Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Three thousand years deep - Evidence uncovers Velanai's ancient seafarers
A newly published study has identified the earliest scientifically confirmed evidence of prehistoric human settlement on Velanai Island in the Jaffna Peninsula, dating back around 3,460 years and overturning an erroneous long-held Sri Lankan assumption that the region was largely uninhabited until much later. The study, published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology and led by…

Sri Lanka military hands out chickens in Kilinochchi

Jan 13, 2015


Sri Lankan army personnel handed out 25 chickens in Kilinochchi on Monday to a widow with eight children, reported a military aligned news site.

The military's ongoing deployment across the Tamil areas and its continuing partaking in civilian economic and humanitarian affairs has faced extensive criticism.

Why Sirisena’s Victory is Not a Victory for Sri Lanka’s Tamils'

Jan 13, 2015
Kumaravadivel Guruparan
Despite Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's surprise election victory, there is little to suggest change in government policy towards the island's indigenous Tamil and Muslim communities, said Tamil Civil Society Forum spokesperson Kumaravadivel Guruparan.

Writing in The Caravan, Guruparan said that Tamils “voted for Sirisena not because they liked his candidacy but because they wanted to oust Rajapaksa”.

“As far as this electorate was concerned, their vote for Sirisena was the only way in which they could voice their anger against a regime that had inflicted enormous suffering on them, almost threatening their very existence,” said Guruparan.

On Sri Lanka's new president, Guruparan added,
“Sirisena was an integral part of the Rajapaksa regime that unleashed a horrendous war, a war that was waged not just against the LTTE, but also against the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka. He was a part of the Rajapaksa regime that not so long ago used the military to take over vast amounts of private land belonging to the Tamils in the regions dominated by them.The regime initiated a rapid process of demographic change in the northeast in favour of the Sinhalese, and endorsed the maltreatment of ex-LTTE cadres.”

NGO Secretariat to be under Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry

Jan 13, 2015
Sri Lanka's Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) secretariat is to be within the purview of the country's Ministry of Defense, following the election win of President Maithripala Sirisena.

President Sirisena announced his decision, a day after taking oath, to retain the Ministry of Defense under his remit and appointing himself as Defence Minister.

A gazette notification issued on January 10, confirming the move, places the Secretariat for NGOs under the Defence Ministry's 'Departments, Statutory Institutions & Public Corporations' along side the army, the navy and the air force.

Former key Rajapaksa ally supports 100 day programme

Jan 13, 2015
The National Freedom Front (NFF), a key partner of the defeated Rajapaksa coalition, said that it fully supported the new government’s 100 day program for reform.

Expressing commitment to the programme, the NFF spokesperson, Muhammed Muzammil, said, “we will not pose any impediments while on their way to fulfilling the recommendations."

"We will render our utmost support. We will not only render our support, we will also monitor whether or not the task is carried out as promised to the people,”  he added.

Canadian Prime Minister wishes Tamils for Thai Pongal

Jan 13, 2015
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper marked the Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal this week, by expressing his wishes to all Tamil Canadians celebrating the occasion.

"I am certain that this year’s festivities will be a worthy reflection of the pride felt by Tamil Canadians and highlight the community’s important contributions to Canadian life," Prime Minister Harper said.

Canadian mayors praise Tamil community on Thai Pongal

Jan 13, 2015
The mayors of the cities of Toronto and Brampton in Canada praised the Tamil Canadian community, wishing them a warm and happy Thai Pongal this week.

"Thai Pongal vaazhthukkal! As you gather with your families to celebrate this traditional festival at the end of the harvest festival it is a great time to appreciate and be thankful for the many blessings we enjoy," said the Mayor of Toronto, John Tory in a special video message.

"Diversity is one of those blessings. It is one of the reasons why Toronto is such a dynamic city, and a big of that is our Tamil community, with strong values of family and hard work. Thank you for the many ways you make Toronto a better city."

Pope tells Sri Lanka justice essential for peace

Jan 12, 2015
Pope Francis with President Sirisena and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera


Justice for crimes committed during the island's ethnic conflict is crucial for promoting peace, said Pope Francis after arriving in Sri Lanka for his week long visit on Tuesday.

"Sri Lanka for many years knew the horrors of civil strife, and is now seeking to consolidate peace and to heal the scars of those years. It is no easy task to overcome the bitter legacy of injustices, hostility and mistrust left by the conflict.  It can only be done by overcoming evil with good (cf. Rom 12:21) and by cultivating those virtues which foster reconciliation, solidarity and peace," he said.

India hopes new govt will consider views of all sections of Sri Lanka

Jan 12, 2015
The Indian government said it looked forward to good relations with the new president Maithripala Sirisena, and hope that the new government would consider the views of all sections of Sri Lanka's population.

"We look forward to a relation which is cordial, warm and friendly and hope for peace and stability in Sri Lanka, and hope the new government will take into account the views of all sections of the Sri Lankan population to live a life of dignity and peace,” the India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told journalists in a press briefing.

New administration must commit to ending discrimination' says Amnesty International

Jan 12, 2015
Sri Lanka's newly led government must commit itself to respecting human rights and ending discrimination, said Amnesty International's Deputy Asia Pacific Director in an interview to the Sunday Leader this week.

Speaking to the Sunday Leader David Griffiths said there was “no doubt discrimination and violence against religious minorities is a serious and growing problem in Sri Lanka.”

“Political leaders have exploited or manufactured religious tensions, and Buddhist hardline nationalist organisations have led or incited protests and attacks against religious minorities, including their places of worship and businesses, which typically go uninvestigated and unpunished,” continued Griffiths.

“Hundreds of incidents of threats, harassment and violence against Muslims, Christians and their places of worship have been documented since the violence escalated in 2013 – although of course it was not new. The new administration must commit to ending discrimination, denounce any attacks, and crucially ensure that perpetrators are punished to end the pattern of violence”.

Tamil youth in hospital after politically motivated attack

Jan 12, 2015
A 21 year old Tamil man has been admitted to Valaichchenai hospital after being abducted and attacked in Pesalai last week.

Jeyakanthan Jeyaratnam from Maruthanagar, Kalkuda was at Pesalai fish market when a group of 7 people abducted him. He was later admitted to hospital due to his injuries. According to Eastern province based website Battinews.com the attack was believed to be a revenge attack that was politically motivated.
Why Sirisena’s Victory is Not a Victory for Sri Lanka’s Tamils'
NGO Secretariat to be under Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry
Former key Rajapaksa ally supports 100 day programme
Canadian Prime Minister wishes Tamils for Thai Pongal
Canadian mayors praise Tamil community on Thai Pongal
Pope tells Sri Lanka justice essential for peace
India hopes new govt will consider views of all sections of Sri Lanka
New administration must commit to ending discrimination' says Amnesty International
Tamil youth in hospital after politically motivated attack
Former Sri Lankan ambassador to UN appointed as NPC governor
Why Sirisena’s Victory is Not a Victory for Sri Lanka’s Tamils'
NGO Secretariat to be under Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry
Former key Rajapaksa ally supports 100 day programme
Canadian Prime Minister wishes Tamils for Thai Pongal
Canadian mayors praise Tamil community on Thai Pongal
Pope tells Sri Lanka justice essential for peace
India hopes new govt will consider views of all sections of Sri Lanka
New administration must commit to ending discrimination' says Amnesty International
Tamil youth in hospital after politically motivated attack
Former Sri Lankan ambassador to UN appointed as NPC governor