."

Opportunity for SL to be peaceful and inclusive says UK Foreign Sec
Cameron calls on Maithri to support UN inquiry
Labour foreign office minister calls for Maithri to cooperate with UN
Tamil vote is against Rajapaksa, not for Maithri says TCSF spokesperson
Canada calls on Maithri to address accountability and devolution
Conclusion of elections provide 'moment of hope' says Obama
Ranil Wickremasinghe sworn in as prime minister
Election does not address immediate or fundamental Tamil issues - BTF
Liberal Party of Canada calls for accountability, devolution and demilitarisation
UK, Canada urge President Sirisena to cooperate with UN inquiry as he takes office
Opportunity for SL to be peaceful and inclusive says UK Foreign Sec
Cameron calls on Maithri to support UN inquiry
Labour foreign office minister calls for Maithri to cooperate with UN
Tamil vote is against Rajapaksa, not for Maithri says TCSF spokesperson
Canada calls on Maithri to address accountability and devolution
Conclusion of elections provide 'moment of hope' says Obama
Ranil Wickremasinghe sworn in as prime minister
Election does not address immediate or fundamental Tamil issues - BTF
Liberal Party of Canada calls for accountability, devolution and demilitarisation
UK, Canada urge President Sirisena to cooperate with UN inquiry as he takes office