Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Families of the disappeared renew call for international justice as more than 400 die waiting
Tamil families of the forcibly disappeared in the North-East have announced that they will convene an international conference on 30 August, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, to renew their rejection of Sri Lanka's domestic accountability mechanisms and their demand for international justice. The announcement was made by representatives of the Association…

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister addresses UN Human Rights Council

Sep 13, 2015
Mr. President
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates

I would like to begin by thanking you, and the members of the Council for the trust reposed in Sri Lanka at the 28th Session and agreeing to defer the release of the Report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka.

The time granted by the Council gave the Government much needed space to begin implementing its reform agenda, renew its engagement with the international community, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and his Office, and start taking steps aimed at achieving meaningful reconciliation, strengthening democratic institutions, good governance, the rule of law, and confidence building among communities affected by conflict for many years.

62 eminent persons worldwide call for international judicial process for Sri Lanka

Sep 13, 2015
Sixty-two eminent persons around the world called on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an international independent judicial process under the auspices of the UN to investigate the mass atrocities committed at the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka in 2009, in an open letter to the UNHRC released on Monday.

Stating that "the factors which led the HRC to conclude that an international inquiry was necessary have not changed", the group of academics, researchers and public figures added that "even with the best intentions in the world the Sri Lankan government is not capable of running a credible domestic inquiry into alleged crimes of its own forces."

"It is certainly not capable of mounting a judicial process which would have that essential quality: the trust of the victims."

Malaysian minister calls for international probe in Sri Lanka

Sep 13, 2015

The Second Deputy Chief Minister of Penang in Malaysia reiterated calls for an international probe into the killing of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians during the final stages of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict.

"It is not justifiable to have own probe against those who were responsible (for the massacres)” said  P Ramasamy, as he arrived in Coimbatore on Sunday. “It should be conducted by an International agency," he told reporters.

His comments came ahead of Sri Lanka being discussed at the opening of the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

Koppay landgrab disrupted by resistance from locals

Sep 13, 2015

Efforts to seize privately owned land in Jaffna for the needs of soldiers have been disrupted by fierce opposition from landowners and locals.

Surveyors were forced to suspend their efforts to measure the area in Koppay, after the landowners denied them access onto their properties, with the support of neighbours and local politicians.

Around 10 acres of land belonging to 28 families has been earmarked for landgrabbing for military purposes including the building of a new army camp.

We expect Sri Lanka to take forward OHCHR recommendations - UK

Sep 13, 2015

Speaking at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council, British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has reiterated their expectance of a credible accountability mechanism and that Sri Lanka will take forward recommendations made in the OHCHR report, which will be published this week.

Highlighting several countries' human rights abuses, Mr Swire concluded his statement with Sri Lanka, saying,

"[To] end on a more positive note - in Sri Lanka, we commend the newly elected government for beginning to address post-conflict accountability and reconciliation.

US pledges assistance in achieving 'credible accountability' in Sri Lanka

Sep 13, 2015

The United States says it will engage with Sri Lanka in developing a resolution which will help the country achieve a "meaningful and credible" accountability mechanism.

Speaking at the opening day of the 30th UN Human Rights Council session, the US also said it will assist Sri Lanka in addressing important findings of the OHCHR report on its investigation into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka, to be released later this week.

"We eagerly anticipate the release of the report on Sri Lanka," the statement said.

Sri Lanka's trade minister says no to CEPA

Sep 12, 2015
Sri Lanka will not be discussing a trade agreement with India entitled CEPA during a visit to India tomorrow, said the Sri Lankan minister for development strategies and international trade, Malik Samarawickrama on Sunday.

Mr Samarawickrama, who is travelling to New Delhi tomorrow, rejected reports that his government would be signing the agreement with India.

"The present government would not allow any international agreement to fill the pockets of politicians instead of the benefits trickling down to the people," Mr Samarawickrama was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.

However, the deputy minister for foreign affairs, Harsha De Silva meanwhile told Sri Lanka's Sunday Times newspaper that discussions on bilateral trade agreements would take place.

 “We must push for such agreements with countries like India. However, we must not blindly enter into such agreements. We must study in detail our own experiences and that of other similar countries to negotiate the best deal for us. Any bilateral or multilateral trade agreement that benefits Sri Lanka must be pursued,” Mr Silva was quoted as saying.

Ranil to travel to New Delhi tomorrow

Sep 12, 2015
The Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi tomorrow, during a two day visit to New Delhi, reports the Daily Mirror.

Mr Wickremesinghe is expected to also meet with the Indian president Pranab Mukherjee, and the minister of foreign affairs, Sushma Swaraj. He will be accompanied by Sri Lanka's minister of foreign affairs, Mangala Samaraweera and the minister for development strategies and international trade, Malik Samarawickrama.

Campaign for international accountability moves to Amparai

Sep 12, 2015
A signature campaign calling for an international process of justice and accountability for the mass killing of Tamils in 2009 spread to Amparai on Saturday.

 

Sri Lanka's foreign minister meets UN Human Rights Chief

Sep 12, 2015
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa met the United Nations Human Rights Chief Prince Zeid Al-Hussein on Sunday.

62 eminent persons worldwide call for international judicial process for Sri Lanka
Malaysian minister calls for international probe in Sri Lanka
Koppay landgrab disrupted by resistance from locals
We expect Sri Lanka to take forward OHCHR recommendations - UK
US pledges assistance in achieving 'credible accountability' in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's trade minister says no to CEPA
Ranil to travel to New Delhi tomorrow
Campaign for international accountability moves to Amparai
Sri Lanka's foreign minister meets UN Human Rights Chief
Sri Lanka to release arrested Indian fishermen
62 eminent persons worldwide call for international judicial process for Sri Lanka
Malaysian minister calls for international probe in Sri Lanka
Koppay landgrab disrupted by resistance from locals
We expect Sri Lanka to take forward OHCHR recommendations - UK
US pledges assistance in achieving 'credible accountability' in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's trade minister says no to CEPA
Ranil to travel to New Delhi tomorrow
Campaign for international accountability moves to Amparai
Sri Lanka's foreign minister meets UN Human Rights Chief
Sri Lanka to release arrested Indian fishermen