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 FM hails 'milestone year' for relations with US

Dec 13, 2015
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera, welcoming the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs visit Sri Lanka, said that this year had been a “milestone year” in terms of US-Sri Lanka relations.

In a statement made after an evening of discussion with Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Mr Samaraweera said,

“I think it would be appropriate to say that Ambassador Shannon’s visit, combined with all the important visits that preceded, indicates the level of excellence that relations between our two countries have now reached.”

Detailing discussions topics of the discussions, Mr Samaraweera said ways of making the partnership between the two nations stronger were addressed, including enhancing “bilateral trade and investment; and maritime cooperation including Sri Lanka’s participation in the ’Our Oceans’ Conference.

Pope and Sri Lanka president discuss 'peace and reconciliation'

Dec 13, 2015
Pope Francis met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Vatican today, to discuss matters regarding peace and reconciliation on the island, according to an official press release.

A statement from the Holy See Press Office said "cordial discussions... focused on certain aspects of the country’s recent history and the process of peace and reconciliation that is underway, with the hope that it may contribute to promoting stable social harmony".

Fonseka denied US visa over war crimes allegations

Dec 13, 2015
The US has blocked a visa application from Sri Lankan Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka due to his involvement in war crimes, reports Daily Mirror.

The former commander of the Sri Lankan army, who was in charge at the time of the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils during the final stages of the armed conflict, reportedly applied for a US visa two weeks ago.

Daily Mirror quoted sources close to the former commander as stating his involvement in war crimes, documented in the OISL report released earlier this year as the reason for the application being blocked.

“Most probably this must be why the US embassy has refused him a visa to visit the US. There are no other issues,” said the sources.  “He has not visited the US during the past five years and his green card has also expired,” they added.

Malaysian govt urged to release activist over No Fire Zone screening

Dec 11, 2015
Almost 100 leading film makers, lawyers, writers and artists worldwide have called on the Malaysian government to drop the case against Lena Hendry, a human rights activist who was detained after screening the film, 'No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka'.



Lena Hendry, who is also the manager of Kuala Lumpur's Freedom Film Festival, was charged under Malaysia's censorship laws for screening a film that had not been approved by the country's censorship board. She is due to stand trial on December 14th, facing a possible jail term of upto three years.

The documentary, by the director Callum Macrae, displays the mass atrocities committed against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka at the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009.

Local government elections before April says Sri Lankan PM

Dec 11, 2015
Sri Lanka will hold local government elections before the Tamil and Sinhala new year in April, the country's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in parliament on Friday.

Responding to a question by the chief opposition whip on electoral reform, Mr Wickremesinghe said discussions on electoral reforms are being held.

"We will take a decision in Parliament.  Women's representation in Local Government Institutions will be 25 percent," he said.

"According to the new system it could be even 100 percent.  But 75 percent will be the maximum male representation."

Sri Lankan army conducts human rights training for Kilinochchi residents

Dec 11, 2015

The Sri Lankan army on Thursday conducted a human rights training project for residents in Kilinochchi.

Relatives of disappeared testify before commission in Jaffna

Dec 11, 2015


Crowds gather at Nallur as the first day of the commission began. Photographs: Tamil Guardian

Tamil families in Jaffna testified before Sri Lanka’s presidential commission into disappearances this week, pleading for information on their whereabouts of their missing loved ones.

The first phase of the sittings took place in Nallur where 235 complaints were filed, with proceedings continuing today.

UK policy on Sri Lanka is to ‘maintain momentum accountability, reconciliation, political settlement and human rights’

Dec 11, 2015
British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire said the United Kingdom will continue to work towards promoting accountability, reconciliation, political settlement and human rights, in its relationship with Sri Lanka.

Writing to the British Tamil Conservatives, Mr Swire said that he had “welcomed the recent report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)” which detailed the patterns of serious human rights violations and other international crimes that have taken place on the island.

Speaking on British Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement that the UK will provide £6.6 million to Sri Lanka to support “military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation,” Mr Swire added “the Prime Minister, as he has done previously, raised ongoing concerns and urged further progress towards delivering a lasting peace”.

The funding would be used to “support reconciliation efforts, to influence and embed change in institutions central to democracy and stability and to support demining to allow displaces persons to return to their land”.

Attacks on Tamil journalists not being investigated by Sri Lanka government - TNA MP

Dec 11, 2015
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP E Saravanabavan asked why the new government had investigated the murder of journalists in the South and not attacks and disappearances of Tamil journalists in the North.

Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister meets EU in Brussels to regain GSP+

Dec 11, 2015
The European Union and Sri Lankan authorities met in Brussels to discuss the currently suspended GSP plus trade concession.

Sri  Lanka’s deputy Foreign Minister Dr Harsha de Silva said that the meeting was part for Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to regain the HSP plus concession from the EU, reports Colombo Gazette. 

The GSP plus is awarded based nations complying with the 27 international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In a statement made on World Human Rights Day the Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran said that Sri Lanka’s constitution violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Tamil rights violated by successive Sri Lanka governments says Chief Minister on World Human Rights Day (11 Dec 2015)

Sri Lanka businesses must lobby for improved human rights to see GSP+ reinstated says EU ambassador (27 Nov 2015)
Pope and Sri Lanka president discuss 'peace and reconciliation'
Fonseka denied US visa over war crimes allegations
Malaysian govt urged to release activist over No Fire Zone screening
Local government elections before April says Sri Lankan PM
Sri Lankan army conducts human rights training for Kilinochchi residents
Relatives of disappeared testify before commission in Jaffna
UK policy on Sri Lanka is to ‘maintain momentum accountability, reconciliation, political settlement and human rights’
Attacks on Tamil journalists not being investigated by Sri Lanka government - TNA MP
Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister meets EU in Brussels to regain GSP+
Tamil rights violated by successive Sri Lanka governments says Chief Minister on World Human Rights Day
Pope and Sri Lanka president discuss 'peace and reconciliation'
Fonseka denied US visa over war crimes allegations
Malaysian govt urged to release activist over No Fire Zone screening
Local government elections before April says Sri Lankan PM
Sri Lankan army conducts human rights training for Kilinochchi residents
Relatives of disappeared testify before commission in Jaffna
UK policy on Sri Lanka is to ‘maintain momentum accountability, reconciliation, political settlement and human rights’
Attacks on Tamil journalists not being investigated by Sri Lanka government - TNA MP
Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister meets EU in Brussels to regain GSP+
Tamil rights violated by successive Sri Lanka governments says Chief Minister on World Human Rights Day