• ‘We cannot fail Tamils again’ - Australian Senator

    May 16

    Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon called on the international community to ensure pressure is kept on the Sri Lankan government for accountability for atrocities committed on the island and an end to the occupation of the Tamil homeland.

    See the full text of her message below.

    This month we mark the genocide that took place in Northern Sri Lanka, the Tamil homeland in 2009.

    7 years later the Tamils in the diaspora and in the homeland continue to resist the ongoing brutality against them under the new president of Sri Lanka.

  • Perpetrators of crimes still enjoy ‘total freedom’ lament Tamil students

    The perpetrators of mass atrocities continue to enjoy “total freedom” under the current Sri Lankan government said the Student’s Union at the University of Jaffna, in a statement released to mark 7 years since the massacres of 2009.

    “The painful thoughts remain as unhealed wounds in our hearts even today, and the memories of this day, that year, recollect in our minds once again,” said the statement.

    “The justice that was denied for the innocent people who laid down their lives on that day, is now become a covered up justice,” it continued. “Under the guise of good governance, the government has extended total freedom to those who committed these heinous crimes, and without subjecting them to interrogation.”

  • Buddhism is the only solution to heal society says Sri Lanka's president
    Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said that Thervada Buddhism is the only solution to heal society during an inauguration ceremony for a new Chief Buddhist Prelate at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, reports Colombo Page.
  • Chief Minister stresses accountability for Mullivaikkal cannot be traded off


    Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran reiterated that accountability for the mass atrocities committed in 2009 cannot be traded off for politics, in remarks made in Colombo earlier this week.

    Speaking at the southern capital Justice Wigneswaran responded to questions on accountability by stating it was a “legal question”.

    “Are we going to have a proper legal machinery to look into the wrongs that have been committed and take necessary steps with regard to that?” he said. “Or are we going to make it into a political thing in order to trade it off?”

    “Whether it is Tamils saying it or somebody else saying it is not the important thing - these are two different things. There is a political question to be looked in to.”

    The chief minister went on to call for the victims of the massacres to be taken into consideration.

    “What about the people who have lost their lives?” he said. “ Who have gone through so much immense hardship at the time when these things happened in Mullaiviakkal. Are we going to forget about all of them? At least let them have the benefit of this being tried out by an international tribunal or forum and come to some decision.”

  • TNA leader and former US Deputy Secretary of State discuss problems afflicting the North-East

    Tamil National Alliance Leader R Sampanthan met with the former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to discuss issues affecting Tamils in the North-East.

    During the meeting Mr Sampanthan stressed the need for resolving the issues such as releasing civilian land currently under Sri Lankan military control, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the release of political prisoners according to an official press release.

  • ‘May 18 2009 – an unforgettable day in Tamil history’
    The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) will be observing May 18th as a “tragic day in the history of Tamils” and plans to hold a remembrance event at Mullivaikkal on Wednesday.

    A statement released by the NPC said the date was “unforgettable… tossing away all international laws of war”.
  • Northern Province Governor attends military ceremony for Sri Lankan troops

  • Tamil Nadu goes to the polls

    Polls opened this morning in Tamil Nadu, as the final round of state assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

    The election sees arch rivals, DMK chief, Karunanidhi and the current chief minister, J Jayalalitha pitted against each other once again, however, the election this year is to be a multipolar contest with a number of smaller parties positioned to play a decisive role.

  • Arrests, militarisation and land encroachment on the rise says Tamil Civil Society Forum

    The Tamil Civil Society Forum, in a statement released in Mullivaikkal remembrance week, said that the “crimes being committed against the Tamil people are not declining.”

  • Sri Lanka briefs German trade delegation on progress in reconciliation and democracy
    Germany’s trade and business delegation to Sri Lanka, headed by the Parliamentary State Secretary or Economic Affairs and Energy Uwe Beckmeyer met with Sri Lanka’s president on Monday, reports adaderena.lk.

    The visit comes after Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena visited Berlin last month.
  • Sri Lanka air force conducts training exercise over Jaffna

    Sri Lanka’s Air Force (SLAF) conducted training exercises move Valvettithurai in Jaffna on Friday.

    A sea rescue exercise was undertaken on the beach of Valvettithurai, with helicopters flying over the Jaffna peninsula.

  • Sri Lanka pays compensation to Sri Lankan peacekeeping force rape victim
    Sri Lanka has arranged an ex-gratia payment to a victim and child born as a result of rape by a member of Sri Lanka’s peace keeping force reports Colombo Page.
  • Mullivaikkal remembrance week marked in Neduntivu and Point Pedro

    Events were held in Neduntivu and Point Pedro on Sunday to remember the victims of Tamil genocide as part of the Mullivaikkal remembrance week in the North-East.

    Recalling the slaughter of 48 Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan navy on board the 'Kumithini' ferry from Delft to Nainativu on May 15th, 1985.

    The slaughter occurred at shortly after the progrom of Black July 1983 when the currently ruling UNP's J R Jayawardene was in power.

  • Vaddukoddai resolution's passing commemorated in Jaffna 40 years on


    The passing of the Vaddukoddai resolution on May 14th, 1976 was commemorated in Jaffna on Saturday, 40 years on.



    Lighting a flame of remembrance for all those who died in the Tamil genocide, local politicians and council members, including the Northern Provincial Councillors, M K Shivajilingham and Ananthy Sasitharan attended the event.

    The Vaddukoddai resolution, spearheaded by SJV Chelvanayakam, remains a cornerstone of the Tamil movement for self-determination in Sri Lanka, concluding that an independent state of Tamil Eelam was needed to safeguard the very existence of the Tamil nation in Sri Lanka.

  • Senior US military commander visits Sri Lanka
    The Director of Strategic Planning and Policy for US Pacific Command concluded a three day visit to Sri Lanka this week.

    The United States’ Major General Steven R Rudder met with Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff and visited the Western Area Naval Command.

    During his visit he discussed “areas for future cooperation in the critical issues of maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and United Nations Peace Keeping Operations,”  according to a US Embassy press release.
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