Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Photograph by Ify Obi  Rebecca Devika Dharmapalan spoke to Tamil Guardian following the publishing of her book “My Pen is Sharp Like the Gun in my Hand: The Revolutionary Feminism of the Tamil Tigers’' which centres the voices and lives of women cadres in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Her research critiques the legal frameworks that construct a narrow understanding of…

Sri Lankan navy attack Tamil Nadu fishermen

Tamil Nadu fishermen have reported being attacked by Sri Lankan navy on Wednesday off the coast of Katchatheevu island. 

Ten fishermen were injured in the attack, PTI reported, along side damage to 20 boats. 

Navy officers chased them away from the area, warning of "severe consequences". 

The attack comes just hours after the Sri Lankan navy transferred 80 released fishermen to Indian authorities. 


 

158 Tamils disappeared from Eastern Uni in 1990 round-up remembered in Batticaloa

158 Tamils rounded up and forcibly disappeared by the Sri Lankan Army from the Eastern University were remembered in Batticaloa today, on the 27th anniversary of their disappearance.

On 5th September 1990, Sri Lankan soldiers surrounded the Vantharumoolai campus of Eastern University, rounding-up and arresting 158 Tamils that were sheltering there.

Protest in Mannar against Myanmar's Rohingya genocide

Protestors in Mannar called for the Myanmar government to end genocide against the Rohingya people.

Buddhas on the A9 - Sinhalisation of Vavuniya

The Sri Lankan Army continues in its mission of Sinhalising the Tamil homeland, specifically through the installation of Buddhist shrines within the premises of or in close proximity to Hindu temples in the North-East.

Gunmen fire at house of 2012 Welikada prison shooting witness

Unidentified gunmen on Monday fired shots at the house of one of the key eye witnesses to the 2012 shooting at Welikada prison. 

The witness, Sudesh Nandimal, wa not injured in the attack. He was residing at his sister's house in Moratuwa. 

Several shots were fired at the property's gate. The police were informed at 11pm last night, the Daily Mirror reported. 

In July, an inquiry was launched into the Welikada incident, where 27 inmates, who were mainly Sinhalese were killed during a prison riot by security forces. 

Joint Opposition wants Fonseka sacked for betraying Sri Lankan army

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition on Tuesday called for Field Marshal and minister, Sarash Fonseka to be sacked from his position for his comments stating that he would be happy to stand as a witness against the former military general, Jagath Jayasuriya, who is accused of war crimes. 

“We do not trust him. He contradicts the President’s statements and attempts to betray the country,” MP Prasanna Ranatunga was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.

“It is doubtful whether the minister was plotting to betray the soldiers by accepting money from the LTTE Diaspora."

Don't betray people by protecting so called war heroes' says Fonseka

Dismissing criticism of his willingness to stand as a witness against the former Sri Lankan military general who has been accused of war crimes, Field Marshal and former army commander, Sarath Fonseka told the government, "don't betray people by protecting so called war heroes". 

Palaly can be developed without further land-grabs says Indian govt team

Palaly airbase can be developed into a regional airport without further appropriation of land, an Indian government research team has recommended to the Sri Lankan government.

Opportunities for developing Palaly were studied by an Indian government-sponsored team, led by Chennai Airport director Deepak Shastri, in March last year.

Buddhist prelate commends Sri Lanka’s commitment to protect army from war crimes prosecutions

A Chief Buddhist prelate commended Sri Lanka President Sirisena’s pledge to protect former army commander Jagath Jayasuriya from any war crimes prosecution, reports dailymirror.lk.

Ven Ella Gunawansa Thera further condemned statements by Field Marshal Minister Sarath Fonseka accusing Jayasuriya of being responsible for war crimes. Dismissing findings of the UN investigation into Sri Lanka's atrocities, he said, 

New Inland Revenue Act to stop ministers granting tax concessions

Sri Lanka's proposed New Inland Revenue Act will stop ministers from being able to grant discretionary tax concessions, the country's finance minister was quoted by LBO as saying. 

The move is aimed at ensuring the system of tax concessions is not subject to abuse. 

Under the new Act, there will be 8 concessionary loan schemes for specific workers, including small and medium scale industrialists, farmers, journalists and entrepreneurs.