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 Lankan MoD says Tamil asylum seekers faking torture

Oct 7, 2014
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence rejected claims of torture, accusing Tamil refugees of torturing themselves in an effort to claim asylum.

"There are many places where asylum seekers with the advice of Solicitors get themselves scarred and burned," an article posted on Tuesday by the MoD on its official website read, claiming that refugees paid to be burnt with cigarette butts or hot rods.

"The journey in obtaining asylum entails agreement of the following physical tortures: being burnt with cigarette butts, being beaten with hot metal rods, [and] being cut and scarred to show physical torture."

Tamil Nadu concerned at 'new trend' of fishermen detention by SL navy

Oct 7, 2014
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam, expressed concern over what he described as a "new trend" by the Sri Lankan navy whereby Tamil Nadu fishermen who run into mechanical difficulties.

"This new trend of apprehending fishermen in boats that develop mechanical snag by the Sri Lankan Navy is a matter of concern for my government," he said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports the Business Standard.

Panneerselvam's latest letter follows the detention of four fishermen from Rameswaran on Monday, whose boat ran into difficulty.

"An immediate intervention at the highest level is sought to arrest this new trend," he wrote.

Jeyakumari protest organiser attacked near Nedunkerny army camp

Oct 7, 2014
last updated 14:02 BST 09 Oct


A community leader, who was organising a protest to demand the release of the detained human rights activist, Balendran Jeyakumari, was attacked on Wednesday near by Nedunkerny army camp.

Sixty-one year old Krishnapillai Thevarajah, who is the President of the Vavuniya Citizens Committee, was walking home after chairing a meeting about the protest which is to be held on October 10, when four unidentified men travelling on motorbikes surrounded him, clasped his mouth shut and dragged him to a nearby paddy field.

“On my way home … while I was riding my motorcycle, I was assaulted by four men with iron rods,” Thevarajah told ucanews.

“While they were attacking, they said that there should not be a demonstration,” he said. “The attackers closed my mouth and dragged me to an isolated paddy field near the main road and the intention was to kill me.”


Speaking in broken Tamil the attackers shouted, “So you are organising a protest? You can do that only if you are alive". This was followed with more abusive words, as the attackers beat Mr Thevarajah with iron rods across his arms, legs and head. The rod was deflected by his helmet, with the blows landing on his shoulders instead.

Woman found dead in Batticaloa

Oct 7, 2014
The body of a woman has been discovered in the woods near the Batticaloa Soukaddi Sea area, reported Eastern Province-based news site Batti News.

The body remains unidentified as it is severely decomposed, but it has been approximated to be that of a 30-year-old female.

The discovery was made after locals from the area went to collect firewood.

Bus heading to Colombo stoned in Jaffna

Oct 7, 2014
A bus heading to Colombo was damaged in Jaffna last night, after a group of unidentified people hurled stones at it.

The bus, belonging to the Sri Lankan Transport Board, had its front mirror damaged in the attack. None of the passengers on board at the time were hurt and were boarded on to another bus, which left for Colombo.

Chavakacheri police are reportedly investigating the incident. No arrests have taken place yet, reports Uthayan.

Indian Hindu nationalist group denies link to BBS

Oct 7, 2014
Indian Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) denied claims that it will form an alliance with the Sinhala Buddhist nationalist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).

Bodu Bala Sena's General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero earlier claimed to be in talks with RSS “to form an alliance to have a Buddhist-Hindu Peace Zone in Asia”.

However, RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav denied the claims, telling ucanews.com on Wednesday that he has "no knowledge of any such" initiative.

He went on to add that the claim "seems to be a mischievous statement."

Sri Lanka's actions aimed at suppressing Tamil self-determination says Tamil Civil Society Forum at ICCPR

Oct 6, 2014
13:22 CEST

Sri Lanka's human rights violations against Tamils as well as the ongoing militarisation and illegal land appropriation are aimed at suppressing the Tamil people's right to self-determination said the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) in an oral statement to the Human Rights Committee in Geneva today, during Sri Lanka's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) review.

Stating that the HRC was silent on the denial of Article 1, which related to the right to self-determination of peoples, the TCSF said, "as we noted in our written submissions to this committee the ability of Tamils to enjoy the entire array of rights enshrined in the ICCPR both as individuals and as a collective, rests on their ability to self-determine, the subject of Article 1."

UNHRC 'in habit of leveling baseless allegations' says Rajapaksa

Oct 6, 2014
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa accused the UN Human Rights Council of being "in the habit of leveling baseless allegations against the government" speaking yesterday to mark UN Habitat Day.

"The UNHRC is the only UN body that failed to recognise the freedom enjoyed by the people of Sri Lanka with the eradication of terrorism. All other UN institutions, except UNHRC have expressed appreciation for the post-conflict developments in Sri Lanka," Rajapaksa said, reports the state media site, News.lk.

Jaffna fishermen demonstrate against military assistance to Southern fishermen

Oct 6, 2014
2nd lead

Fishermen in Jaffna held a hunger strike today, protesting against the military assistance provided to fishermen from the South who have come to the North, as well as a government ban on traditional fishing methods.

The protest, which was organised by the Valvettithurai East Fisheries Union, was addressed by NPC councillor Shivajilingam, who said “fishermen from South are using banned equipment and fishing with military monitoring in Kokkulai Nayaru regions.”

“Why do the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources not question them, but bar us?” he asked.

“They (Southern fishermen) are fishing in regions that belong to the Tamil people, in Kokkulai and Nayaru," Shivajilingham told the Tamil Guardian on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka faces tough questions from UN Human Rights Committee

Oct 6, 2014
The UN Human Rights Committee’s review of Sri Lanka’s adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) commenced with tough questions by the experts on the committee earlier on Tuesday at the Palais Wilson in Geneva.

The experts went through the issue list, compiled by the committee and asked for further clarification from Sri Lanka.

One of the Committee's experts, Yuwi Iwasawa, a professor of international law, began with issues focused on the legal framework under which the covenant is implemented.

Iwasawa said the Committee was very concerned about Sri Lanka’s adherence to the treaty, asking the government to provide an explanation for reports which indicate that ex-cadres remain in detention and are subject to lengthy interrogations, while surveillance restricted their movements. He pointed out that this was contrary to Sri Lanka’s claim that 97% of approximately 12,000 former cadres had been rehabilitated and released.

Tamil Nadu concerned at 'new trend' of fishermen detention by SL navy
Jeyakumari protest organiser attacked near Nedunkerny army camp
Woman found dead in Batticaloa
Bus heading to Colombo stoned in Jaffna
Indian Hindu nationalist group denies link to BBS
Sri Lanka's actions aimed at suppressing Tamil self-determination says Tamil Civil Society Forum at ICCPR
UNHRC 'in habit of leveling baseless allegations' says Rajapaksa
Jaffna fishermen demonstrate against military assistance to Southern fishermen
Sri Lanka faces tough questions from UN Human Rights Committee
Sinhalese Buddhists should be recognised as national race says BBS
Tamil Nadu concerned at 'new trend' of fishermen detention by SL navy
Jeyakumari protest organiser attacked near Nedunkerny army camp
Woman found dead in Batticaloa
Bus heading to Colombo stoned in Jaffna
Indian Hindu nationalist group denies link to BBS
Sri Lanka's actions aimed at suppressing Tamil self-determination says Tamil Civil Society Forum at ICCPR
UNHRC 'in habit of leveling baseless allegations' says Rajapaksa
Jaffna fishermen demonstrate against military assistance to Southern fishermen
Sri Lanka faces tough questions from UN Human Rights Committee
Sinhalese Buddhists should be recognised as national race says BBS