Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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'Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing'
Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing". Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the…

US envoy to visit NE and London before discussing SL resolution

Jan 27, 2014
The Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal, will visit Sri Lanka between January 31 and February 2 to discuss issues including post-conflict reconciliation, justice and accountability issues, the US Department of State announced today.

Biswal’s visit will also include a trip to the North-East to meet Northern Provincial Council officials and civil society leaders.

The US envoy will also travel to London to speak to British officials, before finally heading to Geneva for meetings regarding a US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka scrambles against UN resolution

Jan 26, 2014

Sri Lanka’s Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga held over 90 meetings in the past week in Geneva, reported the Daily Mirror, as he led attempts to try and thwart a resolution at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council Session in March.

Weeratunga, who will be leading the Sri Lankan delegation this March, reportedly met with at least 90 permanent country representatives based in Geneva, before flying off to Washington to meet with the US State Department.

Sitsabaiesan ‘right to be concerned’ says NDP Leader

Jan 25, 2014
The head of the Canadian NDP Party has said MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan was “right to be concerned” after she reported facing political intimidation on a private visit to her place of birth, in the the North-East of Sri Lanka.

Responding to accusations by Canada’s Sri Lankan High Commissioner that Sitsabaiesan had tried to embarrass Sri Lanka, NDP leader Tom Mulcair defended the Tamil Canadian MP, adding that Sri Lanka's

Gotabhaya slams 'interfering' diplomats

Jan 25, 2014

The Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has accused the US Ambassador in the country, Michelle Sison, of interfering in domestic affairs and overstepping her mandate, after it emerged that the ambassador had met NPC Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan, along with Chief Minister Wigneswaran and TNA MP Sumanthiran.

Rajapaksa said that foreigners would only make matters worse, so any solution to the problem would have to be found domestically.

Ceylon Teachers' Union condemn increasing Army interference in Vanni schools

Jan 25, 2014
The Sri Lankan Army's interference in schools in Vanni has increased said the Ceylon Teachers' Union to the Education Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, reported the Uthayan.

Demanding that action be taken to stop this, the CTU's General Secretary, Joseph Stalin, said that since the re-opening of schools in Vanni, the army's interference is directly disrupting the students' education.

Drawing attention to incidents such as the Sri Lankan military hosting events in the school grounds whilst lessons are happening, Stalin said this must be stopped, and students must be able to learn without any interference.

Australian student raped by tourist guide in South

Jan 25, 2014
An Australian student in Sri Lanka was raped by a tourist guide in the Southern town of Ambalangoda, reports the Colombo Page.

The student was part of a group of 15 taking part in an educational activity.

SL spends over US $100,000 a month lobbying the US

Jan 25, 2014
The Sri Lankan government spends US $ 66,000 a month hiring Thompson Advisory Group LLC (TAG), a US lobbying firm, reports the Sunday Times.

Disappeared man found dead in Pannai sea

Jan 24, 2014
The body of a 30 year old Tamil man, who went missing earlier this week, was discovered by local fishermen in Pannai sea by Jaffna yesterday, reported the Uthayan.

Arrest warrants to be issued for almost 60,000 army deserters

Jan 24, 2014
The Sri Lankan government has announced that almost 60,000 deserters, who left the Sri Lankan Armed Forces after the armed conflict in 2009, are to have warrants issued for their arrest.

Rs. 700 million awarded to soldiers having their third child

Jan 24, 2014
Over Rs. 700 million has been cashed out to soldiers from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in the past year, in the form of grants for those who have their third child, stated the Ministry of Defence.

The announcement was made in parliament as the government responded to questions on how to stop deserters from leaving the military.
Sri Lanka scrambles against UN resolution
Sitsabaiesan ‘right to be concerned’ says NDP Leader
Gotabhaya slams 'interfering' diplomats
Ceylon Teachers' Union condemn increasing Army interference in Vanni schools
Australian student raped by tourist guide in South
SL spends over US $100,000 a month lobbying the US
Disappeared man found dead in Pannai sea
Arrest warrants to be issued for almost 60,000 army deserters
Rs. 700 million awarded to soldiers having their third child
Minister seeks exemption from land sales regulations to foreigners
Sri Lanka scrambles against UN resolution
Sitsabaiesan ‘right to be concerned’ says NDP Leader
Gotabhaya slams 'interfering' diplomats
Ceylon Teachers' Union condemn increasing Army interference in Vanni schools
Australian student raped by tourist guide in South
SL spends over US $100,000 a month lobbying the US
Disappeared man found dead in Pannai sea
Arrest warrants to be issued for almost 60,000 army deserters
Rs. 700 million awarded to soldiers having their third child
Minister seeks exemption from land sales regulations to foreigners