Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Amnesty International has called for the release of detained Tamil rapper Sangeethan Ganeshkumar and renewed demands for the repeal of Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), warning that the legislation continues to facilitate arbitrary detention and human rights abuses. In a statement issued this week, the international rights organisation expressed concern over the continued use of…

President calls on Sri Lankans to unite against resolution and vote UPFA

Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, today called upon Sri Lankans to unite and deliver a message to the international community by voting for the ruling UPFA in the upcoming Provincial Council elections.

Addressing crowds in Kalutra, Rajapaksa said that the people would rally in support of the UPFA and show the international community that they could not interfere with affairs in the country.

Photo: Colombo Page

Mahinda to brief government advisors on UNHRC

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa will, tomorrow, brief Chief Buddhist prelates from the Maha Sangha, in an attempt to satisfy a request by the Buddhist institution to outline the situation at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The Maha Sangha, in a letter addressed to the president last week, drawing upon the Buddhist institution’s long history of assisting rulers of Sri Lanka to combat efforts by western and power-greedy groups to split the country, expressed the need to be fully briefed on happenings in Geneva.

We will not tolerate foreign interference – Mahinda Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has accused western countries of being pushed by the Tamil diaspora to take the UNHRC resolution forward, saying that Sri Lanka will not tolerate foreign interference.

“Madam (Navi) Pillay (UNHRC chief), U.S., U.K., all are moved against us by the Tamil diaspora,” he said at an election rally in Kaluthara.

“We are being punished for ending terrorism. We did not fight Tamils, we only fought terrorism,
“We will not tolerate any foreign interference and that will be the message,” he said.

SL says William Hague ignorant of ground realities – Sunday Island

The Sunday Island has quoted a “senior government source” as saying that the British Foreign Secretary William Hague is ignorant of ground realities, after he suggested that an international tribunal should be set up.

The official said that any such move would also have to examine India for supporting “terrorism” in the 1980s and the government would raise India’s accountability during the conflict.

US expresses concern over intensifying pressure on civil society and rights activists

Reiterating its commitment to pursuing a resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council this month, the Unite Stated said it was "concerned by intensifying pressure on Sri Lankan civil society and human rights activists" and that the "detentions and the continued harassment of those who support the quest for reconciliation and accountability send a chilling effect" across Sri Lanka's civil society.

In a statement released Friday, the State Department said,
"The United States is concerned by intensifying pressure on Sri Lankan civil society and human rights activists. We are especially concerned by the detention of well-known human rights defenders Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan after they made inquiries regarding the arrest of another activist. While it is encouraging that Mr. Fernando and Father Mahesan have since been released, they continue to face harassment by security forces. We are also aware of reports that additional human rights groups are being targeted for investigation by security forces.

Tamils demonstrate in Chavakacheri against land grabs


Carrying banners and placards, residents of Uthaya Sooriyan village protested in Chavakacheri against land grabs on Friday morning, reports Uthayan.

Over 300 Tamil youths interrogated by military in Vaddukoddai - Uthayan

Over 300 Tamil youths in the Vaddukoddai area were rounded up last night and interrogated by Sri Lankan military personnel reports the Uthayan.

According to the paper, over 600 troops arrived late on Friday night, and rounded up the Tamil young men and women before taking them to the Vaddukoddai police station for questioning.

The military officers claimed the reason for the mass interrogation was that the alleged criminal, Gopi, was now hiding in that area, said residents.

Video of maltreatment of female recruits 'stage-managed' claims army

Commenting on a video that emerged earlier this week depicting the maltreatment of female army recruits by male officers, the Sri Lankan Army said that the video had be "stage-managed" in order to "tarnish and discredit the Army".

In a statement issued this weekend the Sri Lankan military said,

MDMK pledges to lift ban on LTTE and work for Eelam referendum

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party in Tamil Nadu, outlined in their new manifesto, released today, that they would lift the ban on the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), should they be voted into power.

Adding further issues relating to Eelam Tamils in the manifesto, the MDMK also pledged to work towards holding a referendum to create a state, Eelam, as a political solution for Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Human Rights chief's focus on Sri Lanka shows prejudice, says External Affairs Ministry

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay's, focus on atrocities committed in Sri Lanka, showed that she was prejudiced, a Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry official told the Island.

The Island also alleged that Navi Pillay, in a recent meeting with the South Korean Foreign Minister, Yun Byung-se, equated Sri Lanka with North Korea.