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 dismisses Amnesty report to UNHRC

Oct 1, 2014
Sri Lanka is not concerned by an Amnesty International report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committee said the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commissioner, on Thursday.

Amnesty International submitted a 40 page report documenting violations of civil and political rights to the UNHRC International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which will convene on 07 October.

Speaking to Sri Lankan press, the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commissioner Prathiba Mahanamahewa, said,

Sri Lankan authorities block journalism workshop

Sep 30, 2014

Published 29/09/14

Updated 17:30 BST 01/10/14

Sri Lankan authorities have sabotaged a journalism training program set to take place in a resort in Negombo, reports the Associated Press and Reuters.

UK Ministers and MPs rally behind Tamil calls for justice

Sep 30, 2014
Thusiyan Nandakumar

MP Nick De Bois addressing the event

The Chairman of the Conservative party, British government ministers and Members of Parliament voiced their support for the Tamil community in the United Kingdom and backed calls for justice for the Tamil people at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham this week.

Australian asylum policies 'reckless' says Human Rights Law Centre

Sep 30, 2014
Criticising the Australian government's continued deportation of asylum seekers fleeing Sri Lanka as "extremely reckless", the Human Rights Law Centre, said Australia was placing the deportees in direct danger.

Speaking as further evidence of the rape and torture of Tamil deportees emerged, this time those who had been deported from Australia, HRLC's Director of Advocacy and Research, Emily Howie, said:
“The Immigration Department should stop denying Sri Lankans the opportunity to use the proper processes to make claims for protection. By using a flimsy screening process, Australia is being extremely reckless and risks placing men, women and children directly in danger."

Rakapaksa instructs Cabinet to expedite land sales restrictions to foreigners

Sep 30, 2014
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed the Cabinet on Wednesday to expedite the bill restricting land sales to non Sri Lankan citizens, reported the Daily Mirror.

It was due to be debated and voted on by parliament last week, however had to be withdrawn due to a "lack of clarity on the content of the Bill", the paper added.

The proposed bill was discussed in a Cabinet meeting today.

Sri Lankan police arrest Indian national in Nanu Oya

Sep 30, 2014
Sri Lankan police arrested a 31 year old Indian citizen in Nanu Oya, in the Central province on Tuesday citing alleged visa violations.

The 31 year old, who is from Tamil Nadu, was accused of overstaying his tourist visa and selling clothes illegally, reports the Daily Mirror. He was brought before Nuwara Eliya magistrate and released on bail.

New Tamil Nadu CM writes to Modi urging fishermen's release

Sep 30, 2014
The new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, seeking the release of 20 fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan navy this week and urging that New Delhi take "positive and concrete steps", reports The Hindu.

"The traditional rights of fishermen from Tamil Nadu to fish in the waters of Palk Bay is continuously being infringed upon by the Sri Lankan Navy," wrote Panneerselvam in a letter dated September 30, also praising the former Chief Minister Jayalalitha's "untiring and relentless efforts" to release Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by Sri Lanka.

Whilst commending Modi's efforts in securing the release of over 70 fishermen previously, Panneerselvam said "unfortunately, 71 fishing boats of these fishermen have not yet been released by the Sri Lankan Government and are falling apart from disuse there itself."

Senior Tamil journalist detained by CID officers in Jaffna

Sep 30, 2014
12:53 BST

A senior Tamil journalist, Ratnam Thayaparan, was detained by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers earlier today, said the Jaffna based media group, the Jaffna Press Club.

Thayaparan, who is also a prominent campaigner for press freedom for Tamil journalists in the North-East, was interrogated by special CID officials based in Kankesanturai.


Sri Lankan and Burmese Buddhist groups sign agreement to work together

Sep 30, 2014

(DailyMirror)

Buddhist nationalist groups from Sri Lanka and Burma have signed a deal, agreeing to work together to protect Buddhism.

Why Sri Lanka's detention of Balenderan Jayakumari is so sinister' - Callum Macrae

Sep 30, 2014
Documentary maker Callum Macrae says Sri Lanka has continued with its “particularly sinister” arrest and intimidation of possible witnesses to a United Nations investigation into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka – including of Tamil disappearances activist Balendran Jayakumari - in a piece in the Huffington Post.

Macrae, director of the documenatary 'No Fire Zone', added that whilst the intimidation of witnesses continued, Sri Lanka was “carrying out an ongoing campaign whose aim is nothing less than to permanently change the ethnic make-up of the Tamil areas in the north and east.”

He added that “through the use of major strategic land-grabs, systematic sexual violence, political repression, enforced disappearances and wholesale plantation by non-Tamil families and businesses they are assaulting Tamil identity and ethnically re-engineering the entire region.”

Sri Lankan authorities block journalism workshop
UK Ministers and MPs rally behind Tamil calls for justice
Australian asylum policies 'reckless' says Human Rights Law Centre
Rakapaksa instructs Cabinet to expedite land sales restrictions to foreigners
Sri Lankan police arrest Indian national in Nanu Oya
New Tamil Nadu CM writes to Modi urging fishermen's release
Senior Tamil journalist detained by CID officers in Jaffna
Sri Lankan and Burmese Buddhist groups sign agreement to work together
Why Sri Lanka's detention of Balenderan Jayakumari is so sinister' - Callum Macrae
They have the guns, we have only pens' - Uthayan journalist
Sri Lankan authorities block journalism workshop
UK Ministers and MPs rally behind Tamil calls for justice
Australian asylum policies 'reckless' says Human Rights Law Centre
Rakapaksa instructs Cabinet to expedite land sales restrictions to foreigners
Sri Lankan police arrest Indian national in Nanu Oya
New Tamil Nadu CM writes to Modi urging fishermen's release
Senior Tamil journalist detained by CID officers in Jaffna
Sri Lankan and Burmese Buddhist groups sign agreement to work together
Why Sri Lanka's detention of Balenderan Jayakumari is so sinister' - Callum Macrae
They have the guns, we have only pens' - Uthayan journalist