Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Gampaha bus stand
A brazen shooting incident was reported near the Gampaha public bus stand on Wednesday, as two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire at a moving lorry in broad daylight before fleeing the scene. The two passengers inside the lorry reportedly abandoned the vehicle and ran into a nearby shop in an attempt to seek refuge. The lorry sustained visible damage in the attack. Local…

Heritage Ministry to take legal action against Japanese beer company

Sri Lanka's National Heritage Ministry said on Tuesday that it would be taking legal action against a Japanese beverage company using the Sigiriya site in a beer commercial and thereby 'disgracing' the heritage side.

The Minister Jagath Balasuriya accused the company of misleading officials, stating:

Buddhists oppose Indian plans for Sita temple in Sri Lanka

The Buddhist organisation Ravana Balaya has said it would not allow a Hindu temple to Sita to be built on the island, unless a statue for Ravana, a king in the legen Ramayana, was built first.

Speaking to the DailyMirror, leader of the group Itthakande Saddhathissa said they would oppose the temple, which was supposed to be built with Indian funds.

Cementing friendships

Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, welcomed and hosted a lunch for Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, who visited Sri Lanka en route to East Asia.

At today’s meeting, the two heads of state spoke about maintaining the strong ties the two nations over the past few years, which has flourished since Museveni’s first visit to Sri Lanka last year.

Buddhists never extremist – Mahinda

Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapaksa has claimed that Buddhists and the Buddhist clergy have never been involved in extremism.

SL rewards 'heroes'

Sri Lankan President, Mahida Rajapaksa, handed over 100 houses that were built under the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ housing program for the Sri Lankan nations ‘war heroes’.

The keys to the high quality accommodation, built under the 12th phase of the program, were symbolically handed over to military personnel by Rajapaksa.

Tremendous' progress in Sri Lanka - Nonis

See here for Sri Lanka's high commissioner to the UK, Chris Nonis on Monday telling the BBC his version of demographics on the island and speaking about the 'wonderful' and 'comprehensive reconciliation' in the Northeast.

India is Sri Lanka’s closest friend – envoy

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam has assured India that it is Sri Lanka’s closest friend.

Kariyawasam’s comments come as President Rajapakse concluded a visit to China, during which several contracts, worth billions of dollars were signed.

Only in #lka

SL govt suspends Trinco Urban Council MoU with US embassy

The Trincomalee Urban Council suspended its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US Embassy in Colombo, after the Sri Lankan government deemed that the MoU had been signed without the External Affairs Ministry's knowledge, reports ColomboPage.

The MoU, signed very recently, was aimed at establishing an American Corner in Trincomalee.

EPC in 'crisis'

Sri Lanka's Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) has run into crisis, reports the Island, as ruling party members are boycotting the sessions demanding postponement of the Northern PC polls until the replacement of the Governor and Chief Minister and restoration of the administrative structure.

Deputy Chairman of the Council, M.S. Subair clarified that: