Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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The former Sri Lankan state minister and paramilitary leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, widely known as Pillayan, has been remanded until 13 July after appearing before the Batticaloa Magistrate's Court on Tuesday in connection with five killings carried out in the Eastern Province in 2008. As he was escorted from court, Pillayan addressed journalists, insisting the charges were fabricated…

Vandal attack on Mannar Catholic shrine

A vandal attack on a popular Catholic shrine has upset locals of a Mannar village.

A roadside shrine to Saint Michael Sammanasu (Angel) in Tharavan Kottai, Ezhuthoor was found with its protective glass shattered and the icon of the saint smashed on Sunday morning.

Batticaloa residents protest against corrupt local officials

Batticaloa residents protested against the current District Secretary on Monday, with locals calling for her transfer following accusations of corruption.

 

 

Keppapulavu day 132: protestors take land struggle to District Secretariat

Keppapulavu villagers who have been protesting for the last 4 months for the release of their land took their protest to the Mullaitivu District Secretariat on Monday.

The protest coincided with a Mullaitivu development committee meeting at the DS, attended by the Chief Minister of the Northern Province as well as ministers and other members of the Northern Province and parliamentary representatives.

Sampur remembers Tamil civilians killed in 1990 Sri Lankan military offensives

Events were held in Sampur to remember Tamil civilians killed by Sri Lankan military offensives in and around Sampur in the nineties.

Mid year report - Sri Lanka foreign debt US$ 25.6 bn

Sri Lanka's outstanding foreign debt by the end of April 2017 was US$ 25.61 billion, the mid-year Fiscal Report concluded. 

This years figure is 23.1 billion dollars higher than the same time last year, LBO reported. 

The country is currently looking to receive its third tranche of its loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Last month a report from the World Bank warned that "slower than expected" progress on reforms was putting economic growth and stability at risk. 
 

Sri Lankan president promises rice subsidies if prices rise further

The president of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, on Monday promised voters in his hometown of Polonnaruwa he would ensure rice was provided at a concessionary rate if there was any further increase in rice. 

Mr Sirisena stressed he would not let people starve, Colombo Page reported. 

Last week the government announced it would be importing rice from Pakistan after droughts affected paddy production.

The Sri Lankan government has also commenced government level talks on the possibility of purchasing rice from Thailand.

Buddhist monks threaten to launch protests if Tamils are granted more autonomy

Sri Lanka's Buddhist monks have threatened to launch protests in the street if Tamils are granted more autonomy, the AFP reported on Monday. 

"Monks are going from district to district to educate their followers about the dangers of the proposed constitution," the news wire quoted the monk, Maagalkande Sudaththa as saying at a press meet in Colombo.

Accusing most MPs of being "uneducated", Mr Sudaththa said, "about 70 per cent of MP's are asleep in parliament when important issues are discussed." 

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UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism arrives in Sri Lanka

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter terrorism, Ben Emmerson arrived in Sri Lanka today to embark on an official five day visit of the island. 

Mr Emmerson plans to obtain first-hand information on steps taken regarding counter-terrorism and assess how they affect the promotion and protection of human rights.

Protests in Jaffna after police kill unarmed Tamil man

Protests have erupted in Jaffna, after an unarmed Tamil man was shot dead by Sri Lankan police yesterday.

Ranil pledges new constitution will have clause to safeguard Buddhism

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe pledged to come up with a proposal for a new constitution that will ensure Buddhism on the island will be free to operate without any government oversight.

“I will come up with proposal to include a clause in the Constitution that the Government cannot get involved in deciding on the matters relating to the three Nikayas, followed by Sri Lankan Buddhists," said the prime minister at Anuradhapura this weekend.