Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Tamil Nadu moves to commercialise the Nagapattinam–Jaffna ferry terminal
Less than two years after a passenger ferry revived a sea crossing between Tamil Nadu and Tamil Eelam that the war had severed for four decades, the authorities in Tamil Nadu have moved to commercialise the terminal serving it, inviting bids for duty-free retail and foreign-exchange concessions at the Nagapattinam International Passenger Terminal. The Tamil Nadu Maritime Board (TNMB), which…

Tamil Nadu police arrests 6 Eelam refugees

Jan 20, 2016
A group of Eelam Tamil refugees have been arrested by the Q branch of Tamil Nadu police, for arranging an attempt to flee to New Zealand, reports The Hindu.

The group of six refugees had been arrested on Wednesday after they met near a school to discuss a plan for their boat journey.

Earlier this month it was reported that over 100,000 Tamil refugees from the North-East remain in Tamil Nadu, almost 7 years after the armed conflict on the island.

Sri Lanka looks to IMF for $1 billion loan as foreign reserves dwindle

Jan 20, 2016
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank is in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a $1 billion Stand By Arrangement (SBA) in order to boost foreign reserves, confirmed Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama.

“Sri Lanka’s annual debt service amounts to a mammoth US$ 4 billion or more which is a big burden on the economy,” said the minister at a weekly SLFP news briefing.

“Foreign remittances have remained relatively stagnant in recent times, which has aggravated the situation,” he added.

His comments come just weeks after Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said the government was in “informal consultations”, though claimed foreign reserves were “comfortable”.

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is also at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, where he outlined his vision for Sri Lanka’s development, claiming the government had “revived the economy”.

Yet, the IMF had warned  Sri Lanka in December that the “economic outlook remains uncertain” and said there was continued weakness in the structure of Sri Lanka’s public finances. It also cited Sri Lanka’s fiscal deficit is a key concern for 2015 and the medium term in their annual report on Sri Lanka.

Buddhist monk MP vows not to allow international community to harm Sri Lanka

Jan 20, 2016

A Buddhist monk and parliamentarian vowed that the island’s Buddhist clergy would not allow the international community to harm Sri Lanka, reports The Island.

Addressing a news conference organised by the National Sangha Council, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) MP Athuraliye Ratana called on Sri Lanka’s chief Buddhist monks to unite and beat back a proposed bill relating to the Buddhist clergy.

He called on the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas on the island to unite against the bill, stating “we are at a loss to understand why the government embarked on bringing in a Bill of this nature”.

The MP went on to add that the Maha Sangha in Sri Lanka would not allow the international community or anyone else to harm the country.

Exiled Tamil journalist given bail after detention in Sri Lanka

Jan 20, 2016

An exiled Tamil journalist who was detained on Wednesday morning on arrival back to Sri Lanka was released on bail on Thursday, after spending over 24 hours in detention.

The journalist, who had previously fled Sri Lanka, was detained at Katunayake airport. He is understood to have decided to return to Sri Lanka after receiving an invitation from the new government.

 

Related articles: Exiled Tamil journalist detained on return to Sri Lanka (20 Jan 2016)

Indian foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka Feb 5

Jan 20, 2016

India's foreign affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, is to visit Sri Lanka on Feburary 5th for the Sri Lanka-India Joint Commission in Colombo, the Daily News reported.

Her scheduled visit was preceded by that of India's foreign secretary, Mr Jaishankar, who visited the island earlier this month.

 

Speaking last year, following the Indian prime minister's visit to Sri Lanka, Ms Swaraj had stressed the need for “equality, justice, peace and dignity” for Tamils on the island.

EU reiterates need for Sri Lanka to fully implement resolution

Jan 20, 2016
The EU trade delegation currently visiting Sri Lanka on Thursday reiterated the need for country to fully implement the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution, reported Colombo Gazette.

The remarks were made during the first meeting of the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights under the European Union-Sri Lanka Joint Commission, which was held at the ministry of foreign affairs in Colombo.

According to the news site, both the EU and the Sri Lankan officials present highlighted the full implementation of the resolution as a priority.

Kilinochchi land being sold illegally

Jan 19, 2016

Hundreds of acres of land in Kilinochchi have been illegally sold to Sinhalese, locals have claimed.

Fraudulent documentation has been used so far to sell around 860 acres of land in villages in Poonakari, Kilinochchi.

A former army officer that served in Thenmaradchi is also understood to have bought several million rupees worth of land in the area.

Tamil Nadu governor demands justice for genocide in Sri Lanka

Jan 19, 2016
Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah called on the Indian government to ensure justice is served for war crimes and genocide committed by the Sri Lankan government, against Tamils on the island.

Addressing the Tamil Nadu State Assembly, Dr Rosiah said Tamils across the world were outraged over the atrocities committed and recalled that the State Assembly had passed resolutions calling for justice for genocide.

''I hope the Central Government will take serious note of various resolutions passed by this Assembly and take appropriate action to persuade the Sri Lankan Government to restore their lands to the affected Tamils, thus providing equal rights and an opportunity to live peacefully with dignity'' said the governor. “It should ensure equal rights and an opportunity to live peacefully with dignity.”

Sri Lanka ready to ‘share lessons’ with international community says prime minister

Jan 19, 2016
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his government had “consolidated democracy and revived the economy” in an essay published as the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos kicked off on Wednesday.

“A new era has dawned in Sri Lanka,” said Mr Wickremsinghe, adding that “peace has been consolidated” on the island.

Mr Wickremesinghe said his government was ready to “play its full role as a responsible member of the global community of nations,” and was “well placed to play a constructive role in addressing the pressing international issues of the day, such as terrorism, climate change, migration and strengthening democratic values”.

In his essay, Mr Wickremesinghe went on to add his government was bolstering Sri Lanka’s democracy by “reasserting the independence of the judiciary, combating bribery with the UN Convention Against Corruption and allowing a free and vibrant press to flourish”.

Yet, Sri Lankan continues to rank 6th in the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2015 Global Impunity Index published in October 2015, with both the Jaffna Press Club and Northern Provincial Council calling for justice for murdered journalists.

Sri Lankan president ‘more committed to national security than ever before’

Jan 19, 2016
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena stated he was “more committed in upholding the national security better than ever before” as he called for “moves to crush active LTTE ideology”.

Speaking at a ceremony for disabled Sri Lankan soldiers on Tuesday, the official Ministry of Defence website quotes Mr Sirisena as stating “the present government is progressively more committed in upholding the national security better than ever before”.

Mr Sirisena went on to add that “the dream of Ealam subsists in overseas” and “moves to crush active LTTE ideology is the greater responsibility that has befallen us which also needs the global support”.

“We have determined to thwart such actions of carrying LTTE ideology wherever and have the compliance of the international community for same,” added the president, stating that “ties with the foreign countries were further strengthened while reopening avenues for military training during the last year.”
Sri Lanka looks to IMF for $1 billion loan as foreign reserves dwindle
Buddhist monk MP vows not to allow international community to harm Sri Lanka
Exiled Tamil journalist given bail after detention in Sri Lanka
Indian foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka Feb 5
EU reiterates need for Sri Lanka to fully implement resolution
Kilinochchi land being sold illegally
Tamil Nadu governor demands justice for genocide in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka ready to ‘share lessons’ with international community says prime minister
Sri Lankan president ‘more committed to national security than ever before’
EU trade delegation meets with TNA
Sri Lanka looks to IMF for $1 billion loan as foreign reserves dwindle
Buddhist monk MP vows not to allow international community to harm Sri Lanka
Exiled Tamil journalist given bail after detention in Sri Lanka
Indian foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka Feb 5
EU reiterates need for Sri Lanka to fully implement resolution
Kilinochchi land being sold illegally
Tamil Nadu governor demands justice for genocide in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka ready to ‘share lessons’ with international community says prime minister
Sri Lankan president ‘more committed to national security than ever before’
EU trade delegation meets with TNA