• Bid to halt deportation fails, Tamils detained on arrival in Colombo

    Sep 28

    A last-ditch attempt at halting the deportation of Tamil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka has failed.
    42 men and 8 women were arrested and questioned by Sri Lankan police on arrival at Colombo airport.

    There is now serious concern for the wellbeing of the deportees.

  • Sri Lanka's Killing Fields' screened to Canadian MPs

    Channel 4 documentary providing video evidence of war crimes, 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields' was screened at Parliament Hill, Ottawa, on Thursday.

    The event, co-hosted by NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan (Scarborough-Rouge River), Conservative Party MP Patrick Brown (Barrie) and Liberal Party MP John McKay (Scarborough-Guildwood), was well attended.

  • Canadians turn up the pressure on Sri Lanka
    Speaking in the House of Commons earlier today, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird lashed out at Sri Lanka, as the issue of war crimes and accountability looms ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth next month.

    Having met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris last week, Baird said he had expressed Canada’s
  • MP Mervyn Silva 'chief' patron of drug kingpins

    Leaked US embassy cables, state that MP Mervyn Silva was believed to be giving patronage to drug traffickers in 2009, along side his son, Malika Silva.

  • Sri Lanka attempts to censor C4's 'Killing Fields', again

    Sri Lankan officials attempted to prevent the broadcasting of the Channel 4 documentary, 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields' on Norweigan TV channel NRK2 on Tuesday.

    The documentary, containing first-hand video footage of war crimes, has already been broadcast worldwide on several mainstream news outlets.

  • Deportation delayed after last gasp court order
    The deportation of around 50 Tamils to Sri Lanka was halted today after frantic last minute efforts by lawyers resulted in a postponement in their removal, and the complete overturn of one woman’s case.
  • Canada speaks out against inaction on Sri Lanka

    Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has warned that the UN’s significance is endangered when it fails to act on its founding principles, stating Sri Lanka’s war crimes as one such issue.   

    Addressing the UN General Assembly, Baird said,

  • Ban Ki-Moon appoints Head for review into UN conduct

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has appointed former Under-Secretary-General Thoraya Obaid to conduct the review into the UN’s activities during and after the war in Sri Lanka, as suggested by the UN Panel of Experts.

    The Panel made following recommendation to the UN in their comprehensive report released in April 2011, which is now being examined by the Human Rights Council:

  • Remembering Thileepan
    September 26 is the anniversary of the death of LTTE Lt. Col. Thileepan in 1987 during his hungerstrike appealing for the Indian government of Premier Rajiv Gandhi to honour the security undertakings it gave to the Tamil people alongside its 1987 Accord with Sri Lanka. Click image for details.
  • From the killing fields …

    Catholic priest, Fr GA Francis Joseph, amongst the population being massacred by Sri Lanka's bombardment, says in a letter to the Pope sent on May 10, 2009:

    “Last night's toll of the dead is 3318 and of the injured more than 4000.

  • UK still ‘complicit’ in torture of Tamils

    The UK is preparing to deport more than 100 Tamils on Wednesday, while pressure by human rights organisations is mounting to stop all deportations until the safety of Tamils can be guaranteed.

    An event on the sidelines of the Labour Party conference, organised by Freedom from Torture and Human Rights Watch, highlighted the systematic targeting of Tamils being deported from other countries.

    Hosted by Channel 4’s Jonathan Miller, the event focussed on ‘the desperate need for justice and accountability in Sri Lanka and to cover lessons that can be drawn from the Sri Lanka “case” for the protection of human rights within UK foreign policy.’

  • Canadian Tamil youth remember Thileepan

     

    The Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO-Canada) and the Canadian Tamils Arts and Culture Association commemorated the 24th anniversary of Lt. Col. Thileepan's death on Sunday.  

    “Thileepan Anna is a symbol of peace and determination. Never in the history of the world has there been iconic figure like Thileepan Anna. As an aspiring doctor he had given up his dreams so that our people of Tamileelam can live in peace, dignity and honour,” said TYO spokesperson Priyanth Nallaratnam.

    The event was marked by cultural performances, dramas, speeches, and poems performed by Canadian university and high school students.

  • Delhi court halts deportation for fear of genocide
    A magistrate court in India last week declined to deport a Tamil to Sri Lanka, as there was concern that he may become a victim of genocide if he was to return to the island.

    Delhi Metropolitan Magistrate, Arul Varma ruled that,
  • Rajapakse defiant against "alien cultures"
    Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Friday, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse attempted to deflect growing international pressure on Sri Lanka, labelling it “tainted”.

    Rajapakse's speech comes as Sri Lanka faces increasing criticism for crimes committed as the Army completed its assault on the Vanni in May 2009.
  • Ban reiterates need for 'credible accountability' process

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon stressed the need for a "credible national accountablity process" in a meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday at the UN General Assembly.

    Drawing attention to measures previously agreed upon in a joint statement with Rajapaksa in 2009, Ban reportedly "underlined the need to find a political solution to the underlying factors of the past conflict".

Subscribe to Tamil Affairs

Most-Read Articles

Senior Buddhist monk from Anuradhapura remanded over sexual abuse of minor
A senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and chief prelate of the Anuradhapura Atamasthana,…
17 years today - A massacre in Mullivaikkal
To mark 17 years since the Sri Lankan military onslaught that massacred tens…
Velupillay makes history as first Tamil at a FIFA World Cup
Photograph: @Socceroos Nishan Velupillay has been selected in Australia's squad…
In Pictures - Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day commemorated in Mullivaikkal
All photographs by Uthayarasa Shalin Thousands of Tamils gathered at Mullivaikkal…
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay marks Mullivaikkal remembrance with pledge to support Eelam Tamils
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay issued a message on Monday evening marking…