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…

Cross party group of UK MPs call for international inquiry into genocide

In a statement the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils called on the UN to create an "International Commission of Investigation into the allegations of War crimes, Crimes against Humanity and the Crime of genocide against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka" and urged the member states of the UNHRC to strengthen the current proposed draft "so that it will have meaningful action on the ground; bringing the individuals who were responsible for the violation of International Humanitarian Law, including extra-judicial killings, sexual violence an

Sri Lanka 'served as precursor' to Syrian tragedy

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva, Tasha Manoranjan of Tamil Nadu based NGO Pasumai Thaayagam, stated that Sri Lanka has "served as a precursor for the tragedy now unfolding in Syria".

Stating that Sri Lanka's "long history of impunity is institutionalised", the speaker said 
"abuses by the Sri Lankan government remain unchecked, uninvestigated and unprosecuted".

The full statement has been reproduced below.

Very limited progress' by Sri Lanka - EU

Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Ambassador Gerard Cor, Ireland's permanent representative to the UN, called for Sri Lanka to remain on the council's agenda, stating the county had made "very limited progress" since the passing of the March 2012 resolution.

Addressing the council on behalf of the European Union, Cor stated,

Growing discontent amongst Tamil Nadu students

Student protests that proclaim the US resolution on Sri Lanka inadequate, which were initially started at Loyola College in Chennai, have spread across the Tamil Nadu state, resulting in a massive student voice of dissent around India’s dealing of the Eelam Tamil issue.

UNP seeks MoU with govt on UNHRC resolution

The opposition UNP wishes to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government "to support the country in dealing with the aftermath of the impending resolution at the UNCHR" and stop the country becoming a "pariah state", announced the leader of the UNP, Ranil Wickremesinghe at a press conference on Wednesday.

Wickremesinghe added that the UNP would support the government in implementing the LLRC, the 13th Amendment, and give "required assistance in solving the national issue".

Rajapaksa arrives in Japan

The Sri Lankan president and his wife arrived in Japan on Tuesday as part of a four day official visit, accompanied by Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Nimal Siripala de Silva, Monitoring MP for Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Governor of Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

LTTE groups using international forces - SL minister

Groups supporting the LTTE are trying to attack Sri Lanka using international forces said Sri Lankan Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena at a public meeting, reported Colombo Page.

TNA to be investigated for LTTE crimes - Karuna

The government is to investigate the TNA's complicity in crimes committed by the LTTE announced the paramilitary leader and deputy minister, Vinayagamoorthy Karuna.

The news was reported in the Sinhala language newspaper Divaina on Friday. 

Translation by Keerthi Warnakulasooriya, reproduced below:

Further calls for an independent investigation...

Speaking at the General debate at the United Nations Human Rights Council sessions, Canada reiterated its call for an independent investigation in to the Sri Lankan government’s human rights violations.

Canadian Ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, Elissa Golberg, stated

More discontent in India...

The Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) calls for a State-wide general strike in Tamil Nadu stirred a widespread response, resulting in arrests and small incidents of violence.

TESO called for a general strike to put pressure on the Indian government to vote against Sri Lanka when the final draft of a U.S sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka is tabled at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) later this month.