Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The man who threatened '100 more Mullivaikals' now calls for humane treatment of prisoners
Patali Champika Ranawaka, the former Sri Lankan cabinet minister and one-time General Secretary of the Sinhala nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), drew attention this week after calling for the humane treatment of detainees – remarks that are in sharp contrast to his previous comments on Tamils. Speaking publicly, Ranawaka said: "Whether it's Suresh Sallay or even Zahran, if they are being…

Breaking The Silence Journal: Kingston University

Apr 20, 2014

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(Pictures: KUTS)

Kingston University Tamil Society held the first ‘Breaking the Silence’ event of 2014 earlier this month.

EPDP backs TNA resolution opposing Jaffna land grabs

Apr 20, 2014
Photograph @Hamsanan


A resolution demanding an immediate end to the Sri Lankan government’s forcible acquisition of private lands in Valikamam, Jaffna, and the return of seized lands to their owners was passed unanimously at a meeting of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting on Monday.

Reflecting the intense public anger over the land seizures, the resolution tabled by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was supported by the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP, a key pro-government paramilitary group-cum-political party). However, the EPDP defended the government on other seizures also discussed, prompting criticism from those who attended the meeting.

"There was agreement on the issue of land acquisition at the meeting today, with the resolution I moved being unanimously adopted, after being seconded by Chandrakumar MP [of the EPDP]," TNA parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran told Tamil Guardian shortly after the meeting ended.

"The resolution called for the acquisition process be abandoned, Section 2 Notices be withdrawn and the lands be handed back to the owners," he added, referring to the legal ordnance under which the government is seizing private land.

Sri Lanka’s debt repayments exceed revenue – Sunday Times

Apr 20, 2014

The servicing of public debt soaked up all of Sri Lankan government revenue in 2013, The Sunday Times reported.

That the government is having to borrow to meet its debt repayments is itself increasing the debt burden – even as state revenue is falling, the paper said.

Sri Lanka’s much-vaunted growth in GDP “has been achieved by increasing foreign and domestic debt and cutting developmental expenditure [and thus by] undermining macroeconomic fundamentals,” the paper warned.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2013 fell from the year before to US$ 916 million, mostly in hotels, the paper also said.

British tourist arrested and expelled for having Buddha tattoo

Apr 20, 2014

A tourist from Britain was arrested at Katunayake Airport for having a tattoo of the Buddha on her hand, reported the Daily Mirror.

Michele Calmon, 37, landed in Sri Lanka this morning and was produced before Negombo Magistrates Court today.

Katunayake Airport police told the magistrate that the tattoo was contrary to Buddhism, who then transferred Calmon to the Mirihana detention camp for immediate extradition.

Bishops denied access to Tamil political prisoners on Easter

Apr 20, 2014

The Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph has been denied access to visit Tamil political prisoners over Easter, as customary in the Catholic Church, the Uthayan reported.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph who was accompanied by the Bishop of Anuradhapura to visit the Tamil detainees in Anuradhapura prison, received permission for the visit from the ministry responsible for prisons.

Foreign Correspondents Assoc questions visa restriction on BBC journalist

Apr 19, 2014
The Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA) said it was "unaware of any time limits on visas issued to foreign journalists posted to Sri Lanka", following reports that the BBC journalist Charles Haviland was refused a one-year visa extension, on the grounds that he had completed five years as a foreign correspondent in Sri Lanka.

Rejecting reports that Mr. Haviland's visa had been denied, officials at the ministry stressed that it had in fact been extended, by three months, reported the Nation.

Media Minister and government spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella, was quoted in Ceylon Today as saying,
"It would be unfair to permit any foreigner to live in the country for long periods, let alone journalists,"

"He has stayed in the country for over five years, and we have granted him a further three-month extension on that visa. Granting him any further extension would be unreasonable."
Pointing out that the five year time limit also extended to international NGO workers, the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, Charitha Herath tweeted,
“Sri Lanka visa policy for foreign correspondents is maximum five years. Some of them are here more than 9, 10 years,”

Guard attacks prisoner - Jaffna

Apr 19, 2014
A prisoner in Jaffna was attacked by a prison guard today, reports Uthayan.

The prisoner, whose identity remains unknown, has been admitted to Jaffna hospital after suffering injuries.

According to the Jaffna based newspaper, attempts to contact the prison for more information were met with evasion, as officials gave incomplete answers and abruptly ended the phone call.

We do not welcome South African initiative - Minister Champika Ranawaka

Apr 19, 2014
Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka criticised efforts by South Africa to facilitate dialogue between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), stating the Tamil struggle should not be equated to that against Apartheid.

“We do not welcome this initiative," Mr. Ranawaka, Minister of Technology, Research and Atomic Energy, and also the General Secretary of the government coalition partner, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), told Sri Lanka's Sunday Times, calling for "a fuller investigation of all matters".

Organisations like Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and the British Tamil Forum (BTF) 'had created the impression that the so-called armed struggle in Sri Lanka by Tamil groups was similar to the one waged by those in the African National Congress', the Sunday Times cited him as saying.

“We fought against separation. In South Africa, they fought against apartheid,” he said, reportedly adding, 'it is only recently that the South African Government has obtained “our side of the story".

Talking Taboo: Caste & Religion in the Tamil community

Apr 19, 2014

War-time restrictions now in Mannar

Apr 18, 2014

The pass-system, which requires Tamil fisher folk to obtain permission from the military before setting out to sea, has now been re-introduced in Mannar, after being restarted in Jaffna earlier this month, reported Uthayan.

The Mannar district fishermen’s union leader M N Aalam complained that fishermen are facing hardship because of the system. The Mannar Fishing Department said the pass system caused difficulties in the past and re-introducing this is going to cause more difficulties.

EPDP backs TNA resolution opposing Jaffna land grabs
Sri Lanka’s debt repayments exceed revenue – Sunday Times
British tourist arrested and expelled for having Buddha tattoo
Bishops denied access to Tamil political prisoners on Easter
Foreign Correspondents Assoc questions visa restriction on BBC journalist
Guard attacks prisoner - Jaffna
We do not welcome South African initiative - Minister Champika Ranawaka
Talking Taboo: Caste & Religion in the Tamil community
War-time restrictions now in Mannar
Protest against SL Navy in Amparai
EPDP backs TNA resolution opposing Jaffna land grabs
Sri Lanka’s debt repayments exceed revenue – Sunday Times
British tourist arrested and expelled for having Buddha tattoo
Bishops denied access to Tamil political prisoners on Easter
Foreign Correspondents Assoc questions visa restriction on BBC journalist
Guard attacks prisoner - Jaffna
We do not welcome South African initiative - Minister Champika Ranawaka
Talking Taboo: Caste & Religion in the Tamil community
War-time restrictions now in Mannar
Protest against SL Navy in Amparai