Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Protest in Vavuniya over encroachment on a vital irrigation tank
Farmers and residents staged a protest in Vavuniya on Monday, alleging that the encroachment and development of the water catchment area of Kovilkulam pose a serious threat to the tank’s natural water inflow and the livelihoods dependent on it. The demonstration began in front of the Kudiyiruppu Pillaiyar Temple and proceeded in a march to the Vavuniya District Secretariat, where protesters…

Sri Lanka's PM lauds 'triumph over adversity'

Dec 31, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka had “triumphed over adversity” in his New Year message.

Mr Wickremesinghe stressed that there was promise of developing an era "that understands and comprehends the true meaning of freedom from oppression."

See full text below.

TNA urges remaining land and political prisoners to be released in New Year

Dec 30, 2015

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called on the Sri Lankan government to release remaining lands held in the New Year.

Welcoming the release of 701 acres of land occupied by the military in Valikamam North and East earlier this week, the TNA recalled a promise made by the president during a visit to Jaffna two months ago to release lands that could be immediately released by the end of 2015.

Fresh arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy

Dec 30, 2015
A group of Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan navy for allegedly violating the Trincomalee, in the third such incident this month.

The 29 fishermen and three boats were detained by the Sri Lankan navy at a military camp in Trincomalee.

The arrest come as the issue of the continued arrest of Indian fishermen was brought up in the Lok Sabha, with another 45 fishermen remaining in Sri Lankan custody.

New constitution prepared by June 2016 with public referendum says govt

Dec 30, 2015

The new constitution would be prepared during the first six months of 2016 and a public referendum held said the government's chief whip, minister Lakshman Kiriella.

"We as a government had reduced the powers of the executive as we pledged and we had set up independent commissions too. To reduce the powers of the executive further and to further strengthen the democracy we need a new Constitution and that should be approved in a referendum," Mr Kiriella told journalists on Wednesday, reported Ceylon Today.

Sri Lankan government ‘not interested’ in bridge to India states Minister

Dec 30, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella stated his government was not interested in India's proposed plans to build a bridge between Tamil Nadu and the Tamil homeland in the North-East of the island.

Ruling out the possibility of the bridge project materialising, Mr Kiriella denied that the proposal was even discussed with the Sri Lankan government.

The minister went on to emphasise that talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Delhi did not include the bridge project. Earlier the minister had said “we are against it because people of Sri Lanka are opposed to it”.

Sri Lanka is ‘examining possibility’ of IMF loan says CB governor

Dec 30, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said the government was in “informal consultations” with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the possibility of a further loan.

“Yes we are examining the possibilities and the government are in informal consultation with the IMF,” confirmed Mr Mahendran.

However the governor stated, “our reserves are comfortable at this point”. “We have over four and a half months of imports, admittedly some of that is borrowed but the country is in no dire need of emergency funding,” he added.

His comments come as Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake stated Sri Lanka is “not dictated by IMF policy”.

Sri Lanka blacklists and fines company responsible for organising Enrique concert

Dec 30, 2015
The municipal government of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo has blacklisted the company responsible for organising the Enrique Iglesias concert that sparked outrage from Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirsiena.

The Company, Live Events which was responsible for hosting Enrique Iglesias on his ‘Sex and Love tour’ was charged with tax evasion, reprots Colombo Page.

The main stakeholders of the organisation Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayewardene apologised for the concert shortly after President Maithripala Sirisena condemned women throwing bras at the pop icon during his performance.

Sri Lankan president defiant after criticism over ‘whipping’ remarks (29 Dec 2015)

Buddhist monks and UPFA MP warns Sri Lankan government against arresting military over massacres

Dec 29, 2015
A group of Buddhist monks and Member of Parliament for the National Freedom Front (NFF) Jayantha Samaraweera held a protest warning the government against arresting members of the military for human rights abuses.

The monks performed a religious ceremony calling for the release of Sri Lankan military officers who were arrested over their involvement in the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Mr Samaraweera, a UPFA member, “warned the government of dire consequences unless it immediately stopped persecuting military officers on trumped-up charges,” reports The Island.

He also called for the release of Sunil Rathnayaka, the Sinhala soldier sentenced to death over the massacre of 8 Tamil civilians in Jaffna in 2001.

Sri Lankan government is hiding ISIS threat claims BBS

Dec 29, 2015

Bodu Bala Sena accused the Sri Lankan government of covering up the threat posed by the Islamic State, warning that it was spreading across the island.

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Galagodaaththe Gnanasara told a press conference that “as an organisation, we demand the government to release the details of the report to Parliament and to the people.”

“We suspect the government is hiding this report to prevent communal conflicts in the country,” he added, stating that an ISIS attack could take place in Sri Lanka “within a year”.

“We have alerted the government several times and warned the intelligence services,” said the monk, who is currently under investigation for the second time this year over Islamophobic statements he has made.

Sri Lankan government praises Civil Defence Force

Dec 29, 2015
The Sri Lankan government held a ceremony to honour the Civil Defence Force (CDF) for its role during the armed conflict, gifting members with houses, laptops and textbooks.

Additional Secretary to the Defence Ministry S. H. Hettiarachchi praised the role played by the Civil Defence Force, stating that it was a key unit involved in the security forces’ offensive during the armed conflict.
TNA urges remaining land and political prisoners to be released in New Year
Fresh arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy
New constitution prepared by June 2016 with public referendum says govt
Sri Lankan government ‘not interested’ in bridge to India states Minister
Sri Lanka is ‘examining possibility’ of IMF loan says CB governor
Sri Lanka blacklists and fines company responsible for organising Enrique concert
Buddhist monks and UPFA MP warns Sri Lankan government against arresting military over massacres
Sri Lankan government is hiding ISIS threat claims BBS
Sri Lankan government praises Civil Defence Force
TNA holds discussions with SLMC on political aspirations
TNA urges remaining land and political prisoners to be released in New Year
Fresh arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy
New constitution prepared by June 2016 with public referendum says govt
Sri Lankan government ‘not interested’ in bridge to India states Minister
Sri Lanka is ‘examining possibility’ of IMF loan says CB governor
Sri Lanka blacklists and fines company responsible for organising Enrique concert
Buddhist monks and UPFA MP warns Sri Lankan government against arresting military over massacres
Sri Lankan government is hiding ISIS threat claims BBS
Sri Lankan government praises Civil Defence Force
TNA holds discussions with SLMC on political aspirations