Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

US concerned at mosque violence

The US embassy in Colombo has expressed concern at the attack on a mosque by a Buddhist mob on Saturday and called for the prosecution of the perpetrators.

See full statement below:

Muslim politicians demand action

Muslim politicians from the coalition called upon the government to take action against those responsible for the Saturday attack on a Colombo mosque.

The politicians blamed the 'communal violence' on lack of swift and decisive action by law enforcement authorities during previous attacks on places of worship over the past several months.

US would even issue a statement when an insect flies past': Weerawansa

A Sri Lankan minister, Wimal Weerawansa, accused the US Embassy of issuing statements that would even condemn a 'common cold'.

Speaking at a meeting in Matale, he reiterated that infrastructure development would continue unabated, stating,

17 year old girl missing in Mannar

A 17 year old girl has been reported missing in Mannar.

The girl, named Suganya, was last seen by a member of her family, at a bus stop in Mannar midday on Thursday, when she'd come to see her parents.

Her parents reported her missing to the local police station on Friday.

Suganya and her family reportedly in India till they moved back to the North-East ten months ago.

Mob attacks Colombo mosque

A mosque in the Grandpass area of Colombo was attacked on Saturday by a Buddhist mob injuring at least five people.

A Muslim resident in the area told the BBC that stones were thrown at the mosque during evening prayers.

Monks had protested outside the same mosque last month, demanding its relocation.

Buddhists and Muslims reportedly clashed after the attack, damaging several houses.

Tamil devotional songs banned from North-East temples

The Sri Lankan army has banned Saiva devotional songs produced by a well- known poet Puthuvai Ratnathurai from being played at Temples in Batticaloa, reported Tamilnet.

The whereabouts of the poet remain unknown after he was taken into military custody during the final stages of the 2009 onslaught.

Army welcomes Tamil children to new pre-school



Children at the Kattudai Vinayagar pre-school in Maanipay were welcomed by the Sri Lankan military into their new building - build courtesy of the army too.

The military's Civil Coordination in Jaffna said the Tamil children were "blessed" for this.

SL to offer military training to foreign troops

The Sri Lankan government is considering offering defence training to foreign countries at its Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) at Sapugaskanda. The college provides facilities to mid-level officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force and police in “basic command and staff techniques”, reported ColomboPage.

The government proposed to offer training to countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Rwanda, Senegal and Sudan.

Sri Lanka promotes Commonwealth Business Forum in London

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Chris Nonis, held a launch event at the Sri Lanka High Commission, in London this week, to promote the Commonwealth Business Forum that will precede the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November this year, reported Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence.

HRW calls for independent inquiry into Weliweriya shootings

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a press release calling for the government of Sri Lanka to create an 'independent and transparent inquiry' into the shootings at Weliweriya on 1st August.

HRW's South Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly said:
“It’s undisputed that security forces killed three protesters, but the Sri Lankan government’s kneejerk reaction is to deny possible wrongdoing,”
“Instead of promoting the military’s version of events, the government should order an independent investigation and prosecute anyone who violated the law.”
Extracts from press release reproduced below:

"The unclear circumstances leading to the deaths and injuries, as well as government statements exonerating the solders involved, highlight the need for an independent inquiry."