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Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter
The creation of an independent and sovereign State of Tamil Eelam remains the only viable option to lead a life with security, dignity and equality, both individually and collectively.



The Orphan-State of TamilEelam

Video: Reaction from South India home to 70m Tamils !
Warning: Disturbing images



"There are legitimate issues raised by the Tamil community and they have a legitimate desire to control their own lives, to rule their own destinies, and to govern themselves in their homeland.''

U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher



Have No Fear !

Those who would deny the Tamils their rights use the language of terrorism to demonise and discredit our legitimate grievances


Sri Lanka
"Indeed, it is an enduring scandal that there have been virtually no convictions of government officials for killing Tamils, and many Tamils doubt that the rule of law will protect their lives."

United Nations



The Plight of Eelam Tamils

Video: Genocide No More Prime Minister!


Tamil Declaration for Self Determination
Vaddukoddai Resolution-1976


Tamil Eelam
Demand in International Law

The UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (G.A Resolution 2200 of 1966) in Article 1 states: "All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."


Declaration of Independence


1918 - 2005

'Dedication to
CJT Thamotheram
Late Patron'





  :: News
ESPN Cricinfo.com contemplates launching Tamil and Bengali editions
[ Best Media Info ] [ 15 May 2018 01:04 GMT ]

We have got something in Tamil, which is going to have huge interest in diaspora audience in the Middle-East, US, UK and Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The Insistence of Memory in Sri Lanka
[ SL Guardian ] [ 14 May 2018 02:09 GMT ]

By the time I got there, the bones were gone. [Full Story]

PEARL’s New Report Launched: ‘Delayed or Denied? Sri Lanka’s Failing Transitional Justice Process’
[ Pearl ] [ 13 May 2018 02:18 GMT ]

'It is clear that Sri Lanka needs international pressure to implement a comprehensive transitional justice process,' [Full Story]

Abduction and forced disappearance: Sri Lanka's missing thousands
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 12 May 2018 23:58 GMT ]

Can the Office of Missing Persons provide answers in a country with the world's second highest number of disappearances? [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's 'disappeared': Torture, assault and still no justice
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 11 May 2018 00:08 GMT ]

More than 60,000 others have gone missing over the last 30 years; the victims largely belong to the minority Sri Lankan Tamil community. [Full Story]

9 years today – Up to 2,000 killed in one day
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 10 May 2018 03:28 GMT ]

Thousands of Tamils, we revisit the final days leading up to the 18th of May 2009 – a date remembered around the world as ‘Tamil Genocide Day’ [Full Story]

Carnatic journey crosses Palk Strait
[ Times of India ] [ 09 May 2018 01:45 GMT ]

A quiet cultural interaction between Tamils in India and Sri Lanka has been taking place for a long time, but it was only in the beginning of the 19th century that it was documented. [Full Story]

We will be with DMK sans expectation'
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 May 2018 00:44 GMT ]

Few movements can claim to have contributed to the development of Tamil Nadu and Tamil as the Dravidian movement has. [Full Story]

The resounding rebirth of Sri Lanka
[ Honolulu Star-Advertiser ] [ 07 May 2018 03:42 GMT ]

The Portuguese arrived in 1505, followed by the Dutch in 1658, then the British in 1796. Independence came peacefully in 1948 but did not last. [Full Story]

Democracy, Nationalism and the Nation State, with Reference to Sri Lanka
[ Groundviews ] [ 06 May 2018 01:05 GMT ]

This article seeks, from a historical, constitutional and political perspective, to analyse some of the problems that have arisen in doing so. [Full Story]

Old Kachcheri
[ Atlas Obscura ] [ 05 May 2018 02:05 GMT ]

Vines and plants now look like integral parts of this beautiful example of Neo-Renaissance architecture, and moss adorns the Roman arches wrapping around the central yard. [Full Story]

Press Freedom & Enforced Disappearances: Two Sides of the Same Coin in Sri Lanka
[ Inter Press Service ] [ 04 May 2018 03:14 GMT ]

When Sri Lankan journalist Richard de Zoysa was abducted from his home in Colombo on the night of February 18th, 1990, his family knew there would be dark days ahead. [Full Story]

‘War, Denial and Nation-Building in Sri Lanka’ book launched in London
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 May 2018 00:07 GMT ]

'It’s not easy in the wake of a mass atrocity to maintain resilience,' she added, stating that “this is the environment in which the Tamil people pursue accountability.' [Full Story]

Tamil villagers hunger for return of ancestral land
[ UCA News ] [ 02 May 2018 02:26 GMT ]

The community has been displaced since 1992, after which the Navy moved in and barred them from accessing their traditional land. [Full Story]

How A Half-Hour In A U.S. Embassy Changed A Life
[ NPR ] [ 01 May 2018 00:55 GMT ]

Francis grew up Tamil, a persecuted ethnic minority in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Redefining Home: Experiences of the Jaffna Displaced
[ GV ] [ 30 Apr 2018 01:55 GMT ]

This article explores the experiences of the middle-aged Tamils who were displaced to Colombo and share similar experiences at a very young age. [Full Story]

Editorial: Island of impunity
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 29 Apr 2018 01:04 GMT ]

The details do not make for easy reading. [Full Story]

European Court of Justice: Torture victims have grounds for asylum
[ Deutsche Welle ] [ 28 Apr 2018 02:01 GMT ]

Tortured asylum-seekers can claim subsidiary protection in Europe, if on return to their home countries adequate medical care would be withheld, says the European Court of Justice. [Full Story]

US Human Rights Report on Sri Lanka 2018
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 27 Apr 2018 00:04 GMT ]

Government discrimination toward and security forces harassment of Tamils and nondenominational Christian groups persisted. [Full Story]

Once part of Tamil Nadu's identity, Palmyra in need of saving
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 26 Apr 2018 02:41 GMT ]

Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer), popularly known as panaimaram in Tamil, has been has been slowly vanishing from the landscape. [Full Story]

The uneasy calm before another storm
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 Apr 2018 00:22 GMT ]

Assurances on meaningful ethnic reconciliation through a political solution and constitutional reform have turned faint and distant. [Full Story]

Tamil diaspora cinema: Tales from the global backyard
[ The Hindu ] [ 24 Apr 2018 04:05 GMT ]

Sri Lankan filmmaker King Ratnam was keen to showcase the diversity of the island's Tamil population in his recently-released début feature, Komaali Kings.' [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: PROVIDE TIMELINE FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION 30/1
[ Amnesty International ] [ 23 Apr 2018 02:01 GMT ]

The establishment of a time-bound action plan is vital for victims, survivors and their families in their quest for truth, justice and accountability. [Full Story]

‘Disappeared persons are in Sri Lankan detention camps’ claims released Tamil man
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 Apr 2018 01:44 GMT ]

A Tamil man who spent almost 9 years in a Sri Lankan prison claimed that many Tamil youths who were forcibly disappeared remain in Sri Lankan custody. [Full Story]

In wondrous Lanka
[ The News ] [ 21 Apr 2018 00:04 GMT ]

On a connecting note, I immensely enjoyed the local tracks the buses would be playing. Up-beat, melodious and plain incomprehensible, they added to the experience of the country. [Full Story]

Revisiting northern Sri Lanka’s battlefields
[ The Hindu ] [ 20 Apr 2018 02:25 GMT ]

We saw the sad edifice of the charred and burnt-down Jaffna Library next door, which once housed some of the most ancient history of the South Asian region. [Full Story]

'No second-generation Tamil leaders, Sri Lanka needs some'
[ The Indian Express ] [ 19 Apr 2018 01:45 GMT ]

In the process of reconciliation and bringing harmony, what we needed is powerful Tamil politicians. [Full Story]

Marie Colvin: Syria assassinated reporter, court told
[ BBC ] [ 18 Apr 2018 00:07 GMT ]

Ms Colvin worked for the Sunday Times. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka opens door for return of divisive former president
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 17 Apr 2018 03:55 GMT ]

Should opposition groups find a way to paper over their differences, and unite as they did in 2015, they may still have the numbers to keep the Rajapaksas out. [Full Story]

Former UN official to support calls for referendum in Sri Lanka
[ Menafn ] [ 16 Apr 2018 03:21 GMT ]

Highlighting the importance of holding a Referendum to decide Tamils' political destiny - thus finding a permanent solution to the protracted Tamil conflict in the island. [Full Story]

World Tamil conference on May 19, 20
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Apr 2018 23:06 GMT ]

The Federation of International Tamizh Association (FITA) is organising World Tamizh Conference 2018 at Angkor Wat in Cambodia on May 19 and 20. [Full Story]

Eat, Pray, Love This Tamil New Year
[ India.com ] [ 14 Apr 2018 03:46 GMT ]

Also known as Puthandu, this festival marks the first day of the Tamil New Year. [Full Story]

'Sinhalese still occupying properties of Tamils'
[ The Hindu ] [ 13 Apr 2018 22:17 GMT ]

The Sinhalese had occupied the properties of Tamil diaspora and the government had taken no effort to evict the illegal occupiers. [Full Story]

Tamil refugee speaks out against deportations, abuse
[ Green Left ] [ 12 Apr 2018 03:46 GMT ]

As a child born to refugees I was denied education in Indian government schools, denied the right to work and welfare benefits in India. [Full Story]

Peravai 2018 - 31st Annual Convention - Frisco - Dallas - Texas
[ Market Insider ] [ 11 Apr 2018 01:22 GMT ]

The City of Frisco declared January'2018 as the Tamil Heritage Month. [Full Story]

The 150-year-old story of Sri Lankan tea-making
[ BBC ] [ 10 Apr 2018 03:45 GMT ]

The majority of Sri Lankan tea workers are ethnically Indian Tamils. [Full Story]

Mother seeks justice for slain Sri Lankan journalist
[ UCA News ] [ 09 Apr 2018 01:59 GMT ]

Many Tamil journalists were killed but still there is no justice.' [Full Story]

Early Port Cities in the Malay Peninsula - Joachim Schliesinger
[ Google Books ] [ 08 Apr 2018 02:05 GMT ]

It was not an Indianization but a Tamilization, since the ethnic Tamil people of the southernmost region of India played the active part to transfer their religious and cultural traits from their homeland to Southeast Asia. Refer to page 64. [Full Story]

Why Sri Lanka is the stranger you feel like you've known for years
[ Travel9 ] [ 07 Apr 2018 00:28 GMT ]

Sri Lanka looks like a tear drop or pearl towards the bottom right of India. [Full Story]

Toronto Tamils meet Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and part as friends
[ Toronto.com ] [ 06 Apr 2018 01:41 GMT ]

Most Tamils in Greater Toronto arrived in Canada during the last few decades because of ethic violence and war in their homeland, Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Shades of Similarity
[ The Bull and Bear ] [ 05 Apr 2018 02:24 GMT ]

An Evaluation of the Riots in Sri Lanka and the Rohingya Genocide. [Full Story]

Avoiding 'religious' violence in Sri Lanka
[ Asia Times ] [ 04 Apr 2018 01:02 GMT ]

Muslims must eschew extremist Islam and protect their traditional tolerant and gentle Islam. [Full Story]

Call for release of Sri Lankan political prisoners
[ UCA News ] [ 03 Apr 2018 08:55 GMT ]

The government has not fulfilled a promise to replace the security measures with laws more in keeping with domestic and international norms. [Full Story]

ATC, BTF & USTPAC Endorse Human Rights Council's Call for Clear Timeline for Action on Sri Lanka's Transitional Justice Commitments
[ USTPAC ] [ 02 Apr 2018 03:16 GMT ]

In the absence of such a mechanism, we call on Member States to exercise universal jurisdiction. [Full Story]

Matangi / Maya / M.I.A. New Directors/New Films 2018 Review
[ The Film Stage ] [ 01 Apr 2018 02:06 GMT ]

'Use your voice to speak up against injustice' becomes a leitmotiv that runs through Maya’s transition into M.I.A. [Full Story]

Tamils Understand The Sikh Community's Pain. We've Been There Before
[ Huffington Post ] [ 31 Mar 2018 00:33 GMT ]

From September 2008 to May 2009, more than 70,000 Tamil people were killed by Sri Lankan armed forces. Civil Society sources estimate that more than 146,000 people are unaccounted for after the war. [Full Story]

High-five for Tamil Haiku poetry
[ The Hindu ] [ 30 Mar 2018 01:56 GMT ]

Subramanya Bharati sowed the seeds for the genre. [Full Story]

The Origin of Others
[ Ground Views ] [ 29 Mar 2018 04:39 GMT ]

There is only one race, the human race; there are no foreigners but only different versions of ourselves . [Full Story]

Mothers of Sri Lanka's 100,000 'disappeared' desperately looking for answers
[ ITV News ] [ 28 Mar 2018 03:16 GMT ]

Officially Sri Lanka's long civil war finished nine years ago. But for tens of thousands of Tamils its trauma is never-ending. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA - Split island
[ The Week ] [ 27 Mar 2018 01:08 GMT ]

There are certain entrenched socio-economic, historic and political factors behind the Sinhala-Muslim conflict. [Full Story]

Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka: From Denial to Delay
[ The Diplomat ] [ 26 Mar 2018 00:20 GMT ]

The government’s efforts must not aim to appease the international community but to fulfill its promise to its own minority that peace will be based on justice. [Full Story]

Do not wait any longer to deliver transitional justice - Special Rapp tells Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 25 Mar 2018 02:01 GMT ]

Transitional justice can make a significant contribution to the future. Do not wait any longer: own the project forcefully and proudly, and accelerate the pace of its implementation.' [Full Story]

If anyone knows about being 'civilised', it's definitely Peter Dutton
[ The Green Left ] [ 24 Mar 2018 03:51 GMT ]

What nation could be more civilised than the one that tortures innocent children in offshore camps condemned by the United Nations as hellholes? [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: continued Human Rights Council scrutiny needed until justice commitments met in full
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 23 Mar 2018 02:46 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government should present a time-bound implementation plan to carry out its pledges to this body, and the Council needs to maintain scrutiny until Sri Lanka’s commitments are met in full. [Full Story]

Across China: B&R Initiative boosts language learning in SW China
[ Xinhua ] [ 22 Mar 2018 22:55 GMT ]

'It has 247 letters, about ten times that of English. It's difficult to learn but very charming,' said Yang. [Full Story]

British Tamil youth bring disappearance struggle to forefront with new documentary
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 21 Mar 2018 02:27 GMT ]

The film by the British Tamil youth-led media platform, ’47 Roots’, centres the voices of the women protesting, who share their hopes and expectations. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Little Action on Promised Justice, Reforms
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 20 Mar 2018 05:15 GMT ]

'The Human Rights Council needs to make it clear to the Sri Lankan government that it expects it to stop playing games and start delivering on its commitments,' said John Fisher, Geneva director. [Full Story]

A scorecard on Sri Lanka’s efforts to deal with the past – as the past repeats itself
[ Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 19 Mar 2018 01:06 GMT ]

Words by member states at the HRC in Geneva must be matched with deeds in both capitals and in Colombo. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Bans Cluster Munitions
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 18 Mar 2018 00:29 GMT ]

Officials have denied the armed forces ever used these weapons, although there were allegations of use during Sri Lanka’s civil war which ended in 2009. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must bring redress to victims of violence on all sides
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 17 Mar 2018 01:08 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is not a democracy, but an ethnocracy that leaves no room for non-Sinhala Buddhists. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: End impunity for attacks on Muslim minority
[ Amnesty International ] [ 16 Mar 2018 01:15 GMT ]

'The Sri Lankan authorities must put an end to the impunity enjoyed by groups that incite hatred and carry out acts of violence against religious minorities. [Full Story]

Perumal Murugan: India's 'dead' writer returns with searing novel
[ BBC ] [ 15 Mar 2018 04:52 GMT ]

A leading Indian author who writes in Tamil, declared his writing "dead" in 2015 after he was harassed and attacked by right-wing groups. [Full Story]

TWG Chair's Interview with BBC on Current Affairs in Sri Lanka
[ BBC Radio ] [ 14 Mar 2018 00:02 GMT ]

Interviewed live on Ben Jackson programme about the current situation in Sri Lanka - drag your cursor to 1:51:49 for the start. [Full Story]

State of Emergency Declared in Sri Lanka
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 13 Mar 2018 00:09 GMT ]

The government needs to protect the human rights of all ethnic groups to ensure that the ugly communal violence that presaged Sri Lanka’s long civil war does not return. [Full Story]

Locked Up Without Evidence
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 12 Mar 2018 02:55 GMT ]

Abuses under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act. [Full Story]

Why Sri Lanka’s Government Is Turning a Blind Eye to Anti-Muslim Violence
[ World Politics Review ] [ 11 Mar 2018 02:06 GMT ]

The government has been unable or unwilling to deal forcefully with the hooligans and their patrons. [Full Story]

Editorial: State of Ethnocracy
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 10 Mar 2018 04:07 GMT ]

An unchecked Sinhala ethnocracy will continue to be the root source of the island’s instability. [Full Story]

Can Sri Lankan Tamils expect India to intervene to help them claim their rights?
[ National Herald India ] [ 09 Mar 2018 00:48 GMT ]

There are also people among us who believe that without India’s support, it will be difficult for the Tamils of North and East to achieve their legitimate political aspirations. [Full Story]

Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights- Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka
[ UN Human Rights Council ] [ 08 Mar 2018 02:03 GMT ]

The fulfilment of the transitional justice commitments made under Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 has been virtually stalled for more than a year. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after communal violence
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 07 Mar 2018 00:15 GMT ]

'Many have argued that it is a product of the search for a new enemy to replace the Tamils, unite the Sinhala and win votes by cultivating a sense of Sinhala Buddhists under siege,' Keenan said. [Full Story]

GTF says international inaction on Sri Lanka not an option
[ Menafn ] [ 06 Mar 2018 00:11 GMT ]

The diaspora group says the stakes are high for the people of Sri Lanka, and indeed for the region, to be conflict-free and remain in sustained peace. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka launches probe into war-era disappearances
[ Channel News Asia ] [ 05 Mar 2018 03:47 GMT ]

The panel has the power to recommend compensation and clear the way for next of kin to take legal action against those responsible for the disappearance of their loved ones. [Full Story]

Lankas NP council seeks intl court to probe war crime allegations
[ India Today ] [ 04 Mar 2018 01:14 GMT ]

It also urged India, US and EU to mediate a political solution in Sri Lanka 'recognising that the Tamil people are a Nation with their traditional homeland in the contiguous North-East of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

'The Boat People': A Smart, Complicated Horror Story about Canada and Refugees
[ The Tyee ] [ 03 Mar 2018 00:25 GMT ]

Billed by the Harper government as a mob of potential terrorists, they just got on with their lives, finding jobs, paying taxes and sending their kids to school. [Full Story]

Blooming Errors In Sampanthan’s Eelam-Bud Thesis–A Rejoinder
[ CT ] [ 02 Mar 2018 02:05 GMT ]

It is the Sinhalese people, not the Tamil people who should decide whether they are prepared to share power with the Tamils within and undivided and indivisible country or force the Tamil people to invoke the principle to the right to self-determination. [Full Story]

Exclusive: Evidence of ongoing torture of Sri Lankan Tamils
[ Aljazeera ] [ 01 Mar 2018 04:36 GMT ]

Al Jazeera has seen disturbing evidence of continuing torture. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's political crisis a threat to reconciliation
[ UCA News ] [ 28 Feb 2018 01:24 GMT ]

'Now there is a danger the government will backtrack on the commitments it has made to both the Tamil people and the international community regarding constitutional reform and transitional justice.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Mass graves everywhere, but where are the killers?— Part 04
[ SL Guardian ] [ 27 Feb 2018 02:57 GMT ]

Since 1948, successive regimes have continued to condone and practice torture and killings as a systemic weapon. [Full Story]

Religious leaders voice concern over Sri Lanka crisis
[ UCA News ] [ 26 Feb 2018 00:04 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's political crisis could bring about an economic downturn and halt delicate reconciliation efforts between the Sinhalese and the minority Tamils in the nation's fragile post-war peace. [Full Story]

Sridevi obituary: From Bollywood actress to Indian icon
[ BBC ] [ 25 Feb 2018 03:59 GMT ]

Sridevi's screen career began at the age of four in a 1969 Tamil-language film. [Full Story]

Amnesty International Report - SRI LANKA 2017/2018
[ Amnesty International ] [ 24 Feb 2018 00:49 GMT ]

Sri Lanka continued to pursue its 2015 commitments to deliver justice, truth, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence for alleged crimes under international law, but progress slowed and there was evidence of backsliding. [Full Story]

Back to The Chess Board
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Feb 2018 01:26 GMT ]

Worse still, the much-valued programme of constitutional and political reform, peace building, inter-ethnic reconciliation and democratic consolidation will enter an extended state of stalemate. [Full Story]

The Banality Of Evil
[ Outlook India ] [ 22 Feb 2018 02:05 GMT ]

The original sin of the Sri Lankan state was its origin itself. A structure that depended on a permanent suspicion of the Tamil Other – all leading to a policy of assimilating or annihilating the Other. [Full Story]

India film star Kamal Haasan launches political party
[ BBC ] [ 21 Feb 2018 01:57 GMT ]

Tamil Nadu has been politically unstable since the death last year of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram, also a former film star. [Full Story]

Tales Of Lankan Tamil Diaspora Narrated With Poignancy And Hilarity
[ Outlook India ] [ 20 Feb 2018 00:47 GMT ]

It was on this date nine years ago that immigrant Sri Lankan Tamils in Canada intensified protest against a 'genocide' of their community in the Northern Province of the island-nation. [Full Story]

Editorial: Tamil Spring
[ TWG ] [ 19 Feb 2018 01:57 GMT ]

We must confer to both the UN and its co-sponsors in the strongest possible way that the exercise of getting any Sri Lankan government to grant any meaningful autonomy that will protect Tamils from harm's way or any future repetition of the past is a futile exercise. [Full Story]

70 TOO MANY
[ TSIMT ] [ 18 Feb 2018 00:51 GMT ]

Voices are heard in the North, weeping. A thousand women weeping for their children, refusing to be comforted, for they do not know if they live or have died. [Full Story]

Australia issues deportation order for Tamil asylum seeker despite torture fears
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 17 Feb 2018 03:41 GMT ]

United Nations committee against torture requested Australia not move him while it investigates risk to his safety. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: A family torn apart for nearly three decades is reunited
[ International Committee of the Red Cross ] [ 16 Feb 2018 02:00 GMT ]

I had no means of searching for my family and I lived year upon year with uncertainty and longing for an answer. I feared we might never be reunited before I die. [Full Story]

Editorial: Fault Line
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 15 Feb 2018 00:01 GMT ]

Through Sri Lanka’s 70 years of independence Sinhala ethno-nationalist parties have been voted into power whenever any possibility of power sharing with Tamils drew near, and governments who oppressed Tamils have been consistently rewarded by Sinhala voters. [Full Story]

Gus Dalton, 87, was the famous fishing boat captain who saved 155 Tamil refugees off Newfoundland
[ The Globe and Mail ] [ 14 Feb 2018 01:55 GMT ]

Capt. Dalton's rescue was also the inspiration for the 1989 feature film Welcome to Canada. [Full Story]

No justice: Kumarapuram massacre 22 years on
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 13 Feb 2018 01:30 GMT ]

The Kumaprapuram case is an illustrative example of the many problems that make it incapable of credibly prosecuting these crimes. [Full Story]

TNA concedes setbacks, calls on Tamil parties to unite towards federalism
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 12 Feb 2018 00:37 GMT ]

The TNA has called for unity among Tamil parties in the face of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s party’s landslide victories in the South. [Full Story]

Google is now supporting Tamil on Adsense
[ PPC Land ] [ 11 Feb 2018 03:05 GMT ]

Publishers can now monetize content in Tamil, and advertisers, using Google, can now targeting the Tamil-speaking audience. [Full Story]

The fear inside us: Confronting Sri Lanka's past
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 10 Feb 2018 00:02 GMT ]

Once political parties dominated by the Sinhalese majority got entrenched, they pushed through certain policies that had an effect on the everyday life of Tamils and made them feel marginalised. [Full Story]

Viewpoint: The Indian state to become a global leader in clean energy
[ BBC ] [ 09 Feb 2018 04:59 GMT ]

India's southern state of Tamil Nadu is poised to become a global leader in wind power. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Mass graves everywhere, but where are the killers? — Part 01
[ SL Guardian ] [ 08 Feb 2018 03:34 GMT ]

Serious human rights abuses and crimes against humanity have occurred in Sri Lanka in the seventies and eighties. [Full Story]

Seventy years after Sri Lankan independence: The record of capitalist decay and the necessity for socialism
[ World Socialist Web Site ] [ 07 Feb 2018 01:07 GMT ]

The SEP calls for a Sri Lankan and Eelam Socialist Republic as part of a federation of South Asian socialist republics. [Full Story]

TNA wants solution on par with Oslo Declaration
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 06 Feb 2018 02:55 GMT ]

The TNA in its manifesto for the forthcoming local government election said that that the solution it seeks with regard to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka was similar to what was in the Oslo Declaration. [Full Story]

Picture the song: ‘Kannum Kannum Kalandhu’ is a dance-off like no other
[ Scroll.in ] [ 05 Feb 2018 00:19 GMT ]

There simply isn’t another more engrossing or energetic dance contest in the history of Indian cinema than the one in the song. [Video]

Sri Lanka: Caged Independence
[ SL Guardian ] [ 04 Feb 2018 03:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka, in its current state, evolved from an aristocratic democracy to a militarised ethnocracy, leaving limited space for minority rights to prosper, let alone integrating all communities to be part of one nation. [Full Story]

Demons in Paradise: Memories of Sri Lanka's Civil War
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 03 Feb 2018 00:33 GMT ]

In 1983, Sri Lanka was torn apart by riots targeting the Tamil minority, sparking a war that lasted almost 30 years and left indelible scars on the country. [Short Film]

Is Sri Lanka on course for a lost decade?
[ East Asia Forum ] [ 02 Feb 2018 02:10 GMT ]

Should the government abandon constitutional reform, the TNA may begin to lose ground to their previously electorally unsuccessful and more strongly Tamil nationalist rivals. [Full Story]

Reality check in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 01 Feb 2018 03:57 GMT ]

In the last three years, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration has left the people of Sri Lanka, including Tamils, with fewer reasons to remain hopeful. [Full Story]

In documentary about the Sri Lankan civil war, remembering and soul-searching go hand in hand
[ Scroll.in ] [ 31 Jan 2018 01:50 GMT ]

Demons in Paradise has been cleared uncut by Sri Lankan censors. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka journalists remember killed, abducted colleagues
[ ABC News ] [ 30 Jan 2018 02:15 GMT ]

During former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's tenure, dozens of journalists were killed, abducted and tortured and some fled the country fearing for their lives. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Repeal Draconian Security Law
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 29 Jan 2018 04:51 GMT ]

For decades, the PTA has been used to arbitrarily detain suspects for months and often years without charge or trial, facilitating torture, and other abuse. [Full Story]

Atrocities against Lankan Tamils amounted to ethnic cleansing
[ India Today ] [ 28 Jan 2018 03:47 GMT ]

Even today a huge drive is underway to change the demography of the Tamil-dominated region, noted photographer and former UN staffer Benjamin Dix said today. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka needs to deliver on important reforms - EU report
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 27 Jan 2018 00:05 GMT ]

Measures taken so far to fulfil Sri Lanka's transitional justice commitments have brought insufficient progress, including bringing perpetrators of war crimes to justice and resolving longstanding 'emblematic cases'. [Full Story]

Tamil Nadu collects nearly 40,000 books for Jaffna library
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 26 Jan 2018 02:07 GMT ]

The Jaffna public library which had over 90,000 rare books and palm-leaf manuscripts was burnt by a Sinhalese mob in 1981. [Full Story]

WORLD REPORT 2018 - The Pushback Against the Populist Challenge - Our annual review of human rights around the globe
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 25 Jan 2018 01:01 GMT ]

Action stalled in 2017 on Sri Lanka’s October 2015 pledges to the UN Human Rights Council to address accountability and political reconciliation emerging from the country’s 26-year civil war. [Full Report]

Matangi/Maya/MIA review – combative musician shows she is director of own life
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 24 Jan 2018 04:45 GMT ]

A one-woman awkward squad whose background, both economically and racially, means she’s not allowed to get too popular. [Full Story]

If Harappan civilisation spoke a Dravidian language, how old is this 'spoken' language?
[ Harappa ] [ 23 Jan 2018 02:38 GMT ]

The oldest evidence of Dravidian language in South India is through what is called Sangam literature that cannot be dated to be older than 800 BC. [Full Story]

THE PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF EARLY SRI LANKA
[ Ohm Books ] [ 22 Jan 2018 00:05 GMT ]

In the current social and political climate prevailing in Sri Lanka even the most scientific investigative work is viewed with a sceptical eye. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: One Step Forward, Two Back - Government Delays Implementing Rights Pledges to UN
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 Jan 2018 01:22 GMT ]

The government needs to put a timetable in place for meeting its pledges to the world and to the Sri Lankan people.' [Full Story]

An Interview with Sri Lanka's C.V. Wigneswaran
[ Huffington Post ] [ 20 Jan 2018 00:02 GMT ]

Reform in the sense of transitional justice could only be obtained by pressure from the international community. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s president is struggling to keep his promises of reform
[ The Economist ] [ 19 Jan 2018 01:25 GMT ]

A promised new constitution which would strengthen the powers of the regions has never materialised, to the irritation of the Tamil National Alliance, a party that supported Mr Sirisena’s presidential bid. [Full Story]

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau dons south Indian 'veshti', celebrates Pongal
[ Times of India ] [ 18 Jan 2018 01:22 GMT ]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today put on a 'veshti' and celebrated the Tamil harvest festival of Pongal with the Tamil Canadians of his country. [Full Story]

The Indian woman who chose a bull over marriage
[ BBC ] [ 17 Jan 2018 04:11 GMT ]

Jallikattu, more than 2,000 years old, is considered to be one of the oldest sports still practised in the modern era. [Full Story]

How long does the Tamil festival to the Sun last and what are its origins? All you need to know
[ The Sun ] [ 16 Jan 2018 15:05 GMT ]

With more than 76 million people living around the world, the Tamil community will be celebrating Pongal in a number of countries across the globe including Canada, South Africa, Britain, Singapore, America and Malaysia. [Full Story]

In a first, Central team carries out 'exhaustive' inspection of refugee camps
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Jan 2018 03:04 GMT ]

A meeting convened by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi a few weeks ago, during which he directed Ministry officials to ensure “good living conditions” for the refugees. [Full Story]

Prime Minister Theresa May's Thai Pongal message
[ 10 Downing Street ] [ 14 Jan 2018 14:31 GMT ]

Theresa May wishes everyone a happy Thai Pongal and an auspicious year ahead. [Full Story]

Know about the Significance and Recipes of the Pongal dish
[ Newsfolo ] [ 13 Jan 2018 02:41 GMT ]

The rituals of this auspicious festival are symbolic of abundance and prosperity. [Full Story]

Event to raise funds for Tamil Professorial Chair at Harvard University
[ Indian Newslink ] [ 12 Jan 2018 00:02 GMT ]

Tamilians worldwide have thus for raised US$5.5 million, against a worldwide target of US$6 million for the Chair at Harvard. [Full Story]

41st BAPASI book fair inaugurated in Chennai
[ News Today ] [ 11 Jan 2018 03:55 GMT ]

Our recent initiative to start a 15-day Tamil language crash course for 60 Canadians here in Chennai is one among such initiatives,' [Full Story]

Banker, tea-boy, librarian, intellectual
[ The Hindu ] [ 10 Jan 2018 01:59 GMT ]

Best known for his political essays and his novel When Memory Dies, Mr. Sivanandan made original contributions to understanding communities of resistance in Britain. [Full Story]

Lots of talk but little progress in Sri Lanka over journalist murders
[ Committee to Protect Journalists ] [ 09 Jan 2018 05:04 GMT ]

Impunity for crimes against journalists remains a front-line issue in Sri Lanka; indeed, ending impunity was a promise of the government. [Full Story]

Interview with T. Shanaathanan: Everyday stories from the war zone
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 Jan 2018 02:44 GMT ]

The stories of ordinary people on the ground had not come out. [Full Story]

US ambassador says 'justice delayed is justice denied' for Trinco 5
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 07 Jan 2018 00:57 GMT ]

The case - known as the 'Trinco 5' – remains one of the highest profile killings in Sri Lanka to receive international attention. [Full Story]

Tamil diaspora organisations look to universal jurisdiction to prosecute Sri Lanka's war criminals
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 06 Jan 2018 01:22 GMT ]

'We bring to the attention of the international community that, two years after Resolution 30/1, the Sri Lankan government has failed to implement even a single key mechanism for Transitional Justice,' it said. [Full Story]

Lost my land, sense of belonging: Sri Lankan war photographer exhibits work in Kerala
[ The News Minute ] [ 05 Jan 2018 00:54 GMT ]

The Tamil Sri Lankans across the globe don't have a country to call their own. [Full Story]

We can’t despair, we can’t abandon things, says Sri Lanka’s R. Sampanthan
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 Jan 2018 01:05 GMT ]

I have no regrets about the decision we made, though the Tamil people, and consequently those of us who represent them, expected greater performance from the government. [Full Story]

We're fighting for the right to live and work in Britain
[ The Socialist ] [ 03 Jan 2018 00:17 GMT ]

In Britain a number of Tamil asylum seekers have formed the Refugee Rights Campaign to fight for their rights. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka the latest victim of China’s debt-trap diplomacy
[ Asia Times ] [ 02 Jan 2018 01:34 GMT ]

It was a major acquisition for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). [Full Story]

A peek inside the thriving Tamil economy some 800 years ago
[ Quartz ] [ 01 Jan 2018 00:35 GMT ]

The Tamil region had extensive trade links even prior to its recorded history. [Full Story]

Indian superstar Rajinikanth tells fans he is entering politics
[ BBC ] [ 31 Dec 2017 03:32 GMT ]

Tamil Nadu state plunged into crisis after the death of its former chief minister in December 2016. [Full Story]

JAFFNA FISHERMEN - Sri Lanka
[ Ada Derana ] [ 30 Dec 2017 02:45 GMT ]

At the time of educating the Sinhalese of the truth to establish reconciliation, a false propaganda claims Jaffna Kingdom was ruled by Aryan lords whilst exploiting the fishing crisis. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Malayaha Tamils now feel 'at home'
[ Menafn ] [ 29 Dec 2017 02:09 GMT ]

Housing is only one of the many long-ignored demands of the workers, who face historic neglect and exploitation. [Full Story]

UN condemns Australia's forced return of asylum seeker to Sri Lanka
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 28 Dec 2017 00:55 GMT ]

The man had struggled to fill out the 41-page protection application form in English unassisted, and was not able to access legal assistance before the deadline. [Full Story]

Why Is Sri Lanka Defying the United Nations?
[ The Diplomat ] [ 27 Dec 2017 01:22 GMT ]

In February 2009, the Boston Globe compared the ongoing massacre in Sri Lanka to the Bosnian Srebrenica genocide. [Full Story]

Tortured by police, separated from his family for years, but Tamil refugee still says nandri – thank you
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 26 Dec 2017 03:02 GMT ]

Near decade-long search for safety and to be reunited with his wife and child has been marked by trial and tribulation. [Full Story]

Pope Francis pleads for migrants at Christmas Eve Mass
[ BBC ] [ 25 Dec 2017 12:15 GMT ]

'We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones.' [Full Story]

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, Top Human Rights Official, Won’t Seek a Second Term
[ The New York Times ] [ 24 Dec 2017 03:48 GMT ]

In the current geopolitical context, might involve bending a knee in supplication; muting a statement of advocacy; lessening the independence and integrity of my voice — which is your voice.' [Full Story]

Tamil politicians should reject constitution that doesn't recognise Tamil homeland - Tamil Lawyers Forum
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 23 Dec 2017 02:44 GMT ]

The North-East was the inseparable and indisputable homeland of the Tamils. [Full Story]

British MPs call on Sri Lanka to release list of surrendered Tamils
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 Dec 2017 01:14 GMT ]

It is also one which reflects the government of Sri Lanka’s frankly shocking indifference to some of its most vulnerable and traumatised citizens.' [Full Story]

How a mother from Sri Lanka is helping Tamil-Canadians cope with disabilities
[ CBC News] [ 21 Dec 2017 01:15 GMT ]

ATI Foundation provides support for Tamil families with members who have disabilities. [Full Story]

Appam, pol sambol, lamprais: Flavours from the delectable Sri Lankan cuisine
[ The News Minute ] [ 20 Dec 2017 04:07 GMT ]

Sri Lankan cuisine is also influenced by the Dutch Burgher community. [Full Story]

UN asks urgent reforms to end arbitrary detention in Sri Lanka
[ Reuters ] [ 19 Dec 2017 02:04 GMT ]

The U.N. Committee against Torture described continuing reports of abductions, deaths in custody, poor conditions of detention and the use of forced confessions in court. [Full Story]

Conviviality vs Censorship: On Media Freedom in Sri Lanka
[ GroundViews ] [ 18 Dec 2017 01:35 GMT ]

Under the Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa between 2005 and 2015, government brutality and censorship towards the media in Sri Lanka reached new levels. [Full Story]

Reverse Carnatic Currents: From Lankan Tamils To South India
[ Outlook ] [ 17 Dec 2017 00:52 GMT ]

A young nadaswaram maestro from Sri Lanka regales Kerala audiences on the eve of the anniversary of a legend of the wind instrument. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Joins Global Landmine Ban
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 16 Dec 2017 00:03 GMT ]

'After deliberating for almost two decades, Sri Lanka ultimately decided to get on the right side of history by relinquishing antipersonnel mines,' Goose said. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s mothers ask international community to help find their children
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 15 Dec 2017 00:12 GMT ]

SRI LANKA’s responses to questions on accountability for rights violations at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November were evasive and packed with clichés. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan man 'risks torture and rape' if deported from Australia
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 14 Dec 2017 03:47 GMT ]

UN panel of human rights experts asks for forced return to be halted while asylum seeker’s case is considered. [Full Story]

Lankan human rights activist Shreen Saroor gets Franco-German award
[ Menafn ] [ 13 Dec 2017 00:28 GMT ]

The Franco German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law is granted to persons who show significant engagement in the protection and the promotion of human rights and the rule of law. [Full Story]

Vanakkam Mthwakazi! Hello Mthwakazi! Vanakkam Tamils!
[ Bulawayo24 ] [ 12 Dec 2017 01:52 GMT ]

The Demos will also be used as launch-pad for networking and interworking with stateless Nations that have and continue suffer genocide and gross human rights violations around the world. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka At The Crossroads
[ CT ] [ 11 Dec 2017 00:37 GMT ]

Taking advantage of the Westminster-type constitution, Sinhala-Buddhist nationalists now claim, in the name of the state, to rule the whole country, unilaterally deciding the fate of Tamils and Muslims in the North and East. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan regime backing away from conflict resolution vows
[ Asia Times ] [ 10 Dec 2017 02:08 GMT ]

The situation in late 2017 appears to be no different to what prevailed before the conflict erupted into war in 1983. [Full Story]

Straws in the wind suggest memorialization might facilitate reconciliation
[ Menafn ] [ 09 Dec 2017 04:02 GMT ]

Mass public grieving helps bring out suppressed emotions in a non-violent manner which tend to get expended over a period of time. [Full Story]

Colombia Is the Unexpected Player in Sri Lanka’s Quest for a Better Future
[ World Politics Review ] [ 08 Dec 2017 03:15 GMT ]

It’s crucial to listen to the stories of the victims and recognize their suffering. That, he maintains, is a powerful component of national healing. [Full Story]

History's Lost Transoceanic Voyages: Tamils and Sumerians Among the FIRST to Reach Australia
[ Ancient Origins ] [ 07 Dec 2017 04:44 GMT ]

According to Dr Winters, 'I have looked at the inscriptions from Australia and they appear to be written in TAMIL writing derived from the Indus Valley script, called TAMILI.' [Full Story] [Part II]

INDIA: Why India is buying the world's emptiest airport
[ Lowy Institute ] [ 06 Dec 2017 01:14 GMT ]

Geopolitical rivalry between big powers sometimes yields odd results. [Full Story]

Tamil bishop rebuilds lives of war victims
[ UCA News ] [ 05 Dec 2017 02:02 GMT ]

There are at least 89,000 war widows living in conflict-hit areas in eastern and northern Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

'TN leaders must see plight of hill country Tamils'
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 Dec 2017 00:52 GMT ]

Let them [State leaders] come and see how the hill country Tamils live. Even today, 40,000 families do not have toilet facilities.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN experts on arbitrary detention launch official visit
[ United Nations Human Rights ] [ 03 Dec 2017 01:27 GMT ]

A three-member delegation from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention will carry out an official visit to Sri Lanka to assess the country’s situation regarding the deprivation of liberty. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Failure to Confront Its Past and Present Casts a Shadow on Its Future
[ World Politics Review ] [ 02 Dec 2017 00:07 GMT ]

Eight years after the end of the civil war, Sri Lanka has enormous potential and great ambitions, but the failure to look fearlessly at the past and at the present is casting a shadow on the future. [Full Story]

Looking at Constitutional Reform in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 01 Dec 2017 04:55 GMT ]

There is agreement that this is the time to address problems that cannot be neglected any longer. [Full Story]

Poetry, best mode to express one's feelings: VC
[ The Hindu ] [ 30 Nov 2017 00:02 GMT ]

About 50 poets from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, 50 poets from Tamil Nadu and a host of Tamil scholars attended the conference. [Full Story]

‘Making Haste Slowly’ is a Tired Refrain in Sri Lanka
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 29 Nov 2017 00:15 GMT ]

The government’s credibility – and that of the Human Rights Council – depends on moving from promises to action. [Full Story]

Thousands of British Tamils commemorate Maaveerar Naal
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 28 Nov 2017 00:05 GMT ]

The British parliamentarian added that the parliamentary group will continue to work to increase international pressure on Sri Lanka to hold them accountable for mass atrocities committed against the Tamil people. [Full Story]

UNITED WE STAND AND DIVIDED, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN FALLEN!
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 27 Nov 2017 23:24 GMT ]

The playoff between the two Sinhala political parties to deny the Tamils' self-respect and opportunity to develop themselves in their homeland can be detrimental to the future of a United Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The Constitution conundrum
[ The Hindu ] [ 26 Nov 2017 01:20 GMT ]

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution created a system of diarchy in the structure of government, the two centres of power managed to function in a spirit of cooperation. [Full Story]

Families of disappeared 'deeply frustrated by continued inaction' by Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 25 Nov 2017 00:18 GMT ]

They called on the government to ensure lists of surrendees, detainees under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and all other indefinite detainees, be released within 20 days. [Full Story]

India’s Regional Power Credentials Under Threat by China
[ The Diplomat ] [ 24 Nov 2017 02:07 GMT ]

India’s loss of leverage with Colombo following China’s intervention in Sri Lanka’s civil war was noted by the International Crisis Group. [Full Story]

In Tamil Nadu, a book donation drive is underway to restock a Sri Lanka library set afire in 1981
[ Scroll.in ] [ 23 Nov 2017 01:12 GMT ]

The state government is collecting books in the Tamil language for the new Jaffna Public Library, a symbol of Sri Lanka’s Tamil cultural identity. [Full Story]

Microsoft Translator Now Gets Tamil Text Translation Support
[ NDTV ] [ 22 Nov 2017 03:57 GMT ]

Tamil is one of the longest-surviving languages in the world and is currently being spoken by over 70 million native speakers within the Indian subcontinent and across the globe. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan civil war novel takes DSC prize for south Asian literature
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 21 Nov 2017 02:07 GMT ]

A novel that condenses the horrors of the 26-year Sri Lankan civil war into an intimate love story has won the 2017 DSC prize for south Asian literature, the region’s richest book prize. [Full Story]

Tamil parties in Lanka may split for local elections in North
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 20 Nov 2017 01:52 GMT ]

The moderate and the nationalist factions of the TNA held separate meetings over the weekend. [Full Story]

A Visual Tour Of Bourdain’s Sri Lankan Food-Odyssey On ‘Parts Unknown’
[ Uproxx ] [ 19 Nov 2017 02:00 GMT ]

This week saw Bourdain traipsing into the northern reaches of Sri Lanka to get the Tamil side of the nearly three-decade-long Sri Lankan Civil War. [Full Story]

Debt drives Jaffna mom, children to death
[ The Hindu ] [ 18 Nov 2017 00:33 GMT ]

The interest rates are as high as 70%, and force borrowers to take new loans to service their existing debt, according to officials. [Full Story]

Tamil civil society groups call on international community to 're-prioritise accountability and justice' in Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 17 Nov 2017 01:15 GMT ]

'The de-prioritisation of accountability processes and waning of pressure by the international community has only served to allow the government to place these issues on the backburner. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Adopt Timeline for Action
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 16 Nov 2017 00:05 GMT ]

'UN members need to look beyond the increasingly hollow promises of reform, and insist that the government present an action plan and timeline for honoring its commitments.' [Full Story]

The forgotten people
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Nov 2017 02:11 GMT ]

The plight of Sri Lankan refugees, who have been here for nearly 35 years, appears to have gone out of the public consciousness. [Full Story]

Dheepan explores the struggles and atrocities of civil wars
[ The Indian Express ] [ 14 Nov 2017 00:34 GMT ]

The people who are actually part of the crisis, face much worse than we can imagine. To witness war, blood, losing families and friends, leaving the homeland to 'settle' where fate takes them. [Full Story]

Exploring post-tsunami Sri Lanka
[ The Week ] [ 13 Nov 2017 01:50 GMT ]

Twelve years ago, a tsunami devastated the region, claiming more than 40,000 lives. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka says it will investigate alleged torture of Tamils
[ WPXI Pittsburgh ] [ 12 Nov 2017 19:10 GMT ]

'We have accepted a transitional justice process ... but that process will take a little bit of time. We have to educate the troops who fought, then the public. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka govt faces pressure over torture, rape allegations
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 11 Nov 2017 00:05 GMT ]

More than 100,000 people were estimated to have died in the war, including at least up to 40,000 civilians in its final months, according to U.N. estimates. [Full Story]

Dozens of Tamil Men Seeking Asylum Say Sri Lankan Forces Raped and Tortured Them
[ Washington Post ] [ 10 Nov 2017 00:01 GMT ]

'These survivors are the walking wounded of an invisible war. [Full Story]

China's growing presence ratchets tensions in Sri Lanka
[ Global Risk Insights ] [ 09 Nov 2017 03:27 GMT ]

New Delhi can rely on its geographical proximity and cultural ties to secure a place in Sri Lanka’s development. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka counts high cost of war and peace
[ Financial Times UK ] [ 08 Nov 2017 00:25 GMT ]

'Sri Lanka has shown how it’s possible to hoodwink the international community, always asking for space and time — and now Myanmar is following their lead.' [Full Story]

Joint Statement From the U.S. Dept of State and the Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka on the 2nd U.S.-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 08 Nov 2017 00:05 GMT ]

The U.S. expressed support to Sri Lanka in the implementation of commitments as agreed in the Human Rights Council resolution, such as truth-seeking, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's post-war poverty trap
[ The Hindu ] [ 07 Nov 2017 02:05 GMT ]

Eight years after the civil war ended, people in the war-hit north and east are gripped by poverty. [Full Story]

Why this Tamil asylum seeker called an Apollo Bay teacher 'Mum'
[ The Canberra Times ] [ 06 Nov 2017 00:32 GMT ]

Teacher Alison Corke, 62, started writing to Tamil asylum seeker Para Paheer, 39, in 2010, during his detention on Christmas Island. He was eventually released and now lives with her family in Victoria. [Full Story]

Anthony Bourdain Explores Sri Lanka's Newfound Peace In Latest 'Parts Unknown'
[ Food and Wine ] [ 05 Nov 2017 01:10 GMT ]

If the country truly tries to rebuild by investing in the destroyed areas, and letting refugees return to their homes after, in some cases, multiple decades, progress is possible. [Full Story]

The man who 'discovered' 780 Indian languages
[ BBC ] [ 04 Nov 2017 02:01 GMT ]

To keep our democracy alive, we have to keep our languages alive.' [Full Story]

The time when America stopped being great
[ BBC ] [ 03 Nov 2017 00:27 GMT ]

There is an extent to which America is politics-proof and president-proof. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: War victims' families struggle for justice 10 years on
[ Aljazeera ] [ 02 Nov 2017 02:19 GMT ]

Many victims' families are frustrated with long delays. [Full Story]

Contextualizing Sri Lanka’s Tamil Political Prisoners
[ The Diplomat ] [ 01 Nov 2017 01:34 GMT ]

For those who still hold high hopes about Sri Lanka’s current president and the road to deeper reform, now is an opportune time to recalibrate expectations. [Full Story]

'Sri Lanka Tamils agreeing to Constitutional proposals historic'
[ The Indian Express ] [ 31 Oct 2017 00:55 GMT ]

'To erase the bitter past there must be dignity, equality of all in the country'. [Full Story]

Don’t Be Fooled by Sri Lanka’s UN Engagement
[ The Diplomat ] [ 30 Oct 2017 02:07 GMT ]

Colombo remains unserious about transitional justice. [Full Story]

Observations by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
[ UN Human Rights ] [ 29 Oct 2017 02:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka continues to deprive itself of the benefits of Transitional Justice. [Full Story]

Support For 'Mersal' Shows Why Regional Nationalism Makes The South Unscalable For BJP
[ Huffington Post India ] [ 28 Oct 2017 01:05 GMT ]

In this culture of the primacy of Tamil nationalism, where disenchantment to local parties brooks nothing but home-grown resistance. [Full Story]

Braid-chopper and grease devil: Social trauma in times of fear and alienation
[ The Indian Express ] [ 27 Oct 2017 01:55 GMT ]

The grease devil incidents stopped as suddenly and as mysteriously as they had begun. [Full Story]

Selling Transitional Justice to way Sri Lankans
[ MENAFM ] [ 26 Oct 2017 00:58 GMT ]

This according to de Greiff is the most pressing argument for post-conflict justice mechanisms, as one of the key aims of the proposed justice mechanisms is guarantee of non-recurrence. [Full Story]

U.N. says Sri Lanka's delay in post-war reconciliation involves risks
[ Reuters ] [ 25 Oct 2017 00:14 GMT ]

No one should be under the impression that waiting is a costless alternative,' he told reporters in Colombo after concluding his mission. [Full Story]

UN urges Sri Lanka to start investigating war crimes
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 24 Oct 2017 00:05 GMT ]

A United Nations expert warned Monday that Sri Lanka must speed up its own long-stalled investigation into war crimes by troops or risk action by the international community. [Full Story]

Return to Sri Lanka: Indian soldier revisits a brutal battlefield
[ BBC ] [ 23 Oct 2017 03:20 GMT ]

In 1987, India sent a peacekeeping force, but it ended up getting drawn into the fighting. [Full Story]

Reid has found a new life
[ Shepparton News ] [ 22 Oct 2017 03:08 GMT ]

His story is filled with fear, discrimination and injustice, but also a desire to represent and create a better life for his people. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Do We Really Need a New Constitution?
[ SL Guardian ] [ 21 Oct 2017 00:45 GMT ]

Any attempt to make Sri Lanka a Sinhala-Buddhist ethnic nation would boost the extreme Tamil nationalist campaign aimed at separation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayapu Joseph — The Prophet of our Time
[ SL Guardian ] [ 20 Oct 2017 01:35 GMT ]

As the war continued Bishop Rayappu agonizingly prayed and meditated deeply. [Full Story]

Conservative MPs urge justice for genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka at party conference
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 19 Oct 2017 00:09 GMT ]

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid recognised the contribution of the Tamil community to British life. [Full Story]

The Constitution should help foster an inclusive and harmonious Sri Lanka!
[ SL Guardian ] [ 18 Oct 2017 01:22 GMT ]

A constructive dialogue within and between the Sri Lankan diaspora communities around the globe can make a vital contribution towards building trust and reconciliation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Opportunities to Counter Youth Radicalization
[ The Diplomat ] [ 17 Oct 2017 02:07 GMT ]

Textbooks in Sri Lanka reinforce ethno-religious divides, and could potentially lead youth to adhering to exclusive ethno-centric versions of nationalism. [Full Story]

In fact: On Indian military decisions of today, shadow of a pyrrhic victory yesterday
[ The Indian Express ] [ 16 Oct 2017 01:02 GMT ]

The origins of the Sri Lankan problem lay in the persecution, over years, of the minority Tamils by the state machinery. [Full Story]

Tamils in Jaffna demand release of political prisoners
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Oct 2017 02:45 GMT ]

'Despite the political prisoners’ repeated struggles and hunger strikes, the government has not paid any attention to their plight,' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Students rally for Tamil hunger strikers
[ Greenleft ] [ 14 Oct 2017 03:33 GMT ]

They began a hunger strike on September 25 demanding that their case be heard in a Tamil area. [Full Story]

The thoughts of Chairman Xi
[ BBC ] [ 13 Oct 2017 04:15 GMT ]

Not since Chairman Mao has China’s dream of greatness rested so heavily on one man. [Full Story]

Interview: I was invited by the President — Rev. Fr. S. J. Emmanuel
[ SL Guardian ] [ 12 Oct 2017 07:45 GMT ]

Fr SJ Emmanuel states he came to Sri Lanka on the invitations of the President Maithripala Sirisena and other key members of the current government to enhance the reconciliation process in the country. [Full Story]

Merger of north, east provinces needed: Sri Lanka opposition leader Sampanthan
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 11 Oct 2017 00:40 GMT ]

The proposed new Constitution may be the last chance to achieve reconciliation through an acceptable sharing of power. [Full Story]

Demographic future of Sri Lanka
[ SL Guardian ] [ 10 Oct 2017 02:55 GMT ]

With 89,000 war widows among Tamils, 25,000 of whom are from Batticaloa and 4000 women under the age of 40, there was a marriage squeeze of Tamil women. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka families search for victims eight years after civil war
[ Aljazeera ] [ 09 Oct 2017 01:05 GMT ]

It's been exactly two years since the UN adopted a resolution calling on Sri Lanka to ensure justice for victims of the civil war. [Full Story]

PERIYAR SELF-RESPECT - PHILOSHOPY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AT COLOGNE, GERMANY
[ Modern Rationalist ] [ 08 Oct 2017 00:25 GMT ]

We resolve to globalize this philosophy for living with dignity and equality. [Full Story]

UN expert on transitional justice to review progress in Sri Lanka
[ UN Human Rights ] [ 07 Oct 2017 02:52 GMT ]

'My visit aims to review the progress made thus far, to identify obstacles and bottlenecks in the implementation of the transitional justice and reform process. [Full Story]

Minorities say they're sidelined by Sri Lanka's Parliament
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 06 Oct 2017 03:15 GMT ]

Minorities including Tamils, Christians and Muslims remain on the fringes of society. [Full Story]

Respect for pluralism crucial for genuine democracy, says Sri Lankan leader Sampanthan
[ The Hindu ] [ 05 Oct 2017 00:40 GMT ]

'Electoral processes by themselves quite often serve to retain majoritarianism,' [Full Story]

Just Back From...Sri Lanka
[ Harpers BAZAAR ] [ 04 Oct 2017 03:01 GMT ]

Buddhist culture was one of my personal favorite takeaways that it can be broken down into one simple rule of being a good person, and with that in mind, being good to the Earth and the people that inhabit it. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka heads for political stalemate as extremisms come to the fore
[ MENAFN ] [ 03 Oct 2017 00:24 GMT ]

Long standing political, economic and humanitarian demands of the Tamils have remained unmet. [Full Story]

Lanka's Tamil-speaking Northern Province ready to take stranded Rohingyas
[ MENAFN ] [ 02 Oct 2017 02:25 GMT ]

There is overwhelming sympathy for the suffering Rohingyas among the Tamils. [Full Story]

A minority within a minority - A subset of Tamils lags other Sri Lankans by almost every measure
[ The Economist ] [ 01 Oct 2017 02:00 GMT ]

They remain one of the country’s poorest and most neglected groups. [Full Story]

Once the arena of creative ideological battles, the politics of survival now blights Tamil Nadu
[ Scroll.in ] [ 30 Sep 2017 03:35 GMT ]

Kamal Haasan sounds more politically promising. [Full Story]

A thavil virtuoso's cross-border quest for recognition
[ The Hindu ] [ 29 Sep 2017 02:40 GMT ]

He effortlessly achieves perfect synchronisation between valanthalai and thoppi, and during solo performances, he would enthral the audience by producing beats akin to the sound of drums. [Full Story]

Ongoing UNHRC session: What’s in store for Sri Lanka?
[ GV ] [ 28 Sep 2017 00:45 GMT ]

The signs of things to come can already be heard in the corridors of the Palais des Nations. [Full Story]

A book-trip to the middle ages with their teacher
[ The Times of India] [ 27 Sep 2017 02:12 GMT ]

'This pottery (black-and-red-ware) was first used in the Iron Age and continued to be in use in the early centuries of the Christian era. [Full Story]

Putting Sri Lanka’s Office of Missing Persons in Perspective
[ The Diplomat ] [ 26 Sep 2017 00:05 GMT ]

Time will tell if the operationalization of the OMP augurs a sincere commitment to a credible, comprehensive transitional justice process. [Full Story]

From dissecting 'thali' to sexism in Tamil films, this Facebook page is ruffling feathers
[ The News Minute ] [ 25 Sep 2017 01:52 GMT ]

There are many cultural beliefs and practices that suppress Indian women’s freedom and rights. [Full Story]

Kamal Haasan plays Game of Throne for a lead role
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 24 Sep 2017 04:50 GMT ]

Kamal Haasan’s intention to play the lead role in Tamil Nadu has taken the state politics by storm. [Full Story]

Editorial - Hopes and fears - On Sri Lanka's Constitutional reform
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Sep 2017 01:15 GMT ]

It is time Sri Lanka set itself free from the shackles of divisive notions of nationalism and charted a new path of equality and reconciliation for itself. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Current Federalism Debate: Cause For Indian Concerns – Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 22 Sep 2017 03:17 GMT ]

'Federalism is not a call for division of the island. We demand devolution in an undivided country,' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka parties, including TNA agree to accept country as unitary state: PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
[ Firstpost ] [ 21 Sep 2017 02:36 GMT ]

'The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has taken the unprecedented position that they would agree to the content. [Full Story]

TNA leader calls for recognition of Tamil identity in undivided Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 20 Sep 2017 01:15 GMT ]

Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan called for Sri Lanka’s new constitution to accept the long standing goal of recognising the identity and dignity of the Tamil speaking people. [Full Story]

Tamil Nadu - Book fair from Dec. 22
[ The Hindu ] [ 19 Sep 2017 03:05 GMT ]

The Puducherry Writers’ Book Society is organising its second International Book Fair 2017. [Full Story]

Here is a candidate for the global Sri Lankan novel, and it is only the author’s debut
[ Scroll.in ] [ 18 Sep 2017 00:57 GMT ]

This is the truth of being Sri Lankan Tamil in the last century: no one, no family, has gone unscathed. [Full Story]

The federal manoeuvre: on the Dravidian movement
[ The Hindu ] [ 17 Sep 2017 00:22 GMT ]

Tamil Nadu’s history suggests a difference between loving your identity and nurturing your country. [Full Story]

U.S. Congress Tightens War Crimes Noose on Sri Lanka
[ AT ] [ 16 Sep 2017 01:45 GMT ]

The United States, in collaboration with other western nations, initiated resolutions scrutinizing Sri Lanka in 2012 onwards culminating both US and Sri Lanka jointly agreeing to the resolution (30/1). [Full Story]

Challenges in changed times of Lanka
[ The Tribune India ] [ 15 Sep 2017 00:11 GMT ]

In India’s interest, the longevity of Lanka’s present ruling coalition is vital. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: 2 Years On, Scant Progress on UN Resolution
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 14 Sep 2017 02:35 GMT ]

Sri Lanka should put forward a time-bound and specific implementation plan on the four transitional justice mechanisms it agreed to establish as pledged in the resolution. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s OMP welcomed by foreign missions with call for ‘credible commissioners’
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 13 Sep 2017 04:55 GMT ]

The signing of a gazette to operationalise the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has been welcomed by the US, EU and Canada on Wednesday, with calls for 'credible commissioners' to be swiftly appointed. [Full Story]

UN human rights chief calls for exercise of universal jurisdiction on Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 12 Sep 2017 02:01 GMT ]

The human rights chief called on Sri Lanka to live up to commitments it had made to the international community. [Full Story]

Tamils seek federalism, not Sri Lanka's division: Wigneswaran
[ The Hindu ] [ 11 Sep 2017 00:25 GMT ]

The Tamils want their distinct identity recognised by the majority Sinhalese. [Full Story]

The war is history: Michael Buerk returns to Sri Lanka
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 10 Sep 2017 01:05 GMT ]

It’s thought 100,000 people died over the next 26 years, and up to a million were displaced. [Full Story]

Short Film - MAAVEERAN PANDAARA VANNIYAN
[ Appakutty Foundation ] [ 09 Sep 2017 03:33 GMT ]

The history of the last king of Vanni. [Full Story]

How this artiste survived a civil war to hit the high note
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 Sep 2017 01:17 GMT ]

Expatriate Tamils settled in various part of the world had ensured that nagaswaram players were in demand across the world. [Full Story]

Jaffna yet to over come trauma of war
[ Millinium Post ] [ 07 Sep 2017 00:57 GMT ]

Kumaratunga believes this is a 'golden opportunity' for Sri Lanka to address the Tamil question, for both the major parties of the country are in government together. [Full Story]

Merged North-East in federal and secular system could be solution says Tamil People's Council
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 06 Sep 2017 05:02 GMT ]

The declaration released at Veerasingam Hall, Jaffna on 5th September 2017 at the conclusion of the political discussion participated by public, political leaders and experts. [Full Story]

'Fearless' Indian journalist shot dead
[ BBC ] [ 05 Sep 2017 23:45 GMT ]

The Editors Guild of India released a statement calling her murder an 'ominous portent for dissent in democracy and a brutal assault on the freedom of the press'. [Full Story]

Making Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi relevant to changing times
[ MENAFN ] [ 04 Sep 2017 00:12 GMT ]

The ITAK hopes to be a party propagating and implementing economic development while fighting for the political rights of the Tamils. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2016/17
[ Amnesty International ] [ 03 Sep 2017 03:11 GMT ]

Sri Lanka continued to pursue commitments to deliver accountability for alleged crimes under international law, although the process was slow. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka running out of time for new constitution; containing extreme forces
[ Economy Next ] [ 02 Sep 2017 00:55 GMT ]

A failure by the two main parties to reach an agreement will fuel extremists from both the North and the South again. [Full Story]

Federalism is not Separatism Rules Supreme Court
[ DM ] [ 01 Sep 2017 01:22 GMT ]

A landmark ruling gave a clean chit to the federal form of governance and the chief Tamil political party espousing federalism in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

In Postwar Sri Lanka, Hope Fades for Families of the Disappeared
[ World Politics Review ] [ 31 Aug 2017 00:05 GMT ]

The country still has an opportunity to deal with its past and create a state that is responsive to all ethnic communities, but space for reform is quickly vanishing. [Full Story]

A Sri Lankan Ambassador in Latin America Is to Face War Crimes Suits
[ TIME ] [ 30 Aug 2017 00:02 GMT ]

They allege Jayasuriya oversaw military units that attacked hospitals and killed, disappeared and tortured thousands of people. [Full Story]

UK Anthropologist Presents Workshop in War-torn Sri Lanka
[ University of Kentucky ] [ 29 Aug 2017 02:12 GMT ]

Whitaker’s research looks at the connection between religion, politics, communication technology, journalism, nationalism and the state, and focuses on the Tamil speaking people of Eastern Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

'Vanakkam!' Tweets Justin Trudeau After Attending A Tamil Street Fest In Canada
[ NDTV ] [ 28 Aug 2017 22:10 GMT ]

Trudeau said Canada consistently raised its voice in support of Tamils during the ethnic war in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Northern Sri Lanka’s hidden treasures – a beautiful land scarred by war and untouched by tourists
[ South China Morning Post ] [ 27 Aug 2017 02:30 GMT ]

A vibrant and cultural town, Jaffna used to house the largest library of Tamil culture. In 1981 it was razed by rioting mobs, sparking the beginning of the civil war and the formation of the LTTE. [Full Story]

Disappointed by Sri Lanka's lack of progress on UNHRC resolution says EU Chargé d'affaires
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 26 Aug 2017 23:57 GMT ]

'Sri Lanka has been given time till March 2019 to fulfil its commitments. [Full Story]

Vintage car a cherished link to the past for Sri Lankan immigrant
[ CBC News ] [ 25 Aug 2017 05:24 GMT ]

The elegant car, produced in the early 1950s for Britain's Austin Motor Company, was a common sight in the Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Debt and China’s Money
[ The Diplomat ] [ 24 Aug 2017 01:33 GMT ]

Debt obtained without farsightedness has put Sri Lanka smack in the middle of the devil and the deep blue sea. [Full Story]

Jon Snow: reporting on Grenfell made me feel on wrong side of social divide
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 23 Aug 2017 19:26 GMT ]

'For us at Channel 4 News it has been invaluable in helping us to deliver our remit – to reach young viewers, to innovate and to get attention for some of the world’s most important stories. [Full Story]

Fundamental issue of Tamil status in Sri Lanka remains unresolved - Former peace mediator Eric Solheim
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 Aug 2017 00:50 GMT ]

The status of Tamils, and the influence of Tamils within the state of Sri Lanka are not resolved.' [Full Story]

Killing The Thirteenth Amendment: Redesigning Racism?
[ CT ] [ 21 Aug 2017 02:52 GMT ]

It is said that one can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time. [Full Story]

TNA calls for foreign intervention in Sri Lanka's stalling reconciliation process
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 20 Aug 2017 00:14 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called for foreign intervention in Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process in a letter to diplomatic missions and the UN. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka names first Tamil navy chief since 1970
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 19 Aug 2017 02:33 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's separatist war claimed the lives of at least 100,000 people between 1972 and 2009, according to UN estimates. [Full Story]

Will you stand with Sri Lanka’s families of the disappeared by asking Sirisena to #ReleaseTheList?
[ Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 18 Aug 2017 01:30 GMT ]

The protestors are seeking answers as to the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones, many of whom were disappeared during the war. [Full Story]

International Religious Freedom Report for 2016 - Sri Lanka
[ US State Dept ] [ 17 Aug 2017 02:05 GMT ]

The construction of Buddhist shrines by Buddhist groups or the military in parts of the Northern and Eastern provinces became contentious symbols of perceived Buddhist Sinhalese religious and cultural imperialism. [Full Story]

Montreal's most linguistically diverse area speaks 46 non-official languages at home
[ CBC ] [ 16 Aug 2017 00:05 GMT ]

With only 6,600 people, 46 non-official languages are spoken in the home - making it a hotbed of cultural crossovers and the most linguistically diverse area of Montreal. [Full Story]

Google adds voice recognition for Sinhala and Tamil
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 15 Aug 2017 03:49 GMT ]

Aiming to make its voice typing technology more inclusive, Google has added 30 new languages to voice search including Sinhala and Tamil. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan government 'has not lived up to its commitments'-GTF
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 14 Aug 2017 03:17 GMT ]

The Tamils are seeing the same old political dynamics that has plagued Sri Lanka since Independence and are understandably becoming cynical of the Government. [Full Story]

This short film on Sri Lankan Tamils highlights their everyday struggles and discrimination
[ The News Minute ] [ 13 Aug 2017 01:14 GMT ]

The words are steeped in the longing this man feels to return to his homeland, and his resignation at a life of discrimination which awaits him in India. [Full Story]

The Killing Fields
[ Modern Farmer ] [ 12 Aug 2017 00:09 GMT ]

A mysterious kidney disease afflicts an estimated 400,000 people in the province, representing about a third of its population. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's war widows trafficked as slaves to Gulf
[ Thomson Reuters Foundation ] [ 11 Aug 2017 02:59 GMT ]

Lack of opportunities for thousands of war widows is making them easy prey for traffickers who sell them as slaves overseas. [Full Story]

India Is an Overwhelming Presence in South Asia, and Must Do More to Build Trust
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 10 Aug 2017 02:02 GMT ]

Modi now needs to turn that sentiment into action by promoting respect for human rights abroad. [Full Story]

‘We cannot indefinitely wait’ - TNA tells senior UN official
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 09 Aug 2017 00:40 GMT ]

'credible, tangible progress' in reconciliation, accountability and human rights is a "prerequisite to the achievement of sustainable peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka". [Full Story]

Voluntary, Safe and Sustainable Return: Support Needed for Sri Lankan Refugees
[ GV ] [ 08 Aug 2017 1:20 GMT ]

Provisions ensuring the inalienable right of refugees to return to their country and guaranteeing a life in safety and dignity, should be enshrined. [Full Story]

Silenced stones mark hard path to Sri Lankan reconciliation
[ Asia Times ] [ 07 Aug 2017 02:06 GMT ]

Land, missing persons and monuments are important examples of reconciliation-related issues. [Full Story]

Pandalur-Devala’s Accidental Gold Rush – and How It Went Bust
[ The Wire ] [ 06 Aug 2017 00:56 GMT ]

Deep in the Pandalur-Devala region of the Nilgiri Mountain range in South India, people dig into solid rock for a small piece of it. [Full Story]

11 years no justice for massacred ACF aid workers
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 05 Aug 2017 01:27 GMT ]

'The Sri Lankan government has failed in its duty to uphold international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and aid workers' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka to host conference on Tamil culture
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 Aug 2017 00:14 GMT ]

The International Movement of Tamil Culture (Sri Lanka chapter) in association with the University of Jaffna will be holding a two-day special conference. [Full Story]

What is behind China's purchase of a port in Sri Lanka?
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 03 Aug 2017 02:05 GMT ]

Can Sri Lanka keep its worried neighbours on its side, while trying to play a bigger role in China's ambitious trade plans? [Full Story]

A little piece of Sri Lanka in Paris
[ iOL ] [ 02 Aug 2017 02:19 GMT ]

The vast cultural landscape was due to the 1980s when many Sri Lankans fled the civil war, landing in France. [Full Story]

Black July: Recalling the Riot That Started Sri Lankan Civil War
[ The Quint ] [ 01 Aug 2017 00:49 GMT ]

Every year, Sri Lankan Tamils and many Sinhalese across the world commemorate Black July. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Conflict-Affected Women: Dealing with the Legacy of War
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 31 July 2017 01:25 GMT ]

Bold promises by the government to UN Human Rights Council in 2015 including a truth commission, a special court and offices to investigate missing persons and provide reparations have failed to materialise. [Full Report]

VANAKKAM TAMIZHA - A RADIO SHOW CONNECTING THE SOUTH ISLAND TAMIL COMMUNITY
[ Indian Weekender ] [ 30 July 2017 02:52 GMT ]

'Going by the success we have achieved in bringing the community together. [Full Story]

TNA's Sampanthan on permanent solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict
[ The Hindu ] [ 29 July 2017 04:11 GMT ]

'The Tamils' struggle for self rule had been in the political arena shortly after Independence. [Full Story]

Japanese, Sri Lankan among 2017 winners of Magsaysay awards
[ ABC News ] [ 28 July 2017 02:01 GMT ]

The winners were unafraid to take on large causes and 'refused to give up, despite meager resources, daunting adversity and strong opposition,'. [Full Story]

EU court keeps Hamas on terrorism list, removes Tamil Tigers
[ Reuters ] [ 27 July 2017 01:25 GMT ]

The EU terrorism list, created after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 and last updated in January. [Full Story]

Tamils in Sri Lanka demand govt to disclose whereabouts of missing relatives
[ Firstpost ] [ 26 July 2017 02:51 GMT ]

The issue of missing persons was a 'serious issue' and relatives of the disappeared persons in the north and east had called for revealing the names of all those held in custody. [Full Story]

The saga of Sri Lanka’s new Constitution
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 July 2017 01:05 GMT ]

The Tamil leaders’ patience is evidently waning. [Full Story]

Accidental Anarchist: Life Without Government
[ BBC iPlayer ] [ 24 July 2017 00:17 GMT ]

This film traces Carne's worldwide quest to find a better way of doing things - from a farming collective in Spain, to Occupy Wall Street to Rojava in war-torn Syria. [Full Story]

Make A Start With Reparations To Deal With The Past
[ CT ] [ 23 July 2017 01:25 GMT ]

Even though the government has failed to keep its promises to the UN and to the Tamil people, it is important not to lose sight of the policy shift that has taken place. [Full Story]

Top UN official visits Sri Lanka for talks on peace building process
[ Xinhua ] [ 22 July 2017 00:01 GMT ]

Feltman arrived in Sri Lanka to take stock of the peace progress in the country. [Full Story]

Looking at Systemic Torture in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 21 July 2017 05:05 GMT ]

Many in the international community convinced themselves that Sri Lanka in 2015 offered a once in a lifetime opportunity for historical change. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan President signs Office on Missing Persons Act
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 20 July 2017 03:41 GMT ]

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today signed the Office on Missing Persons Act, paving the way to set up an office to trace around 20,000 people still missing. [Full Story]

Tales from the new Silk Road
[ BBC ] [ 19 July 2017 00:04 GMT ]

'Ethnic harmony and economic development' - important buzzwords, as one purpose of the new Silk Road. [Full Story]

Imperial to help develop blast injury hub for conflict survivors in Sri Lanka
[ Imperial College London ] [ 18 July 2017 00:55 GMT ]

During, and in the aftermath of, the Sri Lankan civil war, many civilians were injured by bombs, artillery fire, shelling, land mines, improvised explosive devices, anti-personal mines.. [Full Story]

GATHERING EVIDENCE - UNSTOPPED
[ ITJP ] [ 17 July 2017 03:32 GMT ]

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has made it clear another domestic mechanism will not have the trust of victims after so many have failed to deliver justice. [Full Report]

UN committee asks Sri Lanka to end military involvement in commercial, civilian activities
[ FirstPost ] [ 16 July 2017 02:45 GMT ]

UNCESCR has asked the Sri Lankan government to 'take measures' to map private and public land under the control of the military and ensure its restitution. [Full Story]

Keeping International Pressure on Sri Lanka
[ Huffington Post ] [ 15 July 2017 00:15 GMT ]

The Tamil call is justice for the genocide committed against the Tamils. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Difficulty With Truth
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 14 July 2017 03:05 GMT ]

Foreign governments watching Sri Lanka’s progress on the resolution need to ask tough questions about why yet another Sri Lankan Government report is banished into silence. [Full Story]

UN special rapporteur visits Sri Lanka's Tamil political detainees for first time
[ First Post ] [ 13 July 2017 03:32 GMT ]

He met Tamil political prisoners arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Vavuniya in the Northern Province. [Full Story]

Building solidarity beyond borders
[ The Hindu ] [ 12 July 2017 01:41 GMT ]

The need for progressive voices to consolidate their disparate struggles is clear and urgent. [Full Story]

The Mystique of MGR – A Legend Who Lives On
[ The Wire ] [ 11 July 2017 01:17 GMT ]

A Life is deceptively simple for a narrative that tries to unravel the complexities of a man who was a legend during his lifetime. [Full Story]

Thousands attend Tamil pilgrimage in Norfolk
[ ITV News ] [ 10 July 2017 02:30 GMT ]

The shrine is known as England's Nazareth and has been a place of pilgrimage since medieval times attracting 150,000 worshippers every year. [Full Story]

National Unity Essential for Sri Lankan Government's Survival
[ The Citizen ] [ 09 July 2017 00:09 GMT ]

The indications are that the Government of National Unity is on course to regain its sense of mission to achieve national unity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka vows Tamil autonomy despite Buddhist resistance
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 July 2017 02:01 GMT ]

He has said he wants to prevent a repeat of a bloody separatist conflict that claimed 100,000 lives. [Full Story]

TNA urges Sri Lanka to publish interim constitutional amendment reports
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 07 July 2017 01:05 GMT ]

The TNA had held discussions with the SLFP and the JVP regarding the new constitution. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka ends decades-long occupation of Tamil port
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 06 July 2017 02:49 GMT ]

Maithripala Sirisena, came to power after promising reconciliation and accountability for war-time atrocities, but rights groups say progress on both fronts has been slow. [Full Story]

Mounting Religious Violence in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 05 July 2017 01:41 GMT ]

Now's the time for Colombo to act swiftly and decisively – before things get any worse. [Full Story]

How the Tamil Muslims were Infulential
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 July 2017 03:14 GMT ]

'Tamil culture is naturalistic, secular and humanistic. It professes universal brotherhood,' concludes Zubair, quoting a classical Tamil poet. [Full Story]

Mangala Samaraweera omitted from Sri Lanka's committee to coordinate UN resolution
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 July 2017 02:24 GMT ]

Apart from Harsha de Silva, everyone else in the committee named by the Prime Minister are against the implantation of the UNHRC recommendations.' [Full Story]

Time to go home, maybe, but is home Lanka or T.N.?
[ The Hindu ] [ 02 July 2017 03:14 GMT ]

Eight years after the end of the war, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, who have been in the State for decades, are still stateless persons. [Full Story]

Dissecting the British Tamil vote - UK General Election 2017
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 01 July 2017 00:52 GMT ]

Number 10’s muted reactions to developments on the island have allowed Sri Lanka to regress on its commitments towards reconciliation. [Full Story]

Religious leaders seek justice for suspected Tamil rebels
[ UCA News ] [ 30 Jun 2017 00:02 GMT ]

More than 80 suspected Tamil rebels have been detained for 22 years under the terrorism law without trial. [Full Story]

Dance School extols Tamil language and culture
[ Indian Newslink ] [ 29 Jun 2017 02:07 GMT ]

Tamil is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world. [Full Story]

Tamil group calls for international judges in Sri Lanka’s transitional justice system
[ The Indian Express ] [ 28 Jun 2017 01:05 GMT ]

The UN report was highly critical of the Sri Lankan justice system. It described the judiciary as partial and politicised. [Full Story]

Is International Human Rights Law Under Threat? Grotius Lecture at the Law Society, London
[ OHCHR ] [ 27 Jun 2017 00:44 GMT ]

Our world is dangerously close to unmooring itself from a sense of compassion, slowly becoming not only a post-truth but also a post-empathetic world. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Establish Office on Missing Persons immediately
[ Amnesty International ] [ 26 Jun 2017 00:55 GMT ]

Amnesty International calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to immediately implement the much delayed Office on Missing Persons. [Full Story]

Changing perceptions in South Asia
[ The Kathmandu Post ] [ 25 Jun 2017 02:27 GMT ]

Countries in South Asia seem to be embroiled in a never-ending display of confusion, suspicion, misconception and a lack of understanding about each other. [Full Story]

Reporter seeks justice for 'white van' torture in Sri Lanka
[ Fox News ] [ 24 Jun 2017 22:10 GMT ]

Advocating accountability, transparency and human rights meant taking a personal risk. [Full Story]

Limits of exclusivism
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Jun 2017 03:05 GMT ]

The Centre also aggravates the dire state of the Tamil community with a terribly flawed reconstruction programme, with no meaningful investment in the local economy or job creation. [Full Story]

Yoga: How did it conquer the world and what's changed?
[ BBC ] [ 22 Jun 2017 02:00 GMT ]

'Integration of personality is the prime aim of yoga.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Minister Threatens Defender of Minority Rights
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 Jun 2017 00:10 GMT ]

'Sri Lanka’s friends should be clear they are watching the government’s response closely.' [Full Story]

Retrieved lifeboat tells stories of Tamil refugees
[ Toronto Star ] [ 20 Jun 2017 02:45 GMT ]

After 13 days on the ship, he and the 154 others were abandoned in the two lifeboats in the Atlantic Ocean, without food or water. [Full Story]

Uncertainty ends in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province
[ The Hindu ] [ 19 Jun 2017 17:49 GMT ]

It reflected the simmering disgruntlement within a section of the Council. [Full Story]

Scarborough sports field to see 1,100 Tamils dance love for Canada
[ Inside Toronto ] [ 18 Jun 2017 00:25 GMT ]

'The fact that Canada opened their arms and welcomed us to their home is really big for us,' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s elusive housing logic
[ The Hindu ] [ 17 Jun 2017 01:25 GMT ]

Activists and a section of northern residents are worried that the proposal to build steel homes will neither regenerate local economy nor employ local labour in the war-torn areas. [Full Story]

The cost of a cup of tea
[ Church Times ] [ 16 Jun 2017 03:55 GMT ]

'Tea-pickers are considered the lowest of the low, despite being the backbone of the Sri Lankan econ­omy,' [Full Story]

Reconciliation Requires Actions Not Only Processes
[ CT ] [ 15 Jun 2017 01:05 GMT ]

It is necessary that the willingness to consult and to speak in terms of international standards are reflected in actual changes on the ground. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's justice system not accessible to Tamil community notes UN Rapporteur
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 14 Jun 2017 05:03 GMT ]

Diego Garcia-Sayan, expressed concern that over the lack of equal representation of minority groups in prosecution services and the police force. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan President reportedly pledges to look for missing persons from civil war, release list
[ ABC News ] [ 13 Jun 2017 05:55 GMT ]

Some Tamils remain deeply suspicious that secret Government detention camps still exist. [Full Story]

Protect rights of Sri Lankan Tamils: Stalin to UN HRC
[ The Hindu ] [ 12 Jun 2017 04:07 GMT ]

He said they also required a 'meaningful political solution,' which was long 'overdue.' [Full Story]

Uncovering a story of ill-fated romance and tragic death
[ BBC ] [ 11 Jun 2017 05:52 GMT ]

In the southern Indian port city of Chennai - Madras, as it once was - Andrew Whitehead came across a last remnant of the Jewish presence there. [Full Story]

Why India Needs To Re-Calibrate Relations With Sri Lanka – Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 10 Jun 2017 19:10 GMT ]

While the SL Tamil community has all along been fighting for their rights, the Upcountry Tamils have been struggling for a livelihood. [Full Story]

May to form 'government of certainty' with DUP backing
[ BBC ] [ 09 Jun 2017 19:10 GMT ]

She said she intended to form a government which could "provide certainty and lead Britain forward at this critical time for our country". [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Genocidal War as Seen by the World
[ Tamil Sangam ] [ 08 Jun 2017 02:41 GMT ]

Switch to the pragmatic policy of true reconciliation towards building a united Sri Lanka under a two nations federal system. [Full Story]

Seven oldest languages in the world that are still in use
[ India Today ] [ 07 Jun 2017 00:56 GMT ]

Its origin is believed to be during 2500 BC or so. In today's world, around 78 million people in the world speak Tamil. It is this fact of contemporary utility that makes Tamil the longest surviving language in the world. [Full Story]

Ministry of Utmost Happiness: Arundhati Roy's much-awaited second coming
[ BBC ] [ 06 Jun 2017 01:10 GMT ]

'It is our constant anxiety about that violence, our memory of its past labours and our dread of its future manifestations, that lays down the rules of how a people as complex, as diverse as we are continue to coexist. [Full Story]

Eight years after end of war, Tamil refugees divided over returning to Sri Lanka
[ Livemint ] [ 05 Jun 2017 02:02 GMT ]

Today they live on in the knowledge that their sheltering camps can never be home, while returning means having to rebuild life from the scratch. [Full Story]

Book: Government and Politics in Sri Lanka
[ Routledge ] [ 04 Jun 2017 00:45 GMT ]

The author provides fresh insights into Sri Lanka’s postcolonial policies and the system of government that it has in place. [Full Story]

Where to eat in Sydney's Little Sri Lanka
[ Goodfood ] [ 03 Jun 2017 03:25 GMT ]

Tamil food is by far the most heavily represented. [Full Story]

India: Human rights activists jailed for commemorating 2009 massacre of Tamils in Sri Lanka
[ Green Left ] [ 02 Jun 2017 04:59 GMT ]

This year, the police violently dispersed the crowd and arrested several leading Tamil human rights activists. [Full Story]

Protest seeking info on Sri Lanka's missing people enters 100 day
[ The Indian Express ] [ 01 Jun 2017 01:30 GMT ]

Tamil rights groups want the government to probe the cases of all those disappeared and hold the culprits accountable. [Full Story]

Australia working with India and Sri Lanka to resettle refugees
[ The Hindu ] [ 31 May 2017 02:14 GMT ]

'There are about 1,00,000 Sri Lankan people who fled to Tamil Nadu in the past. [Full Story]

Violence against religious minorities in Sri Lanka
[ Vatican Radio ] [ 30 May 2017 00:03 GMT ]

'None of our fellow citizens should have to live in fear or be subjected to abuse and violence on religious grounds,' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka floods: Residents afraid as more rain forecast
[ BBC ] [ 29 May 2017 01:05 GMT ]

At least 164 people have been killed and nearly 500,000 displaced in the flooding and mudslides triggered by heavy rains on Friday. [Full Story]

UN to check human rights record for Sri Lankan peacekeepers
[ India.com ] [ 28 May 2017 02:49 GMT ]

The UN will require Sri Lankan troops to undergo 'enhanced screening' for human rights violations going back to the final years of the civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s missing people
[ The Daily Star ] [ 27 May 2017 04:44 GMT ]

As many as 65,000 people, mostly from the ethnic Tamil minority, are still missing in the country. [Full Story]

URGENT ACTION: PRIEST HARASSED OVER MEMORIAL TO DEAD WAR VICTIMS
[ Amnesty International ] [ 26 May 2017 03:51 GMT ]

Sri Lankan priest is being harassed by the police over his efforts to help families memorialize their loved ones lost during the armed conflict. [Full Story]

Will Indian superstar Rajinikanth go into politics?
[ BBC ] [ 25 May 2017 04:10 GMT ]

He says he's a 'pure Tamil' whose heart beats for the Tamils who have welcomed him and given him 'fame, fortune and love'. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA - Tribute for Sri Lanka’s civil war victims despite barriers
[ Asia News ] [ 24 May 2017 02:56 GMT ]

For Sri Lankan Tamils, 18 May is the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day; for the Sri Lankan military, it is the War Heroes Day. [Full Story]

India-Lanka Ties - NATIONAL, NOT STATE SUBJECT
[ The Shillong Times ] [ 23 May 2017 00:05 GMT ]

Sri Lankan Tamils comprising descendants of Tamils of the old Jaffna Kingdom and the other is Indian Tamils. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's president pledges investigation into disappeared
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 May 2017 02:30 GMT ]

The North-East has seen intensifying protests related to the plight of the disappeared. [Full Story]

Tamils in Derry mark anniversary of Sri Lanka’s massacre of up to 70,000 people
[ An Phoblacht ] [ 21 May 2017 01:50 GMT ]

'The international community have forgotten the Tamil people and it is vital that we bring their story to a wider audience' [Full Story]

The Sexual Exploitation of Sri Lanka's War Widows
[ US News ] [ 20 May 2017 00:12 GMT ]

'It's hard to fight for justice when you're starving.' [Full Story]

Facing Sri Lanka’s Ghosts
[ US News ] [ 19 May 2017 02:02 GMT ]

With thousands still missing, Sri Lanka’s postwar progress comes to a halt. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: The conflict’s legacy of impunity endures
[ Amnesty International ] [ 18 May 2017 22:05 GMT ]

'It is appalling that nearly a decade after the conflict ended, people are still being prevented from remembering the dead. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Anti-Terror Bill Revives Concerns of Abuse
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 18 May 2017 21:55 GMT ]

'UN member countries and the EU need to be pressing Colombo to fully abide by its pledges to the Human Rights Council.' [Full Story]

Mark May 18 as 'day of grief', Tamils told
[ The Hindu ] [ 18 May 2017 03:55 GMT ]

He asks Tamils to observe three minutes silence on the day Sri Lanka's civil war ended. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Transition to Nowhere
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 17 May 2017 01:25 GMT ]

If current dynamics continue, the country will likely lose a real opportunity to address the roots of its decades of political turmoil. The chances of an eventual return to violence would then grow considerably. [Full Report]

Reconciliation In A Country Entrenched With Multiple Discriminations
[ CT ] [ 16 May 2017 02:09 GMT ]

Any serious discussion on the reconciliation processes must deal with how the rule of law has been undermined in Sri Lanka, and the state of the judicial institutions within the country. [Full Story]

Modi in Sri Lanka, stresses on peace & harmony in a multi-lingual society
[ The Sentinel ] [ 15 May 2017 00:24 GMT ]

He also announced India’s assistance in the construction of 10,000 additional houses in upcountry areas, where 4,000 have already been built. [Full Story]

True to form, Sri Lanka ditches international pledges on anti-terrorism laws
[ JDS ] [ 14 May 2017 03:14 GMT ]

'We are shocked by the extent of which the draft framework curtails civil liberties. [Full Story]

Peopling an Island - the Case of Sri Lanka
[ TVSUR ] [ 13 May 2017 02:05 GMT ]

Tamil people have been continuously protesting this land encroachment and their protests are intensifying in recent times. [Full Story]

The damage done by the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the Tamils in North-East Sri Lanka
[ TWG ] [ 12 May 2017 00:01 GMT ]

If a State fails to protect its citizens from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, then the international community has to intervene diplomatically, and if this fails, then 'as a last resort', with military force. [Full Story]

Upcountry Tamils set to welcome Modi
[ The Hindu ] [ 11 May 2017 01:02 GMT ]

Senior upcountry leaders deemed the Prime Minister's visit 'historic', after Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru's visits in the pre-Independence era. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's main Tamil party 'perturbed' by proposed anti-terror law
[ Firstpost ] [ 10 May 2017 02:48 GMT ]

They were 'shocked' by the extent to which the draft framework 'curtails civil liberties, erodes judicial control over the state security apparatus and the staggering potential for abuse and torture.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Prevention Of Terrorism Act And Revision
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 09 May 2017 01:44 GMT ]

The PTA was used against all communities in Sri Lanka, its main target was Tamil people. [Full Story]

Desperate lives inside camps:Tales of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees
[ Sunday Times ] [ 08 May 2017 00:22 GMT ]

Sri Lankan people as refugees are living in camps in India with no solution to their plight. [Full Story]

Border Girls: Women in Sri Lanka take on male roles to help recovery from brutal civil war
[ ABC News ] [ 07 May 2017 01:32 GMT ]

The study said the women struggled to find work and to be accepted as the heads of their households by their communities, and had poor access to basic services. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamil and Muslim protests intensify
[ Green Left ] [ 06 May 2017 01:50 GMT ]

They are demanding the return of their land, which was taken over by the Sri Lankan armed forces. [Full Story]

Repeated invasions ravage Sri Lanka
[ Numismatic News ] [ 05 May 2017 00:21 GMT ]

Harder to see how the Tamils dominated, even for short periods, any part of the rest of the island, but they did. [Full Story]

No media freedom without prosecutions for past crimes against Tamil journalists
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 04 May 2017 05:41 GMT ]

We stress again that there must be investigations into all the murders, abductions and disappearances of journalists and that their perpetrators must be prosecuted. [Full Story]

After Sri Lanka's civil war, Toronto Tamils want to restore homeland
[ Inside Toronto ] [ 03 May 2017 03:58 GMT ]

Sri Lankan leaders who, the investors say, admit the government was partly responsibility for the war and the suffering it caused. [Full Story]

Years after war trials of resettlement in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 02 May 2017 02:08 GMT ]

It is time for the Sri Lankan government to get its act together on the ground. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka faces trade, human rights link
[ Nikkei ] [ 01 May 2017 03:33 GMT ]

The government has dragged its feet on converting assurances into action, and patience among the international community is wearing thin. [Full Story]

After a run of 76 years, BBC Tamil Radio to go off air
[ The Hindu ] [ 30 Apr 2017 21:10 GMT ]

The broadcast proved to be a major source of information during the war in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Building holistic India-Sri Lanka ties
[ The Hindu ] [ 29 Apr 2017 23:14 GMT ]

Several factories in the north, destroyed or defunct during the war, await attention and investment. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka makes a mockery of the UN Human Rights Council
[ Washington Examiner ] [ 28 Apr 2017 05:40 GMT ]

Transitional justice is in deep trouble and additional scrutiny via the Geneva-based body is unlikely to change that very much. [Full Story]

Feasting on Tamil performing arts
[ The Jakarta Post ] [ 27 Apr 2017 02:45 GMT ]

The event is an annual signature event organized by ITS to showcase cuisine, traditional games and performing arts from the Tamil-speaking community. [Full Story]

Bend It Like Granny
[ BBC ] [ 26 Apr 2017 00:10 GMT ]

Nanammal is 98 years old and an expert yoga instructor from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. [Full Story]

New Silk Road Or New Great Game? India Developing New Sri Lanka Port To Combat China
[ Forbes ] [ 25 Apr 2017 00:05 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government was called up before the UN Human Rights council in 2009, and the EU and US subsequently shut down most economic concessions and sources of aid to demonstrated their disapproval for the alleged abuses. [Full Story]

EU Parliamentary group opposed to Lanka tariff concession
[ India Today ] [ 24 Apr 2017 03:42 GMT ]

According to the UN figures, up to 40,000 civilians were killed by the security forces during former president Mahinda Rajapaksas regime. [Full Story]

S. Lanka's Tamil Catholics demand their village back from navy
[ Vatican Radio ] [ 23 Apr 2017 01:15 GMT ]

'Many priests, nuns and human rights activists show their solidarity with these people and the villagers will carry on their protest until they get back their lands,' [Full Story]

British parliamentary group for Tamils will continue to demand Sri Lanka fulfils obligations says chair
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 Apr 2017 03:05 GMT ]

'The APPG for Tamils will continue to keep human rights on the agenda in the UK and abroad,' [Full Story]

What I Talk About When I Talk About Sri Lanka
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 21 Apr 2017 02:51 GMT ]

These quiet heroes are the main reason why I’m still interested in human rights. [Full Story]

US must not ignore Sri Lanka's human rights violations
[ The Hill ] [ 20 Apr 2017 00:02 GMT ]

The reality is that the country has not really made any progress on reconciliation and justice. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: 'ONLY JUSTICE CAN HEAL OUR WOUNDS'
[ Amnesty International ] [ 19 Apr 2017 01:05 GMT ]

Amnesty International urges Sri Lanka to seek and accept international assistance where it is needed to ensure the most effective and rigorous process possible, so that all Sri Lankans can finally learn the truth. [Full Story PDF]

Healing through harmonies in post-conflict Sri Lanka
[ Irish Times ] [ 18 Apr 2017 04:38 GMT ]

It works on the premise that music is an ideal tool for unifying people and challenging stereotypes. [Full Story]

Constitutional Reform and Political Diversions
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 17 Apr 2017 05:04 GMT ]

A government that engages the people on its political and economic programme can carry them through tumultuous times. [Full Story]

Community Action To Mitigate Ethnic and Religious Tensions
[ National Peace Council ] [ 16 Apr 2017 00:59 GMT ]

Opponents of the government and extremist groups carry on their campaign against the implementation of resolution, adding to the polarization of the communities. [Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka’s slow dance on transitional justice
[ Lowy Institute for International Policy ] [ 15 Apr 2017 01:53 GMT ]

The suppression of Tamil rights in a range of areas – including language, education, employment and land – led to the rise of Tamil militancy in the 1970s. [Full Story]

'The Tamil Nadu factor': demanding justice for genocide in Sri Lanka
[ Open Democracy ] [ 14 Apr 2017 02:02 GMT ]

From politicians to protestors, the people of Tamil Nadu are making waves in Indian politics, rallying around the need for justice for the war crimes committed against Sri Lanka’s Tamils. [Full Story]

Lankan Tamils issues need quick solutions: Opposition leader
[ India Today ] [ 13 Apr 2017 03:34 GMT ]

The northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka are the traditional homeland of the ethnic Tamil people. [Full Story]

The journey home: Sri Lanka's displaced try to rebuild their lives
[ The National ] [ 12 Apr 2017 04:17 GMT ]

One million Tamils fled abroad, 65,000 people are still missing, with 90,000 women widowed, 137,000 homes still need to be rebuilt. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Ramya's story of return
[ JRS ] [ 11 Apr 2017 03:09 GMT ]

We want our children to live as free citizens in their own land. [Full Story]

New UK Home Office guidance on Sri Lanka significantly downplays ongoing human rights violations
[ Freedom from Torture ] [ 10 Apr 2017 02:50 GMT ]

Freedom from Torture is calling for an urgent review of the guidance to avoid individuals being wrongly returned to face torture or ill-treatment. [Full Story]

Why Sri Lanka's past refuses to be forgotten
[ Amnesty International ] [ 09 Apr 2017 03:02 GMT ]

They must commit to a public timeline in order to restore the people’s confidence that justice is on track and assure them that they are serious about taking action. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan battlefield moves to Geneva UN HRC!
[ SL Guardian ] [ 08 Apr 2017 01:34 GMT ]

The idea of a counter-lobby and cover-up of genocide is believed to be the brain-child of two failed Sri Lankan diplomats to Geneva. [Full Story]

It’s time to act in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 07 Apr 2017 02:29 GMT ]

Amnesty urges govt. to repeal Prevention of Terrorism Act. [Full Story]

FOR SRI LANKA, U.S. SECURITY COOPERATION IS NOT THE CURE
[ War on the Rocks ] [ 06 Apr 2017 00:04 GMT ]

A return to violent internecine conflict would be neither stabilizing for the region nor strategically beneficial for the United States. [Full Story]

The quest for healing and justice in the homeland of Toronto’s Tamil community: Tory
[ Toronto Star ] [ 05 Apr 2017 03:47 GMT ]

The challenge now becomes one of taking the next, bigger steps. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Victims of disappearance cannot wait any longer for justice
[ Amnesty International ] [ 04 Apr 2017 02:30 GMT ]

Sri Lanka will not break with its violent past until it reckons with the cruel history of enforced disappearance and delivers justice to as many as 100,000 families who have spent years waiting for it. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Has There Been Genuine National Reconciliation? - Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 03 Apr 2017 05:14 GMT ]

There is a nagging fear that the two-year extension is nothing more than extending a process that has not even been firmly established. [Full Story]

Genocides of Tamils and Indo-Sri Lanka relations
[ Modern Diplomacy ] [ 02 Apr 2017 00:02 GMT ]

The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is more than 2,500 years old with both countries having a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic interaction. [Full Story]

Tamils want Sri Lanka to fulfill promises to UN rights body
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 01 Apr 2017 00:03 GMT ]

'Sri Lanka has not accomplished even one of those obligations,' Sumanthiran said. [Full Story]

Is BJP wooing Rajinikanth the real reason behind Tamil groups opposing Sri Lanka trip?
[ The News Minute ] [ 31 Mar 2017 00:05 GMT ]

Tamil Nadu is a complex state and here, personality matters more than politics or ideology. [Full Story]

Saint Joseph Vaz, a pioneer in interfaith dialogue and a promoter of the laity in Sri Lanka
[ Herald Malaysia ] [ 30 Mar 2017 01:45 GMT ]

He worked for the poor and the sick, for dialogue with other religions, and for the development of lay leaders. [Full Story]

War crime probes will hinder Sri Lanka's reconciliation: ex-defense secretary
[ Reuters ] [ 29 Mar 2017 05:05 GMT ]

A U.N. panel has said around 40,000 people, mostly ethnic minority Tamils, were killed in the war's final phase. [Full Story]

Whither human rights in Sri Lanka?
[ The Hindu ] [ 28 Mar 2017 20:17 GMT ]

The state is at the core of the historical problems, whether it is repressive militarisation, the reinforcement of majoritarian interests or the centralisation of state power in Colombo. [Full Story]

Still riven - Measures to placate Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority are stalling
[ The Economist ] [ 27 Mar 2017 02:16 GMT ]

The ruling coalition includes chauvinist Sinhalese with scant interest in moving forward. [Full Story]

What does Modi's constituency have in common with Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka?
[ Scroll ] [ 26 Mar 2017 02:14 GMT ]

Because of the militarisation, the complexities in the social structure today and because things are getting very political, these people are living in an atmosphere of fear.' [Full Story]

UNHRC adopts Sri Lanka resolution: fully implement 30/1 resolution by 2019
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 25 Mar 2017 00:05 GMT ]

The UN Human Rights Council on Thursday adopted a resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka without a vote, granting the country two more years to implement the actions set out in resolution 30/1. [Full Resolution]

Martin McGuinness 'was freedom fighter, not terrorist'
[ BBC ] [ 24 Mar 2017 00:05 GMT ]

'We spent a lot of time together when I was President and I wanted to honour him for what he did, for changing from war to peace and to emphasise that, its' one thing to make a peace, another thing to make it work and that's an endless process' - President Clinton. [Full Story]

UN criticises Sri Lanka for failing to investigate human rights atrocities during the civil war
[ International Business Times UK ] [ 23 Mar 2017 07:49 GMT ]

A report claims party politics is responsible for reluctance to reveal those accountable for the crimes. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Should Develop Timetable for Full Implementation of its UN Commitments
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 22 Mar 2017 20:25 GMT ]

We call on UN member states to remain engaged until all commitments in the resolution are met in full. [Full Story]

M.A. Sumanthiran on Sri Lankan Politics, Tamil Affairs, and Indo-Lankan Ties
[ The Diplomat ] [ 21 Mar 2017 04:46 GMT ]

The Indo-Lanka Accord is still a valid bilateral international agreement, which India will insist on implementing fully. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Ballot Vs Bullet
[ SL Guardian ] [ 20 Mar 2017 05:11 GMT ]

It is the mode and the manner of Governance that decides the Choice between the Ballot and the Bullet. [Full Story]

Leena Manimekalai’s rebellious spirit pushes her into dangerous waters
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 19 Mar 2017 00:09 GMT ]

A million of them were displaced during the war, and there are so many stories to be told about them. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's war survivors hope new law will unlock state land holdings
[ Reuters ] [ 18 Mar 2017 01:35 GMT ]

Almost eight years after the war ended, hundreds of smallholders are pinning their hopes on the newly-minted Right to Information (RTI) Act to unearth details of who owns the land on which they live and work. [Full Story]

No closure - Thousands of victims of Sri Lanka's civil war remain unaccounted for
[ The Economist ] [ 17 Mar 2017 04:28 GMT ]

'Does the world think it is right for the Tamils to be treated as slaves?'. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Many misunderstood our advocacy
[ SL Guardian ] [ 16 Mar 2017 05:47 GMT ]

Former President Chandrika, whom I earlier criticised for her 'War for Peace' as now having the potential to become the mother of a united rainbow nation of three ethnic groups and four religions. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Poverty and Welfare: Recent Progress and Remaining Challenges
[ The World Bank ] [ 15 Mar 2017 02:05 GMT ]

Overall, Sri Lanka’s record of poverty reduction has been encouraging. Excluding the Northern and Eastern provinces. [Full Story]

Return land, restore dignity
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 14 Mar 2017 06:22 GMT ]

Forcible appropriation of land not only attacks the socio-economic well-being and livelihoods of the people to whom it belongs. [Full Story]

Revitalising a war battered economy
[ The Hindu ] [ 13 Mar 2017 01:35 GMT ]

With incomes dropping in the country, the northern economy showed few signs of revival. [Full Story]

Lack of progress conveys Sri Lanka's lack of will - TAG
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 12 Mar 2017 00:28 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's new government made commitments of reform to the UN Human Rights Council. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 11 Mar 2017 00:17 GMT ]

Impunity for crimes committed during and following the armed conflict continued, particularly in cases of killings, torture, sexual violence, corruption, and other human rights abuses. [Full Story]

Tamil civil society calls for robust UN resolution and strong follow-up to put pressure on Sri Lanka to deliver on promises
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 10 Mar 2017 02:50 GMT ]

It is our assessment that the Government has taken steps so far only to delay and detract the international community and not to bring redress to the victims. [Full Story]

Speaking Frankly About Sri Lanka and Accountability
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 09 Mar 2017 01:30 GMT ]

Tamil community deserve answers and deserve justice. [Full Story]

Editorial: Elusive reconciliation
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 Mar 2017 02:02 GMT ]

The Sirisena-Wikremesinghe government should seize the moment and start addressing the core issues, keeping reconciliation and the future of Sri Lanka in mind. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN Official Calls Progress ‘Worryingly Slow’
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 07 Mar 2017 01:44 GMT ]

Human Rights Council Should Monitor Undertakings, Justice Efforts. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Slow progress on crucial justice and reconciliation - UN report
[ UN Human Rights Office ] [ 06 Mar 2017 00:25 GMT ]

The slow pace of transitional justice in Sri Lanka and the lack of a comprehensive strategy to address accountability for past crimes risk derailing the momentum towards lasting peace, reconciliation and stability. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamil party asks for U.N. pressure over alleged war crimes
[ Reuters ] [ 05 Mar 2017 03:11 GMT ]

The government agreed in 2015 to act on the reports of human rights abuses but has done nothing since. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Back in the Spotlight at the Human Rights Council
[ The Diplomat ] [ 04 Mar 2017 00:50 GMT ]

Colombo's performance comes under heightened scrutiny. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN Human Rights Council
[ UK PARLIAMENT ] [ 03 Mar 2017 02:07 GMT ]

Many of the key promises made by the Government of Sri Lanka in 2015 - justice, accountability, human rights protections, reconciliation - have not been fulfilled. [Full Story]

Crossed in translation - Linguistic slights spur ethnic division in Sri Lanka
[ The Economist ] [ 02 Mar 2017 03:35 GMT ]

Implementing the language policy properly, he says, “will be the prelude to a political solution” to the Tamil grievances that stoked the civil war. [Full Story]

Tamils want Sri Lanka to fulfill promises to UN rights body
[ ABC News ] [ 01 Mar 2017 04:57 GMT ]

The U.N. human rights chief has called for a hybrid court with local and international judges. [Full Story]

The continued plight of the Missing Tamils in Sri Lanka
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 28 Feb 2017 09:55 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government should address this issue with both urgency and sincerity. [Full Story]

Key elements for a follow-up resolution on Sri Lanka
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 27 Feb 2017 05:17 GMT ]

Anything less would fall substantially short of the expectations of victims, and risk undermining faith in the process long before the promises of reconciliation, justice and reform have been translated into reality. [Full Story]

Chennai-based NGO helps Sri Lankan Tamil returnees face challenges of resettlement
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 26 Feb 2017 02:07 GMT ]

Local families which were displaced several times in the course of the 30-year war and which had suffered losses of life and property especially in the last brutal phase of Eelam War IV, should be helped first. [Full Story]

Are Tamil leaders losing patience?
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 Feb 2017 01:24 GMT ]

The tone and content of his address, moving an adjournment motion, signalled a possible shift in the Tamil leader's engagement with the government. [Full Story]

A Ramayana told through Ravana's eyes captures the pain of Sri Lanka's war-affected women
[ Scroll ] [ 24 Feb 2017 00:08 GMT ]

In Sri Lanka, both during the civil war and thereafter, women have been affected in myriad ways, yet their perspectives, pain and fears find little expression in either the media or the arts. [Full Story]

How an Indian maestro is taking classical music to the masses
[ BBC ] [ 23 Feb 2017 03:25 GMT ]

Dated more than 2000 years ago, it evolved from the devotional canon of hymns and verses set to tune as musical prayer offerings in temples across southern states. [Full Story]

India Could Do More for Sri Lanka's Tamils
[ The Diplomat ] [ 22 Feb 2017 05:37 GMT ]

There are now numerous concerns regarding Sri Lanka's sincerity vis-à-vis its transitional justice commitments. [Full Story]

Don’t Backtrack On Justice For Sri Lanka’s Victims
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 Feb 2017 03:01 GMT ]

International participation is necessary due to lack of faith in the government to ensure accountability. [Full Story]

Foreign judges must oversee treatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka: HRW
[ Special Broadcasting Service ] [ 20 Feb 2017 00:05 GMT ]

It's crucial that Sri Lanka employ foreign judges and prosecutors to ensure justice when bringing to trial those responsible for crimes against humanity during the country's civil war. [Full Story]

Tales of the bizarre 'captivity' of 100 Tamil Nadu lawmakers
[ BBC ] [ 19 Feb 2017 02:19 GMT ]

Lawmakers in India have been corralled into hotels and guest houses by their camp leaders to stop them from defecting. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's constitution making process is in the doldrums
[ The New Indian Express] [ 18 Feb 2017 02:44 GMT ]

Samaraweera said that priority will be given to drafting a new constitution because the new constitution will be the ultimate guarantor of equality, justice, and non-recurrences of the ugly inter-ethnic incidents of the past. [Full Story]

Sustained Concerns About Torture in Sri Lanka
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 17 Feb 2017 04:14 GMT ]

The obligation to prevent torture is that of the state; if they don’t tackle institutional reform and security sector reform seriously then the international community must start to put them on terms.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka war widows face sexual exploitation: official
[ AFP ] [ 16 Feb 2017 00:08 GMT ]

At least 100,000 Sri Lankans lost their lives during the conflict that saw horrific abuses. [Full Story]

Onus on Turnbull to Remember Sri Lanka’s Victims
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 15 Feb 2017 01:57 GMT ]

Foreign judges and prosecutors can play a significant role in ensuring independence and impartiality in accountability mechanisms for wartime abuses. [Full Story]

A Former President Dismisses Accountability in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 14 Feb 2017 01:59 GMT ]

None of Sri Lanka's four proposed transitional justice mechanisms (a truth commission, a judicial mechanism, and offices to handle reparations and disappearances) are operational. [Full Story]

Treasures of the Indus - Of Gods and Men
[ BBC iPlayer ] [ 13 Feb 2017 01:02 GMT ]

In a journey across the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sona Datta traces the development of the Hindu religion from its origins as an amalgamation of local faith traditions to its dominant position today. [Full Story]

Lankan Tamils want a political settlement
[ Daily News & Analysis ] [ 12 Feb 2017 02:25 GMT ]

Wigneswaran alleged that President Maithripala Sirisena had misled the opposition and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan by not settling the Tamil question as pledged by him in 2016. [Full Story]

No Escape For Traumatized Pakistani Refugees In Sri Lanka
[ Worldcrunch ] [ 11 Feb 2017 04:44 GMT ]

Marginalized and persecuted for their faith, minorities such as Christians, flee to countries like Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan war survivors urge U.N. to push for speedy justice for abuses
[ Thomson Reuters Foundation ] [ 10 Feb 2017 15:15 GMT ]

Giving more time to the government is not necessary... The U.N. should pressurise for an immediate solution to the problem of missing people.' [Full Story]

Broken Promise: An evaluation of the government of Sri Lanka’s commitments for achieving justice and reconciliation
[ The Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 09 Feb 2017 15:06 GMT ]

An overview of progress by the government of Sri Lanka in implementing its commitments for achieving justice and reconciliation under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1. [Full Story PDF]

Zeid expresses concern at Sri Lanka's slow progress on accountability
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 08 Feb 2017 01:05 GMT ]

An oral update to the Human Rights Council took place in June 2016, while a comprehensive report and discussion is to take place in March 2017. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Uprooted Tamils confront structural genocide
[ The Greenleft ] [ 07 Feb 2017 03:22 GMT ]

“They are asking us to wait. We are not prepared to wait anymore.” [Full Story]

The Sri Lankan war crimes swept under the carpet
[ The Age ] [ 06 Feb 2017 05:45 GMT ]

There were strong and sustained calls from the international community for crimes amounting to genocide to be investigated by an international tribunal, preferably the UN. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Transition to Nowhere
[ The Diplomat ] [ 05 Feb 2017 02:12 GMT ]

Time may be running out for meaningful reforms, and transitional justice remains just out of reach. [Full Story]

Maithripala Sirisena And Sri Lanka's False Dawn
[ Forbes ] [ 04 Feb 2017 00:33 GMT ]

The transitional justice process has been marred by opacity, an absence of leadership, a lack of inclusivity and a reneging of previous commitments pertaining to robust international participation. [Full Story]

Tamil Question: No Heroes, No Traitors
[ CT ] [ 03 Feb 2017 02:01 GMT ]

The fact of the matter is that under various guises the Sinhalese elites have refused to share power with the principal ethnic minority, the Tamils. [Full Story]

National Question and grievances faced by a minority
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 02 Feb 2017 03:49 GMT ]

In the aftermath of the armed conflict there are in the Northern Province approximately 50,000 women who have been widowed and who are now the breadwinners of their families. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Prime Minister says Jaffna will be developed as a 'regional airport'
[ New Indian Express ] [ 01 Feb 2017 02:55 GMT ]

He said that his government believes in developing the country through FDIs and not loans. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: REFUSING TO DISAPPEAR
[ Amnesty International ] [ 31 Jan 2017 00:03 GMT ]

Until parents, wives, siblings, and children know the truth about the fate of a missing family member, they can find it almost impossible to seek justice and reparation for crimes they have suffered. [Full Report PDF]

Sri Lanka: 'Thirteenth (13th) Amendment no solution to our problem'
[ SL Guardian ] [ 30 Jan 2017 01:39 GMT ]

'We propose the giving of practical self government, give economic and political rights to the individual in the first instance. [Full Story]

Wigneswaran calls on Sri Lanka to de-proscribe Tamil diaspora groups
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 29 Jan 2017 02:50 GMT ]

The Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council called on the Sri Lankan government to lift the ban on all Tamil diaspora groups, in order to 'make use of their talents and wealth for our betterment'. [Full Story]

Switzerland 'wrongly exposed Tamil asylum seeker to torture'
[ Swiss Info ] [ 28 Jan 2017 01:35 GMT ]

Around 50,000 people from Sri Lanka live in Switzerland, mostly Tamils, who fled the island's 30-year civil war [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Justice is paramount
[ SL Guardian ] [ 27 Jan 2017 03:11 GMT ]

With a backlog of over 100,000 alleged enforced disappearances since the late 1980s, there is no shortage of examples of frustrated justice. [Full Story]

Why did no one see the bull hit?
[ The Tribune ] [ 26 Jan 2017 04:28 GMT ]

Many believe that one of the images unearthed during excavations of the Indus Valley civilization is an image of a person fighting a bull during Jallikattu. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Amnesty International hosts 'Memory and Justice' - day of activities and poetry book launch
[ Amnesty International ] [ 25 Jan 2017 05:44 GMT ]

Some estimates have put the total number of people who have been subject to enforced disappearances at up to 100,000 people. [Full Story]

USTPAC Calls for Autonomous NorthEast Region for Tamils Within Sri Lanka
[ PRNewswire ] [ 24 Jan 2017 14:01 GMT ]

The Tamil Diaspora came into existence as a direct result of violence against the Tamils often carried out with the complicity of the Sri Lankan state. [Full Story]

Jallikattu: New Tamil Nadu bill backs India bullfights
[ BBC ] [ 23 Jan 2017 14:45 GMT ]

Demonstrators have been calling for the practice to be fully re-legalised. [Full Story]

The Reconciliation Process in Sri Lanka
[ SL Guardian ] [ 22 Jan 2017 00:44 GMT ]

We are convinced and we recognize clearly, that societies that avoid looking at the past, fail to build sustainable peace. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka braces for trouble ahead
[ The Manila Times ] [ 21 Jan 2017 15:02 GMT ]

Signs of growing grassroots opposition to the central government are cropping up in Tamil areas, mostly in response to the enduring presence of Sri Lankan forces there and their continued occupation of land. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: TNA threatens to quit constitution process if terms not met
[ The Indian Express ] [ 20 Jan 2017 02:02 GMT ]

We have a mandate from the people for a federal Constitution with the merger of North and East to resolve the National question. [Full Story]

SLR 300 million Indian Grant to Construct 3000 Rain Water Harvesting Systems
[ HCI ] [ 19 Jan 2017 04:32 GMT ]

The project envisages construction of 3000 rainwater harvesting systems for 3000 households in selected divisions of Jaffna District. [Full Story]

Jallikattu: Thousands protest at India bullfighting ban
[ BBC ] [ 18 Jan 2017 18:12 GMT ]

It is more than 2,000 years old and considered to be one of the oldest sports still practised in the modern era. [Full Story]

Listen To Justin Trudeau Speak Tamil To Celebrate Canada's Diversity
[ Huffington Post ] [ 17 Jan 2017 17:06 GMT ]

Canada's House of Commons voted in 2016 to recognize every January as Tamil Heritage Month. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka should rethink immigration, diaspora policies
[ LBO ] [ 16 Jan 2017 00:02 GMT ]

Immigrants and diaspora bring with them significant know-how and skills necessary for the setting up of new industries, a process which Sri Lanka could benefit. [Full Story]

Challenging Sri Lanka's Sixth Amendment
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 15 Jan 2017 02:42 GMT ]

This campaign can been seen as part of a global effort to strengthen democracy. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Consultation Task Force report must lead to justice
[ Amnesty International ] [ 14 Jan 2017 02:55 GMT ]

'If the government wants to show its commitment to justice for thousands of families who have seen their loved ones killed or disappeared it needs to pay stronger attention to the CTF's recommendations.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Troubling Quest for Justice
[ The Diplomat ] [ 13 Jan 2017 04:43 GMT ]

If the coalition government is going to reconsider its deeply flawed approach, it would need to move quickly and decisively. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Adopt Task Force's Justice Proposals
[ Human Right Watch ] [ 12 Jan 2017 01:55 GMT ]

The government should recognize that its commitments were not only to concerned governments in Geneva, but to its own citizens seeking justice and reconciliation after a terrible war.' [Full Story]

Time for a political solution
[ The Hindu ] [ 11 Jan 2017 01:00 GMT ]

For lakhs of Tamils still struggling to rebuild their lives since the island's brutal war that ended seven years ago, the wait has been long and painful. [Full Story]

TNA to support Sri Lanka's constitution-making despite internal dissent
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 10 Jan 2017 03:09 GMT ]

The TNA leadership believes that the present government will not totally disregard its commitments to the UNHRC. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka is creating a new Constitution and the people have spoken
[ Scroll ] [ 09 Jan 2017 20:49 GMT ]

Schedules are impossible to pin down and government commitment is lacking. [Full Story]

In Sri Lanka, the Wounds of War Are Healing
[ Stratfor ] [ 08 Jan 2017 22:59 GMT ]

The country 'needs to rebuild not only its infrastructure but also people's hearts and minds.' [Full Story]

EU team on fact finding visit
[ CT ] [ 07 Jan 2017 01:22 GMT ]

'Right along the EU had been insisting the Lanka addresses human rights issues. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka divided as panel backs foreign judges to probe war crimes
[ Reuters ] [ 06 Jan 2017 04:18 GMT ]

The Consultation Task Force (CTF)said foreign involvement was needed because of a lack of confidence in the local judiciary, which it said did not have the expertise and capacity to prosecute war crimes. [Full Story]

Canadian Minister praises Tamils in message marking Tamil Heritage Month
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 05 Jan 2017 02:10 GMT ]

'The Tamil language is one of the oldest living languages in the world, and we are enriched by Tamil-Canadian contributions to every aspect of our society-arts and culture in particular.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Make hay while the sun shines
[ SL Guardian ] [ 04 Jan 2017 00:08 GMT ]

Only a fundamental shift in every one's thinking could lead the nation in the right direction. [Full Story]

Federalism addresses minority rights: Prof. R. Sivachandran
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 03 Jan 2017 00:34 GMT ]

The politicians and leading personalities in the civil society should explain to the people how ethnic problems have been solved in developed and under-developed countries after devastating wars. [Full Story]

Raviraj murder: Acquittal raises credibility concerns
[ The Hindu ] [ 02 Jan 2017 01:09 GMT ]

Some see the recent outcome as a reflection of an apparent ethnic bias against the Tamils in the justice system. [Full Story]

Happy New Year, Mr. President Elect Trump, and Help SL Tamils with Two Important Things in 2017, Says Tamils for Trump
[ Tamils for Trump ] [ 01 Jan 2017 00:17 GMT ]

'The New Year is a time of hope and renewal. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Questionable Reconciliation Week
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 31 Dec 2016 02:30 GMT ]

A reconciliation week is unlikely to truly help conflict-affected people or to meaningfully promote reconciliation. [Full Story]

Sasikala: The 'new mother' of Tamil Nadu politics
[ BBC ] [ 30 Dec 2016 00:07 GMT ]

Sasikala's political and administrative acumen is still largely unknown. [Full Story]

India: Madras high court questions Jayalalitha death cause
[ BBC ] [ 29 Dec 2016 15:28 GMT ]

She was admitted to a local hospital for more than three months, but little information was given about her health. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka At A Crossroads - A Tamil Perspective
[ CT ] [ 28 Dec 2016 01:02 GMT ]

It is now obvious that Sri Lanka wouldn't have made any significant progress by March 2017 in implementing the UNHRC resolution that it co-sponsored. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Foreign Policy: Diaspora And Lobbying - Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 27 Dec 2016 03:05 GMT ]

A diaspora has the ability to maneouvre the nation's policy so that it advances their interests. [Full Story]

Christian leaders urge calm and faith in time of 'fear'
[ BBC ] [ 26 Dec 2016 01:46 GMT ]

He quoted Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said globalisation had for many brought "uncertainty" and "low wages, insecure employment, stateless corporation and striking inequalities". [Full Story]

Pope Francis's Christmas message calls for an end to Syrian war
[ BBC ] [ 25 Dec 2016 12:45 GMT ]

Throughout the past year, the Pope has urged compassion towards refugees, reminding Christians that Jesus himself was a migrant. [Queen's Xmas Message]

Sri Lankan court acquits five men in Tamil MP murder trial
[ BBC ] [ 24 Dec 2016 09:41 GMT ]

Nadarajah Raviraj was shot dead in his car in the capital, Colombo, during Sri Lanka's bitter civil war. [Full Story]

Tamil lanka desolate in tragedy but hope remains
[ The Indian Express ] [ 23 Dec 2016 00:35 GMT ]

After J Jayalalithaa's death, Lankan Tamil community that had her support is waiting and watching what would be the next step of her successors. [Full Story]

Had We But World Enough, and Time
[ The Indian Express ] [ 22 Dec 2016 01:15 GMT ]

'When you have the consciousness to understand that you belong to a culture and a history that is being destroyed, you realise it is your duty to be an embodiment of that history and culture. [Full Story]

Everyone accepts need to solve Tamil question, says Ranil
[ The Hindu ] [ 21 Dec 2016 02:58 GMT ]

He said that the project of seeing through major constitutional change would succeed, and that, as part of that process, an enduring devolution-based solution to the Tamil question would be put in place. [Full Story]

UN agency says government torture and abductions continue in Sri Lanka
[ WSWS ] [ 20 Dec 2016 02:58 GMT ]

It is determined to whitewash Colombo's war crimes and other human rights violations. [Full Story]

Wigneswaran says only 5.2% of private lands belonging to Tamils have been returned
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 19 Dec 2016 01:48 GMT ]

Out of the 67,000 acres of private lands of the Tamils seized by the Sri Lankan armed forces during the war, only 3,500 acres have been returned so far. [Full Story]

EU: Don't turn a blind eye to torture in Sri Lanka
[ The Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 18 Dec 2016 02:14 GMT ]

The EU Commission must remain mindful of the role that GSP+ will surely play in the much broader effort, to ensure that Sri Lanka effectively deals with the legacy of the war through a credible justice and reconciliation process. [Full Story]

Nobody's people of Chirala
[ The Hindu ] [ 17 Dec 2016 00:05 GMT ]

They also have no facility to learn their mother tongue in the schools here. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's internal war cost US$ 200 billion
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 16 Dec 2016 02:17 GMT ]

The Tamil sense of grievances unaddressed makes the return of separatism and radicalism in another form a matter of time,' he feels. [Full Story]

When Travel Writing Becomes Propaganda: Sri Lanka Edition
[ The Diplomat ] [ 15 Dec 2016 00:02 GMT ]

While it's good that a transitional justice program is in the works, the root causes of the island nation's ethnic conflict remain unresolved. [Full Story]

When a brave few saved hundreds during Lankan war
[ The Times of India ] [ 14 Dec 2016 04:57 GMT ]

The volunteers of TRO saved the children in the bunkers risking their lives during the civil war in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Not without my memories
[ The Indian Express ] [ 13 Dec 2016 00:30 GMT ]

What do people take when conflict pushes them out of their homes? [Full Story]

With civil war and a tsunami behind it, Sri Lanka's east coast is opening up to tourism
[ Washington Post ] [ 12 Dec 2016 01:51 GMT ]

It's hard to tell what the current government, elected on a promise to repudiate the corruption of the old regime, may mean for Passikudah. [Full Story]

Remembering and rebuilding
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 11 Dec 2016 03:39 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's faltering approach over the last year does not bode well for those who wish to see a genuine peace on the island. [Full Story]

North Sri Lankan Chief Minister says Tamils oppose only illegal erection of Buddha statues
[ New Indian Express ] [ 10 Dec 2016 00:36 GMT ]

Statues of the Buddha and the construction of Buddhist temple are being done without consulting the elected Provincial Council. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's former strongman sets stage for comeback attempt
[ Fox News ] [ 09 Dec 2016 01:17 GMT ]

Sirisena's government has yet to fulfill those promises for an investigation, partly for fear of losing support among Sinhalese, analysts say. [Full Story]

UN urges Sri Lanka to probe ongoing torture, war crimes
[ Reuters ] [ 08 Dec 2016 00:36 GMT ]

"We didn't see evidence that the government is moving on the accountability issues either, the truth commission issues that it promised it would institute," she said. [Full Story]

She was a beacon of hope for lankan tamils
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 07 Dec 2016 05:55 GMT ]

Bold and uncompromising actions were much appreciated by Sri Lankan Tamils who had reposed great faith in her. [Full Story]

Grief and mourning for India's 'iron lady'
[ BBC ] [ 06 Dec 2016 09:09 GMT ]

The central government in Delhi has announced that Tuesday will be a national holiday as a mark of respect and that she will be given a funeral with full state honours. [Full Story]

Tamil icon Jayalalitha dies at 68
[ BBC ] [ 05 Dec 2016 18:41 GMT ]

We have lost a great politician, and a great champion of women's rights." [Full Story]

The volunteers who kept Chennai afloat through the floods
[ BBC ] [ 04 Dec 2016 01:29 GMT ]

On 2 December 2015, the south Indian city of Chennai (Madras) witnessed devastating floods, after receiving the heaviest rainfall it had witnessed in a century. [Full Story]

The Constitution, Transitional Justice and the Budget
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 Dec 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Issues such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the provincial councils, a key issue for the Tamil diaspora, would be 'possible' as per the Finance Sub-Committee report he added. [Full Story]

Sirisena: devolution key to Sri Lankan reconciliation
[ The Hindu ] [ 02 Dec 2016 01:20 GMT ]

Mr. Sirisena said he was trying to achieve a solution acceptable to all communities and invited all groups to join hands with him to solve the problem. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: An Ethnocratic State - Preventing Positive Peace
[ Epress ] [ 01 Dec 2016 02:04 GMT ]

If positive peace is to prevail in the island of Sri Lanka, it is crucial to accept and eliminate the ethnocratic policies and practices in Sri Lankan state affairs without further delay. [Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka: Tamils protest new ethnic cleansing
[ The Greenleft ] [ 30 Nov 2016 00:11 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government has long had a policy of establishing Sinhalese settlements in traditionally Tamil areas of the northern and eastern parts of the island. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka says no deadline to address allegations on war
[ Xinhua ] [ 29 Nov 2016 03:31 GMT ]

Sri Lanka was once on the verge of an economic embargo. [Full Story]

Looking at Some Important Issues in Sri Lanka
[ Huffington Post ] [ 28 Nov 2016 03:31 GMT ]

Progress has been slow - particularly in terms of ensuring accountability for international crimes. [Full Story]

Jaffna University marks Maaveerar Naal
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 27 Nov 2016 21:39 GMT ]

Students and staff at the University of Jaffna marked Maaveerar Naal (Tamil national remembrance day) on Friday, lighting candles in memory of those who gave their lives to the Tamil struggle. [Full Story]
[A Maveerar Day Message]

People will get chance to approve Constitution: Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
[ The Indian Express ] [ 26 Nov 2016 02:30 GMT ]

The government expects the new Constitution to address the demand of Tamil minorities for political recognition. [Full Story]

Flavours from an island nation
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 Nov 2016 01:55 GMT ]

Its colonial past and mixed heritage have played a role in shaping it to its current state. [Full Story]

NORTH SOUTH DIALOGUE - Press Conference Of the Tamil People's Council in Colombo
[ SL Guardian ] [ 24 Nov 2016 00:11 GMT ]

Our objective was to convey to our friends and allies, through a mass rally, that the concerns of the Tamil people are yet to be substantially addressed, and that justice continues to be denied to us. [Full Story]

Inaugural Meeting of the Canadian-Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group
[ TWG ] [ 23 Nov 2016 04:55 GMT ]

Several items of business were passed at this inaugural meeting, including a Constitution, election of the Executive and consensus to build relations with groups such as the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils in the United Kingdom. [Full Story PDF]

Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump: Tamils for Trump
[ EIN News ] [ 22 Nov 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Tamils need a political solution and justice to live in their homeland with safety and security. [Full Story]

UN Human Rights Committee orders Sri Lanka to compensate Canadian torture victim
[ National Post ] [ 21 Nov 2016 01:24 GMT ]

A Toronto man who was imprisoned and tortured while visiting Sri Lanka must be compensated for the abuses he suffered, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has ruled. [Full Story]

Trump in the U.S., Brexit in UK Worry Sri Lanka
[ The Citizen ] [ 20 Nov 2016 01:05 GMT ]

There is a need for the government to be more transparent with the people, and to consult with them, and explain to them its plans for the future. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's UN Fiasco
[ Huffington Post ] [ 19 Nov 2016 02:44 GMT ]

Sri Lanka was recently under the microscope of the committee and, to put it mildly, things did not go smoothly. [Full Story]

UN probe sought on torture by Sri Lankan security forces
[ The Indian Express ] [ 18 Nov 2016 00:02 GMT ]

'The international community, including the UN is under an obligation to ensure that the Government of Sri Lanka honours its commitments made in the Human Rights Council in regard to the transitional justice programme in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan official dodges UN questions over alleged torture
[ The Washington Post ] [ 17 Nov 2016 03:27 GMT ]

The U.N.'s Human Rights Council last year unanimously approved a resolution to increase post-war accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

A Reflection on conflicts in Sri Lanka
[ The Guardian ] [ 16 Nov 2016 02:19 GMT ]

Let us hope that in the land of our heritage, the sounds of guns and bombs will never be heard again. [Full Story]

Under the Radar: Tourism in Sri Lanka at risk from military
[ Global Risk Insights ] [ 15 Nov 2016 01:22 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's military is undercutting local and foreign companies, and sowing the seeds for future violence as the Tamil minority continues to be marginalized. [Full Story]

Age Of Donald Trump Heralds A New World Order Built Around Hard-Edged Nationalism
[ Huffington Post ] [ 14 Nov 2016 00:02 GMT ]

This time what was being heard around the world has finally found its echo in America. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Call for autonomous unit in North-East renewed by GTF
[ SL Guardian ] [ 13 Nov 2016 03:08 GMT ]

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) on behalf of the Sri Lankan Tamils resident overseas has called for the creation of an ‘Autonomous Tamil Region' (ATR) in a re-merged Northern and Eastern Province to address their grievances. [Full Story]

Will Sri Lanka's new constitution retain the mistakes that led to 25 years of civil war?
[ Scroll ] [ 12 Nov 2016 01:18 GMT ]

The armed forces were accused of planting Buddhist symbols in Tamil regions like Jaffna and Trincomalee, leading to protests from the Tamil National Alliance. [Full Story]

Solving problems of Tamils is my obligation: Sirisena
[ The Hindu ] [ 11 Nov 2016 05:01 GMT ]

People of the south are scared of the word ‘federal'. People of the north are scared of the word ‘unitary'. [Full Story]

AUSTRALIA REFUSING TO ACCEPT ASYLUM SEEKERS OR SENDING THEM BACK
[ TWG ] [ 10 Nov 2016 01:21 GMT ]

What is happening to the Tamils and other asylum seekers amounts to refoulement under the UN Refugee Convention. [Full Story PDF]

Consistency Seen in Trump Foreign Policy Positions
[ Voice of America ] [ 09 Nov 2016 21:51 GMT ]

"We will seek common ground, not hostility; relationships, not conflict," he said. [Full Story]

US election result: Clinton says Trump must have chance to lead
[ BBC ] [ 09 Nov 2016 19:55 GMT ]

The president-elect has said his immediate priorities are restoring the country's infrastructure and doubling its economic growth. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Police Shooting of Two Students More of the Same
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 08 Nov 2016 02:05 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is due to appear before the United Nations Committee Against Torture and is expected to make a case about its security sector reforms - something it agreed to take on after a 2015 UN Human Rights Council review. [Full Story]

Review: The Island Nation, The Arcola Theatre
[ A Younger Theatre ] [ 07 Nov 2016 02:24 GMT ]

This sensory overload gives a snapshot of the devastation launching into the political negotiations and the difficulties in achieving peace. [Full Story]

North-East must be recognized as Tamil homeland
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 06 Nov 2016 01:55 GMT ]

The idea of nationhood comes organically. [Full Story]

Erasing The Past: Repression of Memorialization in North-East Sri Lanka
[ Pearl ] [ 05 Nov 2016 01:44 GMT ]

Efforts by victims and survivors to commemorate the past are suppressed by restrictions on freedom of assembly, oppressive state surveillance, and the presence of competing memorialization projects. [Full Story]

EU Delegation Urges Sri Lanka to Improve Human Rights
[ The New York Times ] [ 04 Nov 2016 00:10 GMT ]

The success of Sri Lanka's application to get back the trade concessions depends on meeting human rights requirements set by the EU. [Full Story]

Lanka sacks spy chief after unrest in Tamil north
[ Deccan Herald ] [ 03 Nov 2016 05:14 GMT ]

The move came amid suspicion that the military was backing the terror group named 'Ava Group' operating in the northern Jaffna peninsula. [Full Story]

Emerging Scenarios Of An Independent Thamil Eelam
[ The Sunday Leader ] [ 02 Nov 2016 01:37 GMT ]

No nation would remain politically subjugated, militarily occupied and physically degraded forever! [Full Story]

January is Officially Declared as Tamil Heritage Month in Canada
[ Tamil Culture ] [ 01 Nov 2016 01:01 GMT ]

The motion will 'recognize the contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made to Canadian society, the richness of the Tamil language and culture. [Full Story]

In the wash-up, Sri Lankan asylum loser wins
[ The Australian ] [ 31 Oct 2016 00:03 GMT ]

The Tamils of the north lived in a totalitarian state within Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Public Perceptions on Constitutional Reform in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 30 Oct 2016 01:05 GMT ]

Colombo's performance thus far leaves a lot to be desired. [Report PDF]

How Sri Lanka Demonstrates the Limits of the UN System
[ The National Interest ] [ 29 Oct 2016 01:05 GMT ]

There are legitimate worries that, if Sri Lanka falls off the council's formal agenda, then Colombo may be even less inclined to follow through on its previous commitments. [Full Story]

The Lankan example
[ Dawn ] [ 28 Oct 2016 00:23 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is realising that ending a war doesn't equal peace. It only represents a window of opportunity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Separatists or Minorities?
[ The Diplomat ] [ 27 Oct 2016 03:44 GMT ]

The government has done little to credibly identify and address the root causes of the conflict, despite calls by local minority political parties and many foreign governments for a political settlement. [Full Story]

The Story of a Brief Marriage by Anuk Arudpragasam review - love and war in Sri Lanka
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 26 Oct 2016 01:26 GMT ]

A debut novel which raises timely questions about how we regard the suffering of others. [Full Story]

Royal Borough of Kingston twins with Jaffna
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 25 Oct 2016 02:05 GMT ]

The move to twin the two regions drew support from all political parties in the UK. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka arrests police over Tamil student deaths
[ Daily Times ] [ 24 Oct 2016 03:15 GMT ]

The latest incident in Jaffna came a day after a UN human rights expert asked Colombo to take urgent measures to 'clearly demonstrate' its commitment to protect minorities. [Full Story]

Meet highlighting Tamil culture and tradition from tomorrow
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Oct 2016 00:03 GMT ]

'As the Tamils have spread over different parts of the world, the conference will deliberate the impact of Tamil tradition and culture on other countries. [Full Story]

Tamils in Sri Lanka feel pessimistic due to lack of reconciliation: UK Global Tamil Forum
[ The Indian Express ] [ 22 Oct 2016 01:42 GMT ]

The group appealed to the Lankan government to embark on focussed and targeted initiatives towards accountability, political resolution and reconciliation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN rights expert urges Government to take concrete steps to protect minorities
[ UN News Centre ] [ 21 Oct 2016 02:02 GMT ]

'In order to achieve peaceful co-existence after the long devastating civil war, a comprehensive, well-planned and well-coordinated truth, reconciliation, healing and accountability process must take place. [Full Story]

UN official urges Sri Lanka to take stronger measures to protect minorities
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 20 Oct 2016 06:11 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's government must "clearly demonstrate" its political will and commitment to better protect the Indian Ocean island's minorities by taking urgent steps to resolve post-war issues. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Too much On The India Plate, But Too Little Take-Away Yet? - Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 19 Oct 2016 05:42 GMT ]

There was no mention in either Delhi or Goa about any interactions between the two sides on Sri Lanka's ethnic issue, accountability probe', power-devolution and Constitution-making. [Full Story]

Devolving power among other changes in Lanka's new charter:TNA
[ Business Standard ] [ 18 Oct 2016 02:33 GMT ]

The Tamil minority envisages political reform to address their long standing political grievances in the new Constitution. [Full Story]

Swiss an excellent model for Sri Lanka: Sampanthan
[ Ceylon News ] [ 17 Oct 2016 02:27 GMT ]

Sampanthan said that there were many lessons which Sri Lanka could learn from Switzerland in terms of power devolution and peaceful co-existence. [Full Story]

A Tamil Diaspora Perspective on Sri Lanka
[ International Policy Digest ] [ 16 Oct 2016 00:09 GMT ]

The TNA should recognize the power of the people and use that people's power and that of the international community to move forward. [Full Story]

Book on why the British Left Tamil's Stranded
[ TWG ] [ 15 Oct 2016 20:58 GMT ]

The British knew that the Tamils in SL looked upon India as Mother India. [Full Story]

'Hard Brexit' or 'no Brexit' for Britain - Tusk
[ BBC ] [ 14 Oct 2016 00:04 GMT ]

"The brutal truth is that Brexit will be a loss for all of us. There will be no cakes on the table. For anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar." [Full Story]

Portugal's Antonio Guterres elected UN secretary general
[ BBC ] [ 13 Oct 2016 17:51 GMT ]

"He is perhaps best known where it counts most - on the frontlines of armed conflict and humanitarian suffering," Mr Ban said. [Full Story]

Can Sri Lanka Hold On to Its Fragile Peace?
[ National Geographic Society ] [ 12 Oct 2016 01:13 GMT ]

Seven years after a brutal civil war, the South Asian nation faces the aftermath: the tens of thousands homeless or missing. [Full Story]

The fraught road to justice: Sri Lankan victims of sexual violence
[ Open Democracy ] [ 11 Oct 2016 03:31 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan state must begin to engage with the voices of Sri Lanka's women who have been brutalised and left to navigate a fraught system. [Full Story]

Tamil National Alliance fears law to replace anti-terror act may be old wine in a new bottle
[ New Indian Express ] [ 10 Oct 2016 00:55 GMT ]

'It may even be worse than the PTA going by the influence of the Security Establishment on government's thinking on these matters,' TNA's spokesman and MP, M.A.Sumanthiran, told Express. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamils demand return of occupied land
[ Green Left ] [ 09 Oct 2016 02:26 GMT ]

Settlements made up of members of the Sinhalese ethnic majority are being established in Tamil areas. [Full Story]

Tamils resort to nationalism to shore up eroding political base
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 08 Oct 2016 01:01 GMT ]

TNA members in the committees of the constitutional assembly appear to pussyfoot on pushing for a meaningful federal constitution. [Full Story]

Notes on peace from northern Sri Lanka
[ DNA India ] [ 07 Oct 2016 03:11 GMT ]

A peace that does not deliver safety, guarantee justice and build a road to everyday well-being is a peace likely moving in reverse mode. [Full Story]

UN rights expert to visit Sri Lanka to assess current situation of minorities
[ UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ] [ 06 Oct 2016 00:45 GMT ]

'Experience has shown that the recognition and promotion of minority rights are critical, if not requisite, in achieving long-lasting peace and reconciliation. [Full Story]

Protests of Sri Lankan Tamils must not be dismissed as extremism
[ Two Circles ] [ 05 Oct 2016 12:10 GMT ]

It is thus urgent and imperative that the process is made open and transparent to succeed in providing a sustainable political solution that finally gives the Tamil people their political aspirations and rights. [Full Story]

Asylum seekers share stories, food at weekly feasts
[ SBS ] [ 04 Oct 2016 01:50 GMT ]

The cooks at Tamil Feasts have faced discrimination, detention and uncertainty. [Full Story]

India's disturbing Oscar entry takes on police torture
[ BBC ] [ 03 Oct 2016 03:37 GMT ]

A thriller in Tamil language has been chosen as India's official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film at next year's Oscars. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamils rally in Jaffna against occupation, ethnic cleansing
[ Green Left ] [ 02 Oct 2016 02:08 GMT ]

The declaration called for recognition of Tamils as a distinct nation with the right of self-determination. [Full Story]

Destitution and Desperation in North Eastern Sri Lanka - An Inevitable Road To Women Being Abused!
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 01 Oct 2016 00:25 GMT ]

The issue requires a very urgent united effort from all the local, national and international agencies and governments before the situation gets worse and the sheer frustrations of the young Tamils could lead to a recurrence of old turbulence. [Full Story]

AI: Keep Victims at the Centre of Justice, Truth and Reparation Efforts
[ Amnesty International ] [ 30 Sep 2016 02:03 GMT ]

Public consultations, the bedrock on which Sri Lanka's transitional justice process must be built, are underway. [Full Report PDF]

Political justice is not enough to rebuild Sri Lanka
[ Reuters ] [ 29 Sep 2016 02:14 GMT ]

The politics were rooted in economic and social disenfranchisement of the Tamil minority by the Sinhala majority. [Full Story]

Tamils stage protest to highlight issues in Sri Lanka
[ Deccan Herald ] [ 28 Sep 2016 00:34 GMT ]

"The TNA pledged Tamils a federal solution at the last election. So the Tamils can be only happy with a federal solution by merging the north and east," [Full Story]

Book Review: A Long Watch - War, Captivity and Return in Sri Lanka
[ DNA ] [ 27 Sep 2016 01:27 GMT ]

It eschews the majoritarian bias that vitiated the island nation's politics, society and vital institutions, the armed forces and media. [Full Story]

No room for another ethnic war: Lanka president tells UNGA
[ Business Standard ] [ 26 Sep 2016 00:41 GMT ]

There will not be a repeat of the ethnic war with Tamils. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's President Misses an Opportunity at the UN
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 25 Sep 2016 19:11 GMT ]

Let's not forget that Colombo continues to drag its feet on a host of war-related issues. [Full Story]

Stateless Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka
[ Governance Now ] [ 24 Sep 2016 02:34 GMT ]

The condition at all the refugee camps is pathetic. [Full Story]

Travails of a war-torn people
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Sep 2016 02:42 GMT ]

The need of the hour is a movement for social justice combining calls to address the grievances of minorities with demands for decent economic life for the citizenry at large. [Full Story]

EU advised to drop Hamas and Tamil Tigers from terror list
[ BBC ] [ 22 Sep 2016 12:41 GMT ]

She found that the Council incorrectly relied on judgements made by governments without checking that they had the same human rights as the EU. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Fleeing Tamils
[ World Policy ] [ 21 Sep 2016 04:24 GMT ]

Fear or experience of severe persecution, in addition to a de facto military occupation in the northern, predominantly Tamil parts of Sri Lanka, appear to be key push factors in the latest waves of emigration. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamil Body Meet with US Bureaucrats
[ SL Guardian ] [ 20 Sep 2016 02:01 GMT ]

Discussions included ground realities today in Sri Lanka, particularly in relation to the North and East. [Full Story]

India and Sri Lanka in Antiquity
[ The Diplomat ] [ 19 Sep 2016 02:11 GMT ]

Geographic proximity meant that the histories of India and Sri Lanka were intertwined. [Full Story]

Justice and accountability for war related sexual violence in Sri Lanka
[ Open Democracy ] [ 18 Sep 2016 00:25 GMT ]

Pursuing justice for sexual violence in local contexts such as Sri Lanka is still fraught with challenges. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Is Transitional Justice in Trouble?
[ The Diplomat ] [ 17 Sep 2016 02:05 GMT ]

For Sri Lanka's transitional justice process, the coming months are crucial. [Full Story]

'The Story of A Brief Marriage' Imagines the Life of Persecuted Tamils in Sri Lanka
[ The Wire ] [ 16 Sep 2016 04:09 GMT ]

The Story of a Brief Marriage asks if life is worth the misery of living. [Full Story]

TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE & RECONCILIATION: VOICES OF THE AFFECTED
[ Sri Lanka Briefing Notes ] [ 15 Sep 2016 05:22 GMT ]

Many issues are unresolved and demand the Government's attention. [Full Story]

Mama's Boys: An irreverent take on India's Mahabharat
[ BBC ] [ 14 Sep 2016 03:47 GMT ]

Mahabharat, created more than 2,000 years ago, is a complex story of the mythological Kurukshetra war. [Full Story]

Revealed: Incredible loophole that means 135 war crime suspects are living freely in the UK
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 13 Sep 2016 02:28 GMT ]

‘If there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a person here has been involved in acts of torture, war crimes or even genocide in a foreign country then surely the Home Office must be alerting the police and prosecution authorities who have a duty to act. [Full Story]

Tamil Political Prisoners in Sri Lanka: A Road to Nowhere?
[ Lawfare ] [ 12 Sep 2016 00:03 GMT ]

Colombo's failure to act more decisively on political prisoners is unjust, calls into question its commitment to transitional justice, and illustrates that Sri Lanka is far from a clear-cut success story. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan orphans saved by the Missionaries of Charity celebrate the Mother
[ Herald Malaysia ] [ 11 Sep 2016 02:22 GMT ]

The Missionaries of Charity live in the Home of peace', which takes in the sick, the disabled and orphans. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka lacks political will to establish transitional justice'
[ JDS ] [ 10 Sep 2016 00:25 GMT ]

A transitional justice process for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka was adopted by the UN human rights commission in Geneva last year. [Full Story]

"FITTING THE BILL": Incorporating International Crimes into Sri Lankan Law
[ The South Asian Centre for Legal Studies ] [ 09 Sep 2016 03:02 GMT ]

Domestic crimes are fundamentally ill suited to deal with wartime abuses and violations that occurred as a result of the conduct of hostilities. [Full Report PDF]

More Worries Over Sri Lanka's Transitional Justice Process
[ The Diplomat ] [ 08 Sep 2016 01:07 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's incipient transitional justice process is deeply flawed. [Full Story]

Tracing War Missing Still a Dangerous Quest in Sri Lanka
[ IPS News ] [ 07 Sep 2016 04:48 GMT ]

Those doing the tracing on the ground say that they still face intimidation and threats while doing their work. [Full Story]

Tamil peoples' council plans mass protest against installation of Buddha statues in Tamil areas
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 06 Sep 2016 02:56 GMT ]

The demonstrations will ask foreign powers, particularly India and the US, to mount pressure on the Sri Lankan government to meet the longstanding demands of the Tamils. [Full Story]

UN chief says Sri Lanka killings prompted self-scrutiny
[ The Boston Herald ] [ 05 Sep 2016 03:18 GMT ]

Since the end of Sri Lanka's civil war, Ban has been proactive in calling for accountability for rights violations. [Full Story]

U.N. chief urges Sri Lanka to redress wrongs of war
[ Reuters ] [ 04 Sep 2016 00:02 GMT ]

"But more can and should be done to address the legacy of the past and acknowledge the voices of the victims," he told a gathering in Colombo. [Full Story]

UN chief Ban Ki-moon asks Sri Lanka to speed up return of land to Tamils
[ First Post ] [ 03 Sep 2016 00:03 GMT ]

There should be more momentum to ensure lasting peace, seven years after the 37-year civil war ended. [Full Story]

A New Truth Commission for Sri Lanka: Lessons from Other Models
[ Diplomatic Courier ] [ 02 Sep 2016 02:06 GMT ]

Providing remedy for infringed-upon human rights has become one of the fundamental means of realizing the massive framework of human rights developed over the past century. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Still Counting the Wounds
[ The Indian Express ] [ 01 Sep 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Scholars argue that the sprouting of Buddhist shrines and icons in the north will inevitably be seen as cultural colonisation and will hamper reconciliation efforts. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's war-battered Tamils pin hopes on UN visit
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 31 Aug 2016 11:10 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's army has occupied thousands of hectares in the Jaffna peninsula - the heartland of the country's Tamil minority. [Full Story]

Tamils want devolution, not separation: Lanka oppostion leader
[ India Today ] [ 30 Aug 2016 03:04 GMT ]

"All political parties have joined in to make a new constitution. We expect the new constitution to give us solutions," Sampanthan said. [Full Story]

Caught by the tiger
[ The Hindu ] [ 29 Aug 2016 02:07 GMT ]

Engaging not only for its thrilling description about war, captivity and freedom, but also for its moral courage in imagining the possible future of a reconciled republic. [Full Story]

Why Sri Lanka Doesn't Trust the UN
[ The Diplomat ] [ 28 Aug 2016 00:15 GMT ]

Supranational bodies shall have the authority to take decisive action on matters of human rights if a state party is either unable or unwilling to promote, protect, incorporate, and disseminate international human rights principles. [Full Story]

Corruption, assassination and war crimes: A dream of reconciliation for Sri Lanka
[ ABC News ] [ 27 Aug 2016 01:17 GMT ]

"Without a foreign presence it's very hard to see how people will feel safe to participate and how the government is going to be able to deliver fair and just outcomes and a just process, given the track record it has. [Full Story]

THE LONG SHADOW OF WAR - The Struggle For Justice In Postwar Sri Lanka
[ The Oakland Institute ] [ 26 Aug 2016 00:44 GMT ]

We want to especially acknowledge people who met with us and shared their tragic experiences despite living in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in the politically charged environment. [Full Story PDF]

Lanka opposition leader seeks Tamil prisoners' release
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 25 Aug 2016 03:09 GMT ]

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan accused the Maithripala Sirisena-led government of not acting promptly since coming to power. [Full Story]

North Sri Lankan CM Wigneswaran boycotts Investment Forum organized by Governor
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 24 Aug 2016 02:45 GMT ]

He said that the elected representatives of the people of the Northern Province ought to have been consulted on the needs of the province before inviting investors. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Justice Has No Place for Accountable Amnesties'
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 23 Aug 2016 05:17 GMT ]

The thousands of victims of abuses and their families from all sides in Sri Lanka's war should not be left out of the accountability process. [Full Story]

'Sri Lankan refugees living in inhuman conditions
[ The Times of India ] [ 22 Aug 2016 03:12 GMT ]

It is unfortunate that the country's promise to rehabilitate the Tamil refugee families are yet to be implemented even after three decades. [Full Story]

'Colombo has done nothing to help Tamil war widows'
[ The Times of India ] [ 21 Aug 2016 00:05 GMT ]

The Sangam - 4 founder Jageth Gaspar said, "After the war that ended in May 2009, the livelihood of Tamils, especially women, have become a big question mark. [Full Story]

Diaspora must join reconstruction efforts, say Sri Lankan Tamil MPs
[ The Hindu ] [ 20 Aug 2016 02:14 GMT ]

Tamils living in the North and East of Sri Lanka were not politically empowered now to bring about economic transformation in the war-torn region and look up to Tamils living elsewhere. [Full Story]

Defeat of triumphalism
[ The Hans India ] [ 19 Aug 2016 01:33 GMT ]

The Tamil factor must top the many reasons for Rajapaksa's defeat. [Full Story]

A single that is an ode to Sri Lankan Tamils
[ The Times of India ] [ 18 Aug 2016 04:29 GMT ]

This song is an ode to the Tamil language and has special emphasis on the Sri Lankan Tamil community. [Full Story]

Much to be done says US ambassador after visit to Jaffna
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 17 Aug 2016 02:01 GMT ]

'This will be difficult but it is necessary, and it is for the good of all Sri Lankans and for the happiness of all of her people,' he added.
[US Embassy Report]

Sri Lanka parliament endorses office to trace wartime missing
[ Reuters ] [ 16 Aug 2016 00:05 GMT ]

"We have brought this to correct the past mistakes in the history," Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera presenting the bill told the parliament. [Full Story]

Impunity Reigns In Sri Lanka's August 14, 2006 Bombing Of Schoolgirls
[ Forbes ] [ 15 Aug 2016 01:01 GMT ]

We are no closer to getting justice for these girls or the other tens of thousands of Tamil war victims. [Full Story]

Sencholai massacre: 10 years on, no justice
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 14 Aug 2016 01:54 GMT ]

Tamils around the world today remember the 10th anniversary of the massacre of 53 school girls. [Full Story]

Political And Legal Confusion Hampers Release Of Tamil Prisoners
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 13 Aug 2016 04:02 GMT ]

The reason for tardiness in the matter of releasing these prisoners appears to be political and legal confusion besides the failure on the part of the government to implement its promise to the UN Human Rights Council. [Full Story]

Accepting Tamils 30 years ago changed Canada
[ Toronto Star ] [ 12 Aug 2016 00:17 GMT ]

Canada must do more to help those in dire need. [Full Story]

Locarno: Sri Lanka's Sivakumaran Pitches House,' Preps Shadows'
[ Yahoo ] [ 11 Aug 2016 00:05 GMT ]

A vision of a post-conflict society in Sri Lanka, the film's major issue, she wrote for the Open Doors brochure, is 'how we deal with memory as a post-conflict society. [Full Story]

Where chef Johnne Phinehas eats Sri Lankan food in the burbs
[ Toronto Life ] [ 10 Aug 2016 05:10 GMT ]

'The war tore apart the province - everyone started to evacuate,' [Full Story]

Christians urge Sri Lanka to adopt a secular constitution
[ UCA News ] [ 09 Aug 2016 02:35 GMT ]

"The constitution should promote harmony and co-existence amongst different religious communities," [Full Story]

Would international community adopt "hands off" policy towards Sri Lanka?
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 Aug 2016 02:58 GMT ]

The pressure from outside will only compel the government to move towards issues concerning the ascertainment of truth, accountability and reparations. [Full Story]

Accountability must be addressed before framing new constitution, says Wigneswaran
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 07 Aug 2016 05:05 GMT ]

The constitution planned by the government will not be drafted to the Tamils' satisfaction unless accountability issues were satisfactorily addressed prior to that. [Full Story]

Many in diaspora approve Liberal push for reconciliation in scarred Sri Lanka
[ Metro News ] [ 06 Aug 2016 03:07 GMT ]

"It's very important for Sri Lanka to come to terms with the brutal war that took place and bring accountability. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's missing people - Refusing to give up hope
[ The Economist ] [ 05 Aug 2016 05:32 GMT ]

It urged the government to determine the fate of the disappeared; to punish those responsible; and to guarantee truth and reparation. [Full Story]

Tamils for Clinton Congratulates Hillary Clinton and Urges Everyone to Support Her
[ EIN ] [ 04 Aug 2016 00:02 GMT ]

Tamils for Clinton also fondly remembered her visiting the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in India Ms. Selvi Jeyalalithaa to discuss the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Singapore looks to Jaffna as it signs trade agreements with Colombo
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 Aug 2016 01:37 GMT ]

The country's deep cultural links with the Tamil people have been particularly longstanding. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: 10 Years Since Aid Worker Massacre
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 02 Aug 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Sri Lankan authorities have not brought to justice those responsible for the execution-style slaying of 17 aid workers a decade ago this week. [Full Story]

Sangam IV to feature global Tamil dialogue
[ The Hindu ] [ 01 Aug 2016 00:12 GMT ]

Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj, founder, said that the Sangam 4, in its third edition, would be a 10-day festival, starting from August 12. [Full Story]

July 1983: Betrayal Of The Absolute Right To Justice
[ CT ] [ 31 July 2016 01:22 GMT ]

The crimes committed in 1983 and the denial of justice thereafter goes beyond the limits of common sense. [Full Story]

On Rights and Justice: Some Perspective from Colombo
[ Huffington Post ] [ 30 July 2016 02:18 GMT ]

The positive progress is politically symbolic and matters a lot to ordinary people in their daily lives. But overall, progress has been too little and painfully slow. [Full Story]

Human Rights Priority Country update report: January to June 2016
[ Foreign & Commonwealth Office UK ] [ 29 July 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Much remains to be done for Sri Lanka to fulfil the commitments made in Resolution 30/1 at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in October 2015. [Full Story]

Black July - Setting The Record Straight
[ CT ] [ 28 July 2016 03:59 GMT ]

One that happened in 2009 intended actually to finish off, on a mass scale, the Tamil race in the island. [Full Story]

ICRC presses Sri Lanka on fate of 16,000 war missing
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 27 July 2016 01:15 GMT ]

The Geneva-based organisation released a 14-month survey conducted across Sri Lanka showing thousands of mainly ethnic Tamils were still searching for their loved ones. [Full Story]

What's Touted As Tamil King Elara's Tomb Is A Fable, Says Historian
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 26 July 2016 02:33 GMT ]

Elala ruled the Anuradhapura area in 2nd.Century BC (205 to 161 BC). [Full Story]

Canada, U.K. renew calls for reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 July 2016 02:01 GMT ]

Canada and the United Kingdom, both known for having a significant number of Tamil diaspora, have renewed their call to Sri Lanka to fulfill commitments on human rights and democracy. [Full Story]

US Commends Sri Lanka's Reconciliation Measures
[ Voice of America ] [ 24 July 2016 01:02 GMT ]

According to U.N. estimates, up to 100,000 people were killed in the 26-year war, but many more are feared dead, including up to 40,000 civilians in the final months of the fighting. [Full Story]

EU links aid to reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 July 2016 03:05 GMT ]

The European Union (EU), one of leading trading partners of Sri Lanka, has urged the latter to include reconciliation and good governance under its €210-million development programme. [Full Story]

How Rajinikanth and Kabali mania swept India
[ BBC ] [ 22 July 2016 13:12 GMT ]

A group of Japanese fans have flown all the way to Chennai to catch the "first day first show" of the movie. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Cultural dance ends in uncultured behaviour
[ SL Guardian ] [ 21 July 2016 00:33 GMT ]

The fact that the Science Faculty in its entirety functions in English has made it more conducive for students of all races to fit in. [Full Story]

A Photographic Journey Into The Survival Of The Tamils
[ New Matilda ] [ 20 July 2016 03:01 GMT ]

One day my community will build an Eelam Tamil genocide museum. [Full Story]

Book review: Ruins is a haunting debut about family secrets and Sri Lanka's civil war
[ South China Morning Post ] [ 19 July 2016 01:58 GMT ]

It rolls along effortlessly, pulling together centuries of history, tradition and the residual traumas of war, poverty and loneliness. [Full Story]

95 pc of Lankan Tamils Want Federal Constitution, Says Government Panel Member
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 18 July 2016 02:47 GMT ]

There is a thirst for devolution in all Sri Lankan provinces and not just in the minorities‘ dominated Northern and Eastern Provinces. [Full Story]

US acknowledges complications in Sri Lanka war crimes investigation
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 17 July 2016 05:41 GMT ]

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski said international participation in a special court had been emphasised because of "an erosion in the confidence" in Sri Lanka's courts over the years. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Tamils raise concerns over release of political prisoners
[ The Indian Express ] [ 16 July 2016 04:42 GMT ]

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) sources said they met Biswal and discussed the issue of political prisoners and release of lands in the Tamil-dominated north. [Full Story]

When Mirrors Are Windows
[ Oxford University Press ] [ 15 July 2016 02:29 GMT ]

Scholarly writings sourced from the A.K. Ramanujan Papers archived at the University of Chicago - are studied to illuminate the influence of classical Tamil, medieval bhakti, and oral folk aesthetics and literature on his work. [Full Story]

Tamil is Classical, Classic and Cool!
[ The Quint ] [ 14 July 2016 00:49 GMT ]

The era of Classical Tamil (300 BC - 300 AD). [Full Story]

Call For Sri Lankan Army To Release Record Of War ‘Surrendees'
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 13 July 2016 04:05 GMT ]

It has been almost 7 years since the conclusion of Sri Lanka's civil war and there are still many questions that remain unanswered. [Full Story]

Marie Colvin's family sues Syria over death in Homs
[ BBC ] [ 12 July 2016 01:28 GMT ]

Relatives say they have evidence that she was murdered as part of a policy of deliberately killing journalists. [Full Story]

Thirteen thousand people attend Tamil pilgrimage at Walsingham
[ Eastern Daily Press ] [ 11 July 2016 07:55 GMT ]

People from Sri Lanka and southern India, living Britain, attended the annual Tamil Two pilgrimage at the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, at Little Walsingham, near Fakenham. [Full Story]

Global Tamil Forum Calls for More Progress in Sri Lanka
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 10 July 2016 04:58 GMT ]

Over the next nine months, Colombo needs to do much more. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must stay the course
[ The Hindu ] [ 09 July 2016 02:45 GMT ]

Having set in motion the process for a new Constitution and measures for reconciliation and reform, any loss of momentum now on the part of the government will result in a loss of credibility. [Full Story]

Five Outstanding Women Writers from Sri Lanka
[ Desiblitz ] [ 08 July 2016 03:11 GMT ]

The Cry of the Kite is a collection of profound poetic statements of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka which describes the modernisation and the rapid decay of lives. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka says it will create court to probe war abuses
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 07 July 2016 02:07 GMT ]

Last year, the U.N. Human Rights Council adopted a consensus resolution in which Sri Lanka agreed to an investigation with foreign participation. [Full Story]

Is Sri Lanka on the path to reconciliation?
[ Aljazeera ] [ 06 July 2016 04:42 GMT ]

So what's hampering Sri Lanka's efforts to bring reforms and justice? [Full Story]

Report on Public Representations on Constitutional Reform
[ PRC ] [ 05 July 2016 00:02 GMT ]

We were appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers for receiving public representations on constitutional reform to support the constitutional reform process. [Full Story PDF]

More needs to be done, West tells Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 July 2016 03:49 GMT ]

The government should "continue taking steps" to build the confidence of communities and normalise life in the Northern and Eastern provinces. [Full Story]

Support our journey with patience says Sri Lanka at UNHRC
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 July 2016 02:44 GMT ]

'What we have achieved so far since January 2015 may seem like baby steps for some, but for us they are giant leaps.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka government consulted us on OMP bill: TNA
[ The Hindu ] [ 02 July 2016 05:10 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), on Friday acknowledged that the Sri Lanka government had consulted the alliance during the preparation of the draft bill on the Office on Missing Persons (OMP). [Full Story]

Human Rights council discusses human rights situation in Sri Lanka and Myanmar
[ OHCHR ] [ 01 July 2016 14:35 GMT ]

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein present an oral update on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

U.N. Urges Sri Lanka to Speed Up War Reconciliation
[ The Wall Street Journal ] [ 30 June 2016 00:02 GMT ]

Sri Lanka must accelerate a judicial process to assess allegations of war crimes as it seeks reconciliation following its 27-year civil war. [Full Story]

Closing window of opportunity in Sri Lanka warns Pasumai Thaayagam
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 29 June 2016 02:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's window of opportunity for reconciliation will close if it fails to act on accountability and militarisation. [Full Story]

U.N. urges Sri Lanka to rein in military, prosecute war crimes
[ Reuters ] [ 28 June 2016 13:54 GMT ]

"The early momentum established in investigating emblematic cases must be sustained. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka wants the world to forget about justice for war victims. Please don't
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 27 June 2016 07:49 GMT ]

With the Sri Lankan government winding back commitments to reconciliation and justice measures, it's up to the international community to hold them to account. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan families hold out hope against the cruel sea
[ The Australian ] [ 26 June 2016 04:05 GMT ]

The ones who left from India had no real chance of being assessed as refugees. [Full Story]

Trust Takes Years To Build, Seconds To Break, Forever To Repair
[ CT ] [ 25 June 2016 10:42 GMT ]

Tamils believed that the occupied lands will all be released to lawful owners within months, resettlement of internally displaced people would be prioritised, political prisoners will be released. [Full Story]

Brexit: David Cameron to quit after UK votes to leave EU
[ BBC ] [ 24 June 2016 11:51 GMT ]

The EU referendum has revealed an ancient, jagged fault line across the United Kingdom. [Full Story]

Accountability crucial to preventing future crimes against humanity
[ OSCE ] [ 23 June 2016 02:40 GMT ]

We committed ourselves, inter alia, to ensure that armed forces personnel are aware they are individually accountable under national and international law for their actions." [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Broken promises again at the UN?
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 22 June 2016 00:10 GMT ]

The international community should insist on course correction by Colombo through both a strong oral update by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights later this month and by the co-sponsors of Resolution 30/1. [Full Story]

Cluster bombs used in Sri Lanka's civil war, leaked photos suggest
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 21 June 2016 05:55 GMT ]

Government forces are accused of relentlessly shelling the zones, leading to up to 70,000 deaths. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's 65,000 Disappeared: Will the Latest Missing Persons' Office Bring Answers?
[ The Wire ] [ 20 June 2016 00:03 GMT ]

Successive government have set up many bodies to address disappearances, and families of the disappeared and activists have engaged with them. But truth, justice and reparations have been elusive. [Full Story]

Speech by M.A. Sumanthiran - Congressional caucus briefing 14th June 2015
[ TWG ] [ 19 June 2016 02:28 GMT ]

We are concerned as much as people are, with regard to this particular issue, wondering if the Government is shifting its stance. [Full Story PDF]

Culture of fear lingers in war-traumatized Sri Lanka
[ THE JAPAN TIMES ] [ 18 June 2016 11:07 GMT ]

Under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act, countless more were subjected to lengthy jail time in horrific conditions, often involving torture and sexual abuse by their jailers. [Full Story]

Impunity and Justice: Why the UN Human Rights Council Must Stay Engaged in Sri Lanka
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 17 June 2016 12:01 GMT ]

What all of Sri Lanka's communities need and deserve now are tangible changes in legislation and concrete implementation of its international promises and obligations on the ground. [Full Story]

Indonesia should allow dozens of Tamil asylum-seekers stranded off coast to disembark
[ Amnesty International ] [ 16 June 2016 02:08 GMT ]

Sri Lanka had seen a spate of arrests of Tamils under the country's Prevention of Terrorism Act. [Full Story]

New Report Details Abuses Against Sri Lankan Tamils
[ The Diplomat ] [ 15 June 2016 00:02 GMT ]

The coalition government needs to do much more - and soon. [Full Story]

60 years after June 5, 1956:The making, unmaking and the difficult remaking of a nation
[ SL Guardian ] [ 14 June 2016 06:22 GMT ]

When political problems are not resolved with the promptness they deserve, new symptoms and priorities emerge and require different approaches and treatments. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Enforce Commission Directives on Terror Detainees
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 13 June 2016 05:51 GMT ]

The government has still not put forward a plan to provide redress for those unjustly detained under the PTA, or addressed the issue of detainees charged and prosecuted solely on the basis of coerced confessions obtained during detention. [Full Story]

Keeping the Pressure on Sri Lanka
[ The Wall Street Journal ] [ 12 June 2016 04:05 GMT ]

After a spark of optimism with the new Sirisena government, progress on reforms has stalled. [Full Story]

British Tamil 'tortured and detained' during Sri Lanka wedding trip
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 11 June 2016 02:18 GMT ]

The UK government is not doing enough to confront the Sri Lankan authorities about these claims.' [Full Story]

The ignored plight of Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu
[ India Today ] [ 10 June 2016 02:18 GMT ]

Our life here is much worse than that in the war zone that we fled,' [Full Story]

A tale of two languages
[ The Himal Southasia ] [ 09 June 2016 05:29 GMT ]

Will the new Constitution mend the deep scars left behind after the conflict? [Full Story]

Sri Lanka to recognise around 65,000 people missing since civil war as dead
[ The Hindustan Times ] [ 08 June 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Huge numbers of minority Tamils went missing during almost four decades of war after being arrested by security services, while thousands more died in military bombardments. [Full Story]

Fr. Jim Brown and Mr. Vimalathas: Five years after disappearance, where are they and what has happened to the investigation?
[ GV ] [ 07 June 2016 03:47 GMT ]

Can we really have reconciliation without acknowledging what has happened to Fr. Jim Brown and Vimalathas and the thousands like them? [Full Story]

The scars of Sri Lanka's civil war
[ Aljazeera ] [ 06 June 2016 15:01 GMT ]

If we are to succeed, we need to enact a system that is fair and humane." [Full Story]

Seven years after end of civil war, Sri Lanka treads cautiously on path to peace
[ South China Morning Post ] [ 05 June 2016 05:05 GMT ]

For minority Tamils, the government's pledges of post-war truth and reconciliation ring false. [Full Story]

Maithripala Sirisena Could be "Sri Lanka's Mandela" ...Really?
[ Huffington Post ] [ 04 June 2016 04:05 GMT ]

The road to deeper reform has been a rocky one. [Full Story]

Keep the Promise: Monitoring the Government of Sri Lanka's Commitments for Achieving Justice and Reconciliation
[ The Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 03 June 2016 02:14 GMT ]

They suggest that not enough is being done to lay the foundations for a sustainable peace in Sri Lanka and avert yet another cycle of conflict. [Full Story]

US accused of turning a blind eye on Sri Lanka's 'back-pedalling'
[ JDS ] [ 02 June 2016 03:50 GMT ]

Its latest report largely illustrating the plight of internally displaced (IDP) tens of thousands of Tamils in Sri Lanka's war torn north, seven years after the government declared an end to the war. [Full Story]

NPC urges North-East federal state with land and police powers
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 01 June 2016 00:04 GMT ]

The Northern Provincial Council urged a federal state structure of two broad linguistic states, including the Sinhala speaking states of 7 provinces and a Tamil speaking North-Eastern state parliament with full land and police powers. [Full Story]

Tamils remain 'second-class citizens' in Sri Lanka
[ UCA News ] [ 31 May 2016 05:14 GMT ]

"Minorities are victims of this intolerant culture prevailing in Sri Lanka, directly or indirectly," [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Office of Missing Persons seeks 'disappeared'
[ BBC ] [ 30 May 2016 01:34 GMT ]

Relatives of missing persons have the right to know their whereabouts and the "truth about what happened" to their loved ones. [Full Story]

Community Mediated Justice in Post-War Sri Lanka
[ The Asia Foundation ] [ 29 May 2016 01:07 GMT ]

In such a sensitive post-war environment after decades of not being able to trust anyone, identifying trusted options for resolving such disputes is difficult. [Full Story]

Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka: Possibilities and Risks
[ PEARL ] [ 28 May 2016 02:11 GMT ]

The panel discussion will explore the possibilities and difficulties of justice and reform in post-war Sri Lanka and the roles the international community can play in hastening a secure and lasting peace. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Consultations Lacking on Missing Persons' Office
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 27 May 2016 05:55 GMT ]

'The government should ensure communication, transparency, and dialogue in all its transitional justice mechanisms.' [Full Story]

Time to seize the moment in Sri Lanka
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 26 May 2016 01:50 GMT ]

There is no better place to start than by acknowledging the suffering and injustice experienced by all communities - and the equal right to remember and mourn. [Full Story]

Appraising Sri Lanka's Reform Agenda
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 25 May 2016 03:45 GMT ]

Many promises remain unfulfilled, including contentious issues pertaining to devolution of power and transitional justice. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Jumpstarting the Reform Process
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 24 May 2016 03:10 GMT ]

To rebuild confidence among Tamil communities in the north and east, the government must quickly release detainees and military-occupied land, begin credible inquiries into the fate of the disappeared, investigate and end abuses and repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act. [Full Story]

Dr Brian Senewiratne honoured - Lifetime Commitment Award
[ TWG ] [ 23 May 2016 04:56 GMT ]

Dr. Senewiratne's international advocacy work and activism illustrates his dedicated and exemplary service to the cause of human rights, human dignity and social justice. [Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka's bloody civil war finally ended seven years ago. But moving on from the past is not easy
[ The Washington Post ] [ 22 May 2016 00:35 GMT ]

Under international law, the victims of atrocities have a right to truth and a right to justice, [Full Story]

Rebuilding Lives, and Homes, Shattered by Sri Lanka's Civil War
[ The New York Times ] [ 21 May 2016 02:41 GMT ]

The United Nations estimates that around 40,000 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the battles that ended the war. [Full Story]

Beyond reconciliation and accountability: distributive justice and Sri Lanka's transitional agenda
[ Open Democracy ] [ 20 May 2016 01:25 GMT ]

If the transitional justice process in Sri Lanka ignores the indignities of poverty and everyday precariousness, can we really call it 'justice'? [Full Story]

Live: I'm forever indebted to the people of TN, says Jayalalithaa
[ The HIndu ] [ 19 May 2016 14:40 GMT ]

The three-time Chief Minister will be the first person after MGR to be elected to two contiguous terms. [Full Story]

Prospects for reconciliation and development in Sri Lanka
[ UCA ] [ 18 May 2016 11:44 GMT ]

The seventh anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka's civil war falls on May 18, a date that is likely to once again polarize the island's society along ethnic lines. [Full Story]

Healing the wounds of war in Sri Lanka
[ New Straits Times ] [ 17 May 2016 05:55 GMT ]

The Sirisena administration is determined to foster lasting peace. [Full Story]

'Tamil issue pushed to margins as India, Lanka rework ties'
[ Times of India ] [ 16 May 2016 05:40 GMT ]

It had been New Delhi's endeavour to persuade the Sri Lankan government to accommodate Tamil aspirations by moving in the direction of a federal constitutional framework within a united Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka calls on Tamil expatriates to compromise
[ India Today ] [ 15 May 2016 02:33 GMT ]

The Tamils demand for federal system dates back to the days when Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, became independent of the British Rule in 1948. [Full Story]

Preventing Post-LTTE Violence in Sri Lanka
[ Economic and Political Weekly ] [ 14 May 2016 18:11 GMT ]

If political violence is to be averted, the state ought to provide a package of reforms that addresses the core grievances of the Tamil population. [Full Story]

Anti-corruption summit launches global plan to recover stolen assets
[ BBC ] [ 13 May 2016 00:02 GMT ]

The Global Forum for Asset Recovery will bring together governments and law enforcement agencies to discuss returning assets to Nigeria, Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. [Full Story]

Can a New President Lead Sri Lanka Into an Era of Peace?
[ The New York Times ] [ 12 May 2016 03:52 GMT ]

Leaders of Sri Lanka have repeatedly promised a political solution to the ethnic strife that has caused heartache and bloodshed for much of its nearly 70-year history since independence. [Full Story]

Reconciliation still a long way off in Sri lanka
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 11 May 2016 05:55 GMT ]

Political considerations have a way of numbing the most sensitive conscience. [Full Story]

Tamils suffered genocide in Sri Lanka says British MP at parliamentary Mullivaikkal remembrance event
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 10 May 2016 23:56 GMT ]

Sri Lanka will not change without sustained pressure. [Full Story]

Torture Continues in Lanka Due to Weaknesses in Law: UN
[ Outlook ] [ 09 May 2016 04:11 GMT ]

He said the UN was encouraged by the positive steps taken by the government to uphold human rights values. [Full Story]

U.N. urges judiciary reforms in Sri Lanka to avoid delay in justice
[ Reuters ] [ 08 May 2016 01:15 GMT ]

"First scrap the PTA, eliminate prolonged detention without trial in various forms, establish mechanism for real judicial and prosecutorial control over police investigations and things along those lines," he said. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's path to peace
[ Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 07 May 2016 02:57 GMT ]

For many in the north and east of Sri Lanka the conflict has not ended and structural violence continues to be a part of their daily lives. [Full Story]

Pope Francis castigates Europe in speech on solidarity
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 06 May 2016 13:17 GMT ]

'What has happened to you, the Europe of humanism, the champion of human rights, democracy and freedom?' [Full Story]

The 'promising' world of Tamil Nadu politics: From freebies to bans, here are some pre-poll pledges
[ First Post ] [ 05 May 2016 02:22 GMT ]

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have left no stone unturned in their attempt to please the voters. [Full Story]

Federal system not meant to divide Sri Lanka: Northern CM
[ The Indian Express ] [ 04 May 2016 01:19 GMT ]

The TNA hopes to submit the federal proposal when the draft for a new constitution is discussed in the national parliament. [Full Story]

What is World Press Freedom Day?
[ Voice of America ] [ 03 May 2016 11:58 GMT ]

Freedom of information is a fundamental human right, weighs the state of press freedom around the world. [Full Story]

UN experts on torture and the independence of the justice system in joint visit to Sri Lanka
[ UN Human Rights ] [ 02 May 2016 01:28 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is at a crucial moment in its history and we hope that our recommendations will contribute to setting out a path for the future. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: A Troubling Spate of Arrests Across the Northern and Eastern Provinces
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 01 May 2016 01:47 GMT ]

These dubious arrests under the guise of 'national security' are eerily reminiscent of Rajapaksa's reign. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan protest demands new probe of Tamil journalist's killing
[ First Post ] [ 30 Apr 2016 02:11 GMT ]

Dharmeratnam Sivaram was targeted because of uncompromising coverage of political and military matters. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan struggle to recover from the economic and emotional wounds of civil war
[ CNBC ] [ 29 Apr 2016 00:01 GMT ]

They're frustrated by what they see as a lack of progress and it's taken a heavy emotional toll. [Full Story]

TNA demands probe over illegal occupation' by Sri Lankan Army
[ The Hindu ] [ 28 Apr 2016 05:47 GMT ]

The incident comes in the backdrop of last week's resolution in the TNA controlled northern provincial council to set up a federal Tamil government in the north. [Full Story]

Battle scars: Sri Lanka's north counts the cost of a 26-year war
[ CNBC ] [ 27 Apr 2016 10:02 GMT ]

Greater regional autonomy was a key request Tamil rebels made during wartime negotiations with Colombo. [Full Story]

The Inconvenient Truth about Sri Lanka's North and East
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 26 Apr 2016 20:05 GMT ]

Failing to acknowledge the truth about what's currently happening across the Northern and Eastern Provinces makes healing the wounds of war that much more difficult. [Full Story]

Foundation stone laid for the Indian Housing Project in Central and Uva Provinces
[ HCI ] [ 25 Apr 2016 02:55 GMT ]

As part of Government of India's commitment to construct 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka, 4000 houses will be constructed in the Central and Uva Provinces as the third and final phase of the project. [Full Story]

They are asserting their rights in a peaceful and democratic manner'
[ The Times of India ] [ 24 Apr 2016 00:44 GMT ]

He feels that equal rights to Tamils under an autonomous state is the solution to the island nation's problem. [Full Story]

Lanka Tamil council backs federal solution
[ PTI ] [ 23 Apr 2016 02:33 GMT ]

The Tamil leadership has adopted a softer approach to give up on the separatist demand. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka, Lost in Transition
[ Foreign Affairs ] [ 22 Apr 2016 04:14 GMT ]

The country's recent democratic gains are more modest than they might first appear. [Full Story]

Rampant militarisation across the North-East - Report
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 21 Apr 2016 03:02 GMT ]

'Sri Lanka's continuing lack of progress on key issues such as accountability and demilitarization throws into question the government's sincerity and political will to implement the pledges it has made,' [Full Story]

Post-war Sri Lanka
[ RisingKashmir ] [ 20 Apr 2016 01:55 GMT ]

Fundamental issues when left unaddressed can lead to violent uprising at any time. [Full Story]

PROJECT EXILE: CRITICIZING SRI LANKA WAR LEADS TO EXILE
[ Global Journalist ] [ 19 Apr 2016 04:50 GMT ]

There is progress, but there is a lot to be changed before journalists in the north feel they are free. [Full Story]

New government, old story: The ongoing persecution of Christians in Sri Lanka
[ Christian Today ] [ 18 Apr 2016 02:21 GMT ]

Churches and prayer groups have been forced to close. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Tamils Look for Federal Solution
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 17 Apr 2016 03:08 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's main Tamil party TNA is seeking a federal solution to resolve the long-pending issue of political independence for the counry's minority Tamil community. [Full Story]

Migrant crisis: Pope returns from Greece with 12 migrants
[ BBC ] [ 16 Apr 2016 14:26 GMT ]

He wanted to "draw the attention of the world to this grave humanitarian crisis". [Full Story]

Stand with Survivors
[ Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 15 Apr 2016 02:17 GMT ]

The survivors of Sri Lanka's civil war have been ignored for too long. [Full Story]

Aluth Avurudda and Puthandu 2016: David Cameron's message
[ 10 Downing Street ] [ 14 Apr 2016 05:02 GMT ]

I hope that this new year will bring communities closer together in helping to heal the wounds of the past. [Full Story]

Sampanthan calls for bonding between Tamil and Sinhala people at New Year's
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 14 Apr 2016 00:02 GMT ]

"My hearty New Year wishes to all the Tamil and Sinhala people living across all parts of the world. [Full Story]

Treasures of the Indus - Of Gods and Men
[ BBC iPlayer ] [ 13 Apr 2016 00:33 GMT ]

In a journey across India's Tamil Nadu state, Sona Datta traces the development of the Hindu religion from its origins as an amalgamation of local faith traditions. [Video] [Full Story]

Better conditions for Sri Lankan tea workers, urges Caritas
[ UCA News ] [ 12 Apr 2016 04:33 GMT ]

A rise in wages and better housing is needed for marginalized workers and their families. [Full Story]

Sinhalese can live happily only if Tamils are happy: Lanka Prez
[ Business Standard ] [ 11 Apr 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Sirisena said the majority community must ensure Tamils and Muslims live in harmony in a way that all communities live happily in the country. [Full Story]

A bridge between TN and Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 10 Apr 2016 01:02 GMT ]

He belonged to a period when musicians from India and Sri Lanka regularly played in both the countries. [Full Story]

South and Central Asia: U.S. Policies and Priorities for 2016
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 09 Apr 2016 02:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka deserves special attention as it continues to consolidate democratic gains in the past two elections and put the country on a path to reconciliation. [Full Story]

A bridge too far?
[ The Asian Age ] [ 08 Apr 2016 02:09 GMT ]

The DMK had pulled out in protest over India's reticence over the wording of a UN resolution against Sri Lanka for alleged human rights violations during the 30-year long civil war. [Full Story]

Activists in an international system: pushing for change in Sri Lanka
[ Open Democracy ] [ 07 Apr 2016 04:01 GMT ]

It would be a mistake for our international friends to leave us now, especially after the long journey they have undertaken with us. [Full Story]

The thavil that united Tamils
[ The Hindu ] [ 06 Apr 2016 05:49 GMT ]

The first Tamil non-fiction film to win a National Award in 17 years. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka starts moves to grant Tamils more autonomy
[ AFP ] [ 05 Apr 2016 05:07 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday launched a process to draw up a new constitution aimed at preventing a return to ethnic war. [Full Story]

FREEDOM FROM TORTURE STATEMENT ON THE SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE FCO'S FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION OF ITS HUMAN RIGHTS WORK OVERSEAS
[ Freedom from Torture ] [ 04 Apr 2016 07:56 GMT ]

We are increasingly concerned that the UK government puts flying the flag for business over and above human rights. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamil torture victims reiterate call for international judges
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 Apr 2016 04:23 GMT ]

"They would like hybrid courts, where international judges and investigators come along with domestic authorities and look into these human rights violations," [Full Story]

Getting US Messaging About Sri Lanka's 'Democratic Transition' Right
[ The Diplomat ] [ 02 Apr 2016 02:45 GMT ]

The U.S. should maintain diplomatic pressure and emphasize that a deepening of bilateral ties will not happen until more progress is made. [Full Story]

Dheepan's Antonythasan Jesuthasan: from Tamil Tiger to star of a Palme d'Or winner
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 01 Apr 2016 05:20 GMT ]

'I didn't know real life in Sri Lanka. Just the war. And it has shaped everything. Still, I am at war. I always will be.' [Full Story]

'Encourage writers to promote Tamil language and literature'
[ The Hindu ] [ 31 Mar 2016 03:40 GMT ]

The authors and scholars should be honoured in their lifetime itself. [Full Story]

RISING FROM THE EMBERS: The Tamils of Sri Lanka are still stuck between a bloody past and hope
[ Quartz India ] [ 30 Mar 2016 00:25 GMT ]

Thousands of traumatised people, forced from their homes, remain in the internal displaced person camps without jobs, running water, or even the hope that they may one day return to their former homes. [Full Story]

Abbott's Sri Lanka comments 'excuse war crimes', Tamil refugee advocates say
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 29 Mar 2016 05:11 GMT ]

Human Rights Watch Australia director, Elaine Pearson, said Abbott's comments were unacceptable and offensive. [Full Story]

Lanka's new Constitution will address the Tamil issue: Minister
[ PTI ] [ 28 Mar 2016 03:01 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government will find a political solution to the Tamil issue in the new Constitution, a senior minister said today. [Full Story]

Pope's Easter message condemns failure to help migrants
[ BBC ] [ 27 Mar 2016 14:51 GMT ]

The Pope said migrants often met "rejection from those who could offer them welcome and assistance". [Full Story]

Political Prisoners and Sri Lanka's Sincerity Crisis
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 26 Mar 2016 02:08 GMT ]

President Maithripala Sirisena had promised progress regarding Tamil political prisoners, although we've seen little of that. [Full Story]

Treasures of the Indus
[ BBC iPlayer ] [ 25 Mar 2016 01:26 GMT ]

This is the story of the Indian subcontinent told through the treasures of three very different people, places and dynasties that have shaped the modern Indian world. [Full Story]

A New Land - Reshaping Sri Lanka's Destiny
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 24 Mar 2016 05:58 GMT ]

Our political leaders have consistently failed to make Sri Lanka the inclusive, peaceful and prosperous country. [Full Story]

Singapore most preferred destination of Tamil diaspora, study finds
[ Times of India ] [ 23 Mar 2016 04:11 GMT ]

Singapore has emerged as the most preferred destination among NRIs from Tamil Nadu. [Full Story]

Committed to ensuring credible investigation into human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, says UN
[ First Post ] [ 22 Mar 2016 03:55 GMT ]

The UN has said it remains committed to ensuring a credible investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka during the final phase of the civil war that ended seven years ago. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's lost generation
[ Daily Times ] [ 21 Mar 2016 04:18 GMT ]

Unmoored from mainstream society, these young men and women are Sri Lanka's lost generation. [Full Story]

Hill-country Tamils don't want to be called 'Indian Tamils'
[ The Hindu ] [ 20 Mar 2016 05:02 GMT ]

Making use of the ongoing process of constitutional reforms, the community wants the issue of identity to be resolved. [Full Story]

Accord citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamils living in camps: PUCL
[ The Hindu ] [ 19 Mar 2016 00:17 GMT ]

All political parties in the State were concerned about Tamils living in Sri Lanka and did not look at the pathetic condition of those in refugee camps. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka needs international expertise at all levels - IMADR
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 18 Mar 2016 04:54 GMT ]

'It is in our experience that Sri Lanka needs international expertise at all levels in order to effectively implement the resolution,' [Full Story]

Sri Lankan government refuses to release Tamil political prisoners
[ WSWS] [ 17 Mar 2016 03:25 GMT ]

The continued incarceration without trial of hundreds of Tamils not only exposes the ongoing repression and discrimination against the country's Tamil minority. [Full Story]

Modern Tamils & the Tamil National Question
[ Sangam ] [ 16 Mar 2016 02:18 GMT ]

This book is the third and final in the series on the history of the Sri Lankan Tamils. [Full Story]

UK 'firmly committed to full implementation' of UN resolution on Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 15 Mar 2016 05:05 GMT ]

'We remain firmly committed to the full implementation of the resolution adopted in September and stand ready to help Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The Continuing Need For International Presence
[ CT ] [ 14 Mar 2016 05:44 GMT ]

The issue of international participation should not become or be seen as foreign interference that erodes national sovereignty. On the contrary, it is to strengthen the confidence of the Tamil polity in the transition process. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka needs to move faster on key reconciliation issues: UN
[ PTI ] [ 13 Mar 2016 04:09 GMT ]

The next few months will be important as the Sri Lankan government embarks on national consultations for the design of a comprehensive transitional justice process to implement fully this Council's resolution. [Full Story]

Sampanthan slams Sri Lankan government over continuing detentions
[ The Hindu ] [ 12 Mar 2016 01:12 GMT ]

Their continued detention was 'not compatible with transitional justice. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka PM seeks probe into 'missing' wartime gold
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 11 Mar 2016 02:00 GMT ]

The army seized jewellery left behind by some 300,000 minority Tamil citizens who were driven out of their homes in the final stages of Sri Lanka's separatist war, which ended in 2009. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka calls for int'l aid for war-torn regions
[ China Internet Information Center ] [ 10 Mar 2016 00:02 GMT ]

The government would convene a donor conference this year to seek technical and financial assistance for the north and east and had requested Japan to take the lead. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Should Finally Release Tamil Political Prisoners
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 09 Mar 2016 15:15 GMT ]

Colombo should finally release or bring to trial all Tamil political prisoners. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka ready for peace, says Erik Solheim
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 Mar 2016 04:05 GMT ]

This is the best opportunity to bring about a lasting solution to the country's ethnic question, Norway's former special peace envoy Erik Solheim said on Tuesday. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka brings back war-time measures to fight gangs
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 07 Mar 2016 05:15 GMT ]

At least 100,000 people were killed in the 37-year separatist war. [Full Story]

Need For Both External & Internal Champions Of The Reconciliation Process
[ CT ] [ 06 Mar 2016 02:22 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is today presented with a historic opportunity to deal with its past traumas, human rights violations and war crimes. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka bans landmines seven years after civil war
[ SBS ] [ 05 Mar 2016 01:17 GMT ]

Sri Lanka had previously refused to become a signatory to the treaty. [Full Story]

Tamil Chair at Harvard University
[ Generosity ] [ 04 Mar 2016 02:15 GMT ]

The creation of a permanent Tamil Chair at Harvard University is vital for the longevity and health of the Tamil language in the western hemisphere. [Full Story]

In Sri Lanka, Barriers Fall in a Land Marred by Bloodshed
[ The New York Times ] [ 03 Mar 2016 03:45 GMT ]

Seven years after a brutal war, peace and tourism have returned to Sri Lanka's north, but normality remains more elusive. [Full Story]

Joint Statement From the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka on the Inaugural U.S. - Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue
[ U.S. Department of State ] [ 02 Mar 2016 05:22 GMT ]

The United States welcomed Sri Lanka's strength as a nation committed to achieving lasting peace and prosperity inclusive of truth-seeking, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence that includes providing closure to the families of the missing. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Maintain momentum, Deliver on human rights commitments
[ Amnesty International ] [ 01 Mar 2016 04:04 GMT ]

Justice, truth and reparation can be important mechanisms to ensure that past human rights violations and abuses will never be repeated. [Full Story PDF]

Opinion: Changing role of real estate firms in former war zone
[ LBO ] [ 01 Mar 2016 00:04 GMT ]

Thirty five years of Civil war in Sri Lanka has seen 60 â€' 65 percent of the Sri Lankan Tamil population gradually leaving Sri Lanka for other countries. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka could accept international actors in war crimes probe
[ Reuters ] [ 29 Feb 2016 03:01 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's foreign minister said on Thursday he is willing to consider international participation in investigating possible war crimes during the 26-year Tamil insurgency. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Rising from the ashes, but much left to do
[ Lowy Institute for International Policy ] [ 28 Feb 2016 03:27 GMT ]

The population halved during the war. [Full Story]

Amnesty International reveals the 10 worst attacks on human rights across the world last year
[ The Independent UK ] [ 27 Feb 2016 02:49 GMT ]

Report issues damning assessment on the state of human rights in the world right now. [Full Story]

Piecing together shattered lives in Sri Lanka
[ UCA News ] [ 26 Feb 2016 05:50 GMT ]

Around 15,000 children in the Batticaloa province were orphaned by the civil war that ended in 2009. [Full Story]

The US Must Pay More Attention to Sri Lanka's Transitional Justice Debate
[ The Diplomat ] [ 25 Feb 2016 17:52 GMT ]

It's imperative that the international community, especially the United States., keep the pressure on Sri Lanka to help consolidate the nation's recent democratic gains and assist a war-torn country build a durable peace. [Full Story]

Tamil Civil Society Seeks International Participation in Constitution Making
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 24 Feb 2016 01:55 GMT ]

The process of constitution making should be 'sufficiently internationalized in the light of other constitutional making examples in the aftermath of violent conflict, such as Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Aceh. [Full Story]

Tamil youths in Sri Lanka moving out of plantation sector
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Feb 2016 02:49 GMT ]

They are also facing 'stigmatisation and discrimination due to their Indian Tamil ethnicity and estate worker identity. [Full Story]

A Sri Lankan Lesson in Free Speech
[ The New York Times ] [ 22 Feb 2016 04:02 GMT ]

Tamil literature, which has a long and important history that has helped shape and define Tamil identity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka After the Tigers
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 Feb 2016 01:29 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government has a historic opportunity to mend a nation broken by war. But it will only succeed if accountability triumphs over old distrust. [Full Story]

'Tamil areas in Sri Lanka are the pockets of poverty'
[ The Hindu ] [ 20 Feb 2016 03:12 GMT ]

Regions with the highest rate of poverty in Sri Lanka are areas inhabited by Tamils, according to a study of the World Bank. [Full Story]

Sent back by Australia to debt in Sri Lanka
[ IRIN ] [ 19 Feb 2016 02:01 GMT ]

Many returnees face crippling debt after spending large sums to pay for the journey. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka After the Tigers - Letter from Mannar
[ Foreign Affairs ] [ 18 Feb 2016 05:49 GMT ]

The mainly Sinhalese military sprawls on land that once belonged to the Tamil community. [Full Story]

Will UN rights chief's Sri Lankan visit deliver outcomes?
[ UCA News ] [ 17 Feb 2016 04:50 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's government also committed to establishing four transitional justice mechanisms covering reparations, missing persons, truth seeking and accountability through judicial mechanisms. [Full Story]

Even As UN Softens Its Stand, Sri Lanka Has Tough Challenge At UNHRC Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 16 Feb 2016 22:44 GMT ]

Colombo needs to take concrete steps towards speedy reconciliation. [Full Story]

Maithripala Sirisena: Saved Mahinda Rajapaksa from war crimes court
[ The Asian Age ] [ 15 Feb 2016 05:02 GMT ]

His victory in elections in January 2015 over Mr Rajapaksa was the reason why the former President was prevented from answering a war crimes probe. [Full Story]

Sirisena Appoints Left-Liberal Reginald Cooray as Northern Province Governor
[ The Indian Express ] [ 14 Feb 2016 04:55 GMT ]

A progressive step welcomed by Tamil leaders. [Full Story]

Myanmar's Tamil community works to maintain their culture
[ Mizzima ] [ 13 Feb 2016 04:18 GMT ]

Tamils, native to southeastern India and northern Sri Lanka, are one of the world's largest ethnic groups without a nation. [Full Story]

Political and Livelihood Assurances a Must
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 12 Feb 2016 02:05 GMT ]

Political questions have to be settled to the satisfaction of the Lankan Tamils so as to encourage their 'voluntary return. [Full Story]

India-Sri Lanka: A tale of Guns and Roses
[ Prepsure ] [ 11 Feb 2016 11:35 GMT ]

India and Sri Lanka enjoy a unique relationship which has been strengthened over time, and seem to have bright future. [Full Story]

Explaining Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 10 Feb 2016 02:35 GMT ]

The new government's progress on core Tamil issues, including the release of Tamil political prisoners and demilitarization, has disappointed many. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must confront demons of past, UN rights chief says
[ AFP ] [ 09 Feb 2016 15:28 GMT ]

His warning came after having heard fears that the government "may be wavering on its human rights commitments" despite its promise to ensure ethnic reconciliation and accountability. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamil leaders call for UN help on 4000 missing
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 08 Feb 2016 00:21 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil leaders on Sunday asked the top U.N. human rights official to help determine the fate of more than 4,000 civilians reported missing in the country's long civil war. [Full Story]

India Needs to Urgently Engage With Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora Groups: Global Tamil Forum
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 08 Feb 2016 00:15 GMT ]

India has so far, kept powerful Diaspora groups at an arms length. [Full Story]

The Political Challenge Of Carrying The People Through Transitional Justice
[ CT ] [ 07 Feb 2016 00:03 GMT ]

A domestic process of judicial accountability that has no international involvement will not be acceptable to the great majority of Tamil people who were the main victims of the last phase of the war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa family: Crashing fall from grace
[ BBC ] [ 06 Feb 2016 04:55 GMT ]

Once-despairing human rights activists detect small signs of progress. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka takes 'giant step' toward unity with Tamil anthem
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 05 Feb 2016 00:50 GMT ]

"It may be a small symbolic thing, but it is a very important step telling the Tamil-speaking people that they are equal members of this country and the state recognises that," [Full Story]

What are we celebrating on the 4th Feb Independence, Inter-dependence or Freedom?
[ SL Guardian ] [ 04 Feb 2016 00:02 GMT ]

Never did we dream that the British blunder of handing over all the power into the hands of a majoritarian democracy will lead to many decades of conflict and war on this island. [Full Story]

Tamil council calls for federalism
[ The Hindu ] [ 03 Feb 2016 00:01 GMT ]

The Tamil People's Council, a forum of different Tamil political parties and groups, has proposed that Sri Lanka be converted into a federal republic. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan minorities want an inclusive constitution
[ UCA News ] [ 02 Feb 2016 04:01 GMT ]

Reconciliations efforts will be in vain if the law is not equal and just. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tracing the origins of Ceylon tea
[ Aljazeera ] [ 01 Feb 2016 00:55 GMT ]

Women have to collect 18Kg of delicate tea leaves to receive their daily pay of $5. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka constitution: What's in it for the Tamils?
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 31 Jan 2016 01:58 GMT ]

Tamils will remain under-privileged citizens unless they mount a concerted challenge to the regime's moves forthwith. [Full Story]

Last ruler of Kandy has his resting place in Vellore
[ The Hindu ] [ 30 Jan 2016 02:00 GMT ]

Plaques in Muthu Mandapam hail him Sri Lanka's last Tamil King, and note that he was housed in a room inside the fort for 16 years. [Full Story]

No justice for Sri Lanka's missing and killed journalists
[ UCA News ] [ 29 Jan 2016 04:49 GMT ]

There has been little government support forthcoming to investigate the deaths of Tamil journalists. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: New Government Makes Significant Progress
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 28 Jan 2016 03:10 GMT ]

The changed atmosphere under the new government has given hope to many victims of past abuses, civil society activists, and international observers, Adams said. [Full Story]

China Radio's Tamil programmes gain popularity
[ News Today Media ] [ 28 Jan 2016 02:14 GMT ]

The division that started in 1963 has been catering to listeners in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and several other countries. [Full Story]

The agony of Sri Lanka's carapace of peace
[ Channel4 ] [ 27 Jan 2016 03:03 GMT ]

Tonight on Channel 4 News we shall be telling a story of a degree of return to normality. [Full Story] [Report II] [Report III]

Sri Lanka: Fulfill Rights Council Call for Justice
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 26 Jan 2016 00:15 GMT ]

'The countries that worked so closely with Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council last year have a responsibility to ensure that this important resolution will be properly adopted, Adams said. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Rebirth
[ Project Syndicate ] [ 26 Jan 2016 00:02 GMT ]

What is required is full integration of the Tamils, Sri Lanka's embittered minority, into the country's economic life. [Full Story]

Key to Lanka's success
[ Arab News ] [ 25 Jan 2016 04:51 GMT ]

There is a conviction in Sri Lanka today that by shedding majoritarian ego and displaying magnanimity the country can be re-invented. [Full Story]

TNA to stick to federal solution
[ CT ] [ 24 Jan 2016 02:56 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will not deviate from their stance on finding a solution based on the federal system. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka president wants 'internal' war crimes court
[ BBC ] [ 23 Jan 2016 04:05 GMT ]

"We will certainly reach our target but it's a process." [Full Story]

Island of Hope -- Sri Lanka's Last Chance for Equality
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 22 Jan 2016 03:55 GMT ]

We need to create a society where we can all live in dignity, a society that is just and free. Until we do, the promise of our new nation can never be realized. [Full Story]

Retired Sri Lankan bishop risked life for Tamils, say activists
[ UCA News ] [ 21 Jan 2016 05:19 GMT ]

Prelate survived assassination attempts while championing the rights of the underprivileged [Full Story]

David Cameron takes some credit for reforms in Sri Lanka
[ Asia One ] [ 20 Jan 2016 04:48 GMT ]

The mechanisms would be purely Sri Lankan with the required assistance provided by the UN community, but it would have to be in place before the UNHRC's June sessions. [Full Story]

M.I.A. IN ACTION: Voice of the war-torn
[ Nyoooz ] [ 19 Jan 2016 03:17 GMT ]

For M.I.A., daughter of a Lankan Tamil political activist, her identification with the refugees is both personal and political. [Full Story]

Meet seeks to pass on Tamil's heritage
[ The Hindu ] [ 18 Jan 2016 02:12 GMT ]

The theme of the international conference was on Challenges and Opportunities for Tamil living abroad. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka PM vows greater political power for Tamils
[ The Daily Mail UK ] [ 17 Jan 2016 00:05 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's prime minister on Friday promised greater political power to the island's Tamil minority under a new constitution aimed at preventing a return to ethnic war and healing the wounds of the past. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Circuitous Road to Reform
[ The Diplomat ] [ 16 Jan 2016 05:59 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's recent democratic gains are real; so are the challenges that lie ahead. [Full Story]

Time for Action on Sri Lanka War Crimes
[ The Diplomat ] [ 15 Jan 2016 04:28 GMT ]

The current year-old government of Sri Lanka is a vast improvement on its abysmal predecessor. [Full Story]

Report card: Sri Lanka president falls short after one year at helm
[ Asia Times ] [ 14 Jan 2016 02:01 GMT ]

Sirisena has made good progress in getting the 19th Amendment to the country's constitution passed which will abolish the Executive Presidency at the end of his term. [Full Story]

De-mining Sri Lanka: a job for widows and survivors
[ Aljazeera ] [ 13 Jan 2016 09:58 GMT ]

"We might not be able to take every single mine out of the ground, but the important thing is that people will be able to go on with their lives. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's historic opportunity
[ The Hindu ] [ 12 Jan 2016 04:41 GMT ]

It is a historic opportunity for all stake-holders, including Tamils, Muslims and plantation Tamils, to participate in the process. It is time all sides left their nationalist rhetoric of the past behind. [Full Story]

TMP Watchdog of Lanka Tamil Politics
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 11 Jan 2016 03:49 GMT ]

The Tamil Makkal Peravai (TMP),is not a rival to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), but is a non-partisan, civil society watchdog meant to see that the basic interests of the Lankan Tamils are upheld by their leaders and not compromised for petty gains. [Full Story]

Inside Story: Can a new constitution heal Sri Lanka's wounds?
[ Aljazeera ] [ 10 Jan 2016 03:49 GMT ]

President Maithripala Sirisena has pledged to introduce sweeping constitutional reforms aimed at preventing his country from returning to ethnic war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka begins process of writing new constitution to prevent war
[ Deutsche Welle ] [ 09 Jan 2016 02:25 GMT ]

Objections by the majority ethnic Sinhala community to power sharing deals with the minority ethnic Tamils early on led to terrorism and war. [Full Story]

The state that loves bullfighting but isn't Spain
[ BBC ] [ 08 Jan 2016 00:58 GMT ]

Jallikattu is more than 2,000 years old and considered to be one of the oldest sports still practised in the modern era. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka accused of allowing continuing human rights abuses
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 07 Jan 2016 00:04 GMT ]

In September the United Nations said it had found evidence strongly indicating that war crimes were committed in Sri Lanka in the closing phases of its civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's torture machine continues in peacetime
[ IRIN ] [ 06 Jan 2016 15:49 GMT ]

Civilians are still being abducted, tortured and sexually abused by security forces, according to a report published today. [Full Story]

From Baahubali to Anegan: Top 10 highest grossing overseas Tamil movies of 2015
[ International Business Times ] [ 05 Jan 2016 23:55 GMT ]

Tamil films have created a good market overseas and in the last couple of years. [Full Story]

Scholars too flock to Puducherry
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 Jan 2016 00:02 GMT ]

Penguin Publishers in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry brought out a book on the contemporary Tamil writing in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka president pledges land for 100,000 war victims
[ AFP ] [ 03 Jan 2016 17:07 GMT ]

Up to 100,000 people still living in camps six years after the end of Sri Lanka's brutal ethnic war will be given land to build homes within six months. [Full Story]

Tamils Satisfied With Lanka's Move Toward Constitutional Reform
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 02 Jan 2016 05:04 GMT ]

'Very meaningful first steps have been taken by the government with intent. [Full Story]

New Year Determination For Reconciliation & Peace
[ CT ] [ 01 Jan 2016 04:57 GMT ]

A firm determination for ethnic reconciliation and peace is of paramount importance in the New Year 2016. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka seeks public support in constitutional reforms
[ Economy Next ] [ 31 Dec 2015 01:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's government aims to draft a new constitution with wide public participation within existing parliamentary procedures and appeals to interest groups to put forward proposals, a spokesman said. [Full Story]

What's the Deal with Sri Lanka's War Crimes Court?
[ The Diplomat ] [ 30 Dec 2015 03:03 GMT ]

Since the administration of President Maithripala Sirisena still refuses to release Tamil political prisoners 'with no real charges against them, no domestic process will be taken seriously. [Full Story]

For First Time in Lankan History Tamil Parties Gear Up For Constitution Making
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 29 Dec 2015 02:27 GMT ]

The government has officially stated that the new constitution will provide a 'constitutional resolution' of the ethnic issue. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's delicate dance with China
[ CNBC ] [ 28 Dec 2015 03:48 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's new government has inherited more than $25 billion in debt to offshore creditors. [Full Story]

Sri lanka set to move resolution in parliament to turn house into Constitutional Assembly
[ First Post ] [ 27 Dec 2015 01:14 GMT ]

Unity government also aims to address the Tamil minority concerns on devolution of power to the Tamil regions in the new Constitution. [Full Story]

Tamil Catholics worry about Christmas in Sri Lanka
[ UCA News ] [ 26 Dec 2015 00:52 GMT ]

Hundreds of war-affected families still live in temporary shelters constructed from tin sheets and palm leaf roofs. [Full Story]

World's Christians celebrate Christmas
[ BBC ] [ 25 Dec 2015 00:02 GMT ]

Events have been overshadowed by recent violence between Palestinians and Israelis. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka : History
[ The Commonwealth ] [ 24 Dec 2015 04:05 GMT ]

Dravidian and Indo-Aryan languages filtered down to Sri Lanka, from the south and north of India respectively, with modern-day Tamils and Sinhalese each often claiming their forefathers arrived first. [Full Story]

Scottish landmine charity reaches major milestone in war-torn Sri Lanka
[ Herald Scotland ] [ 23 Dec 2015 00:09 GMT ]

It has reached a significant milestone after clearing its 200,000th landmine from a former worn-torn part of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan President Vows To Resettle Displaced Tamils Within Six Months
[ NDTV ] [ 22 Dec 2015 01:22 GMT ]

A United Nations panel has said around 40,000 mainly Tamil civilians were killed in the final months of the country's separatist war. [Full Story]

Lankan Tamil Leader Determined To Overcome Obstacles To Sending Relief To TN
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 21 Dec 2015 03:08 GMT ]

Indian diplomats told Sivagnanam that India has a policy of not accepting foreign aid for disaster management. [Full Story]

Experts say jaffna likely to be submerged by the sea
[ CT ] [ 20 Dec 2015 02:38 GMT ]

The increase in temperature has resulted in changes in weather patterns. [Full Story]

Body to coordinate reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 19 Dec 2015 00:05 GMT ]

The proposed secretariat will develop a plan on institutions such as the Office on Missing Persons and the Truth, Reconciliation and Prevention of Conflicts Commission. [Full Story]

U.S. Under Secretary of State (designate) Thomas Shannon's speech
[ U.S. Department of State ] [ 18 Dec 2015 03:44 GMT ]

In August, the world witnessed your resolve to move beyond the acrimony of the past and towards a future that is inclusive, peaceful, just, democratic, and prosperous. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka is welcoming China - and its money - once more
[ The Independent UK ] [ 17 Dec 2015 03:57 GMT ]

China tends when investing overseas to create firm ties with the ruling elite but otherwise to have little to do with local politics. [Full Story]

Remembering S. Sivanayagam (1930-2010) via His Letters
[ Sangam ] [ 16 Dec 2015 04:04 GMT ]

S. Sivanayagam established and distinguished himself, via his editorship of Saturday Review, Tamil Nation and Hot Spring print journals. [Full Story]

Will the Commonwealth finally step up in Sri Lanka?
[ Open Democracy ] [ 15 Dec 2015 03:55 GMT ]

In Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth has a unique opportunity to restore its place on the global stage. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Talks Big on Human Rights Day
[ The Diplomat ] [ 14 Dec 2015 04:38 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has 5,750 outstanding cases of disappearances - the second highest number in the world. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamil Political Prisoners: An Abdication of Presidential Leadership
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 13 Dec 2015 02:50 GMT ]

Colombo's continued intransigence on some of the small issues makes it's hard to be optimistic about the broader reform agenda. [Full Story]

Climate change summit reaches deal in Paris
[ BBC ] [ 12 Dec 2015 21:31 GMT ]

"The transition to a low carbon economy is now unstoppable, ensuring the end of the fossil fuel age." [Full Story]

Supreme Court ruling calls for flexibility in refugee cases involving kids
[ The Globe and Mail ] [ 11 Dec 2015 00:02 GMT ]

The Supreme Court of Canada has told the Canadian government it has misread the 'humanitarian and compassionate grounds for letting failed refugee claimants stay, applying too restrictive a definition. [Full Story]

The Future of US-Sri Lanka Relations
[ The Diplomat ] [ 10 Dec 2015 04:45 GMT ]

Under Obama's watch, the United States played a major role in pressuring Sri Lanka to respect human dignity and deal with the past. [Full Story]

India committed to build 50,000 houses for displaced refugees in Sri Lanka
[ Business Insider Global ] [ 09 Dec 2015 03:21 GMT ]

Since 1995, not much has been done to replace the thousands of internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

EU supports housing, entrepreneurship in north-east Sri Lanka
[ Economy Next ] [ 08 Dec 2015 04:41 GMT ]

The European Union has launched a three-year project to support war-affected people in Sri Lanka's north and east. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's $675 million plan to harness floods
[ IRIN ] [ 07 Dec 2015 03:28 GMT ]

In the last five years, the dry zone has suffered at least five major floods and four droughts. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's transitional justice: Genuine move or red herring?
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 06 Dec 2015 05:01 GMT ]

Sri Lanka, while pledging not to haul its military before any tribunal for war crimes, took steps to operationalise some aspects of the resolution. [Full Story]

A Few Thoughts on Sri Lanka's New Court
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 05 Dec 2015 02:49 GMT ]

The announcement of this new court means that Sri Lanka will finally begin adding a degree of specificity towards its transitional justice approach. [Full Story]

Why is India's Chennai flooded?
[ BBC ] [ 04 Dec 2015 05:21 GMT ]

Much of the city has grown without a plan and with no regard to water flows. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka to launch special court to probe war crimes
[ AFP ] [ 03 Dec 2015 02:06 GMT ]

"No reconciliation is possible without accepting the mistakes of the past." [Full Story]

Heavy rains lash Tamil Nadu; death toll reaches 188
[ Deccan Herald ] [ 02 Dec 2015 04:28 GMT ]

Weather office has cautioned of more showers in the next four days across Tamil Nadu. [Full Story]

UN delegation: Sri Lanka has opportunity to provide rights to disappeared citizens
[ Jurist ] [ 01 Dec 2015 02:44 GMT ]

The experts noted that Sri Lanka had previously made no effort to determine the whereabouts of the disappeared or search for the truth related to the disappearances. [Full Story]

MIA's Borders: artist braves boats and barbed wire in video crusade for refugees
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 30 Nov 2015 03:09 GMT ]

Track that proves she remains unique in her ability to implement ideas about pop culture and important global topics. [Full Story]

CHOGM 2015: UK steps up reconciliation and human rights support for Sri Lanka
[ Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street ] [ 29 Nov 2015 02:25 GMT ]

The UK is clear that credible investigations into alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka's civil war are vital. [Full Story]

A phonecall, a meeting, then indefinite detention: the refugees at the mercy of Asio
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 28 Nov 2015 04:11 GMT ]

Ranjini, who had been granted refugee status and living in Melbourne, was picked up and held without charge at Villawood detention centre in Sydney for more than three years. [Full Story]

Jaffna fears remembering Tamil war dead
[ BBC ] [ 27 Nov 2015 05:17 GMT ]

Thousands of Tamils around the world are commemorating their dead relatives this week. [Full Story]

Pope Francis in Kenya at start of African tour
[ BBC ] [ 26 Nov 2015 00:02 GMT ]

Pope Francis: ''All men and women of good will are called to work for reconciliation and peace, forgiveness and healing'' [Full Story]

What Comes After Samantha Power's Sri Lanka Visit?
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 25 Nov 2015 14:51 GMT ]

If the Sirisena administration proves unwilling or unable to make tangible progress, then the need to pursue other avenues for justice and lasting peace only becomes more urgent. [Full Story]

US calls for support to Lanka's reconciliation efforts
[ Business Standard ] [ 24 Nov 2015 02:59 GMT ]

Lanka's main Tamil political party has accepted the government efforts to ensure reconciliation after three decades of ethnic war that claimed over 100,000 lives. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka scales back list of banned pro-LTTE outfits
[ PTI ] [ 23 Nov 2015 03:41 GMT ]

Samaraweera said the previous government took the measure to 'build up the hysteria about the LTTE regrouping in the run up to the presidential election. [Full Story]

US Ambassador praises resilience of Tamil journalists
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 Nov 2015 05:55 GMT ]

Pointing to a media worker who had been assaulted, she acknowledged the threats faced, 'as this man's body attests, because he bears the evidence of the sacrifices you all make for the good of your people. [Full Story]

Dispatches: Sri Lanka Homecoming
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 Nov 2015 04:09 GMT ]

'More than others, the Tamils know the trauma of war. [Full Story]

Samantha Power Must Recalibrate Washington's Sri Lanka Rhetoric
[ The Diplomat ] [ 20 Nov 2015 04:58 GMT ]

Power needs to speak clearly about the challenges ahead and the concerns regarding the new government's performance. [Full Story]

UN experts demand action over suspected secret Sri Lankan prisons
[ The Express Tribune ] [ 19 Nov 2015 00:05 GMT ]

UN group said a local investigation probing allegations of thousands of disappearances at the end of the war was moving too slowly. [Full Story] [OHCHR Report]

Justice for a Sri Lankan Massacre
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 18 Nov 2015 01:11 GMT ]

The government should recognize that there can only be justice for the ACF killings if all those responsible - not just the low-ranking triggermen - are held to account. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: When loved ones are stolen can poetry repair the wound?
[ Amnesty International ] [ 17 Nov 2015 04:09 GMT ]

More than 80,000 people disappeared in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

What's the Deal With Sri Lanka's Tamil Political Prisoners?
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 16 Nov 2015 02:34 GMT ]

Releasing Tamil political prisoners would build trust between the government and the Tamil community. [Full Story]

Samantha Power and US Sri Lanka Policy
[ The Diplomat ] [ 15 Nov 2015 01:15 GMT ]

It's imperative that the administration make honest, accurate assessments about Sri Lanka's progress. [Full Story]

Why Asian snack bar Hoppers is London's best new restaurant
[ The Malay Mail ] [ 14 Nov 2015 03:01 GMT ]

Hoppers is a cramped little Soho cafe serving Tamil street food. [Full Story]

Life and Tamil despair in Sri Lanka's refugee camps
[ Asia News ] [ 13 Nov 2015 01:24 GMT ]

All we want is to get out of the camps and go back to our villages. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka mourns activist monk
[ UCA News ] [ 12 Nov 2015 05:05 GMT ]

"The highest tribute we could pay, is to continue with his struggle to ensure that the qualities of honesty, transparency and justice are strongly entrenched in the public life of this country," [Full Story]

SL Govt. has no intention of eradicating the roots of Tamil existence
[ SL Guardian ] [ 11 Nov 2015 00:05 GMT ]

Only by addressing ourselves to the facts of the past, can we avoid a dark future and move towards a better future. [Full Story]

VISIT OF THE UN WORKING GROUP ON ENFORCED AND INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCE TO SRI LANKA
[ Amnesty International ] [ 10 Nov 2015 00:02 GMT ]

This important visit will raise the hopes of thousands of families of the disappeared that with the UN's help they may finally discover the fates and whereabouts of their missing relatives and have the opportunity to pursue justice and reparation. [Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka's Unexpected Political Opening Won't Last Forever
[ The Diplomat ] [ 09 Nov 2015 05:09 GMT ]

Failing to recognize that transitional justice, including accountability (for wartime abuses), is an essential part of the government's broader governance and institution-building agenda would be a significant mistake. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka prisoners to go on hunger strike if not freed
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 08 Nov 2015 04:22 GMT ]

More than two hundred Tamil prisoners in Sri Lanka are threatening to begin an indefinite hunger strike on Sunday if they are not released. [Full Story]

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have lost a future
[ The Weekend Leader ] [ 07 Nov 2015 03:33 GMT ]

'It's a bad proposition to urge the refugees to return to Sri Lanka without a political solution,' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka and the politics of justice
[ Open Democracy ] [ 06 Nov 2015 05:48 GMT ]

There are concrete things the Colombo government can do now. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's icon of colonial rule rises from the rubble
[ AFP ] [ 05 Nov 2015 02:48 GMT ]

When the Dutch and British ruled Sri Lanka in the 1600 and 1700s, the fortress was a sign of European military might in the Indian Ocean region. [Full Story]

Dispatches: Sri Lanka's Army Plays by the Old Rules
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 04 Nov 2015 04:01 GMT ]

Not everyone has gotten the message that things have changed. The military needs to get the message. [Full Story]

How can Sri Lanka Demonstrate its Commitment to Peace?
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 03 Nov 2015 00:05 GMT ]

Demilitarization, returning more civilian land to its rightful owners and releasing (or at least bringing to trial) political prisoners are fundamental war-related issues and of utmost importance to the Tamil community. [Full Story]

Let's hope Sri Lanka regains its serendipity
[ The Straits Time ] [ 02 Nov 2015 00:25 GMT ]

Now, Sri Lanka has one more chance. Perhaps its last one. [Full Story]

No graves for Sri Lanka's disappeared
[ UCA News ] [ 01 Nov 2015 04:28 GMT ]

About 40,000 civilians died during the final days of that war. It was a period of unlawful killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: A Ray of Hope for those Looking for War Missing
[ IPS ] [ 31 Oct 2015 02:55 GMT ]

'For a nation to heal we must know the truth, however difficult and uncomfortable it may be,' [Full Story]

REFUGEES - Now here and nowhere
[ Frontline ] [ 30 Oct 2015 05:17 GMT ]

As the debate rages on what constitutes conditions conducive to the return of the refugees, the life of the refugee continues to remain in limbo. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: emerald paradise with a dark interior
[ The Spectator ] [ 29 Oct 2015 03:00 GMT ]

A final reckoning and justice has yet to be delivered. [Full Story]

'The identity of Sri Lanka must be redefined'
[ SL Guardian ] [ 28 Oct 2015 04:15 GMT ]

We Tamils also demand an honest attempt at finding a political solution in addition to the reparations to those affected. Thereafter the reconciliation process can be realised. [Full Story]

Families urge Sri Lanka to release political prisoners
[ UCA News ] [ 27 Oct 2015 00:04 GMT ]

Minority Tamils say injustices continue long after civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka at a Crossroads
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 26 Oct 2015 00:47 GMT ]

It's essential that one important group is not forgotten - exiled victims and witnesses. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Is Sirisena Ready to Release Tamil Political Prisoners?
[ The Diplomat ] [ 25 Oct 2015 01:05 GMT ]

Sirisena's decision on Tamil political prisoners in the weeks ahead is something to watch closely. [Full Story]

PARANAGAMA REPORT - On the Second Mandate Of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Into Complaints of Abductions and Disappearances
[ TWG ] [ 24 Oct 2015 02:57 GMT ]

The principal allegations resulting in civilian deaths in the final phase of the conflict, it recognises that there are a number of individual cases involving the SLA where there is a reasonable belief as to breaches of the laws of war. [Full Story PDF]

'Credible inquiry into rights violations in Sri Lanka possible'
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Oct 2015 03:03 GMT ]

India's former Union Finance and Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said 'credible inquiry [into alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka] could be achieved in many ways. [Full Story]

To End a Civil War: Norway's Peace Engagement with Sri Lanka
[ Prio ] [ 22 Oct 2015 04:05 GMT ]

In doing so the book fills a critical gap in understanding the Sri Lankan conflict. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka judge says war crimes claims are 'credible'
[ BBC ] [ 21 Oct 2015 10:33 GMT ]

The UN admitted in 2012 that it could and should have done more to protect civilians. [Full Story]

Gary Anandasangaree wins Scarborough-Rouge Park for Liberals in landslide victory
[ Global News ] [ 20 Oct 2015 19:44 GMT ]

Anandasangaree surged ahead of the the other candidates with an overwhelming majority of the vote. [Full Story]

The lives left in ruins by Sri Lanka's civil war
[ The World Weekly ] [ 20 Oct 2015 04:02 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government has not spent a single rupee to build houses for displaced Tamils. [Full Story]

TN Entrepreneurs Add Social Dimension to Investing in North Lanka
[ The New indian Express ] [ 19 Oct 2015 01:22 GMT ]

We were moved by the plight of the 70,000 war widows in the North and East. [Full Story]

Tamil Kids' Mind Badly Hurt by Lankan War
[ New Indian Express ] [ 18 Oct 2015 04:05 GMT ]

The 30 year war in Sri Lanka's Northern Province has had a severe psychological effect on the children. [Full Story]

Translating human experience through literature
[ The Intelligencer ] [ 17 Oct 2015 03:44 GMT ]

Something happened to make them refugees. Nobody leaves your home by choice. [Full Story]

The challenge of doing what is right in Sri Lanka
[ UCA News ] [ 16 Oct 2015 05:37 GMT ]

Church and religious leaders should help their communities face up to the stories of their brothers and sisters crying out through the report. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka promises urgent action on Tamil prisoners
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Oct 2015 03:55 GMT ]

Tamil and human rights group have called for repealing of PTA, introduced in 1979. [Full Story]

Tamil Prisoners in Sri Lanka Have Gone On Hunger Strike to Demand Their Freedom
[ TIME ] [ 14 Oct 2015 01:41 GMT ]

Hundreds of Tamil prisoners in Sri Lanka, many of whom have spent nearly two decades in jail without seeing the inside of a courtroom, have initiated a hunger strike to demand their immediate release. [Full Story]

After dodging war crimes probe, Lanka focuses on truth, reconciliation
[ Asia Times ] [ 13 Oct 2015 03:01 GMT ]

It will also be up to the international community and the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that the victims and their families are genuinely consulted at every step of the process to get to truth and justice. [Full Story]

Six years after the end of Sri Lanka's civil war, Tamils in Jaffna still struggling to rebuild their lives
[ ABC ] [ 12 Oct 2015 04:29 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government's promise of a process for transitional justice "provides room for some optimism". [Full Story]

'We have talked so much about it, and it just goes nowhere.'
[ The Washington Post ] [ 11 Oct 2015 02:11 GMT ]

Without accurate translations of testimony that can be shared across communities, the new transitional justice process cannot hope to provide an honest reckoning of the past and contribute to reconciliation. [Full Story]

TNA Hopes UNHRC Resolution Will Mark A New Chapter In Sri Lanka's Quest For Reconciliation
[ CT ] [ 10 Oct 2015 03:15 GMT ]

We urge the government to implement the resolution in a spirit of honesty and cooperation. [Full Story]

Lives Remain In Ruin Six Years After Sri Lanka Civil War
[ Worldcrunch ] [ 09 Oct 2015 02:34 GMT ]

Demilitarization in the north had been one of the key issues of legislative elections. [Full Story]

Great expectations in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 08 Oct 2015 01:03 GMT ]

It opens up yet another opportunity for a political solution. [Full Story]

Cardin Speech on the Importance of Accountability in Sri Lanka
[ U.S Senate Committee on Foreign Relations ] [ 07 Oct 2015 04:14 GMT ]

The goal is to conduct a process where all sides are provided a measure of justice that leads to durable reconciliation and a marked departure from armed conflict. [Full Story]

Treasures of the Indus - Of Gods and Men
[ BBC iPlayer ] [ 06 Oct 2015 01:02 GMT ]

In a journey across India's Tamil Nadu state, Sona Datta traces the development of the Hindu religion from its origins as an amalgamation of local faith traditions. [Full Story] [Video]

Strong calls for Sri Lanka to implement said commitments and deliver justice as OISL discussed at UNHRC
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 05 Oct 2015 02:22 GMT ]

Calling for the root cause of the ethnic conflict and violations in Sri Lanka to be addressed, statements called for a devolution of power to the Tamil community as a measure towards non-recurrence of crimes. [Full Story]

Sri Lankans disabled by war, forgotten in peace
[ IRIN News ] [ 04 Oct 2015 01:58 GMT ]

There is no programme to help civilians and former Tamil Tigers who remain permanently affected by injuries during the war. [Full Story]

UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka: PM statement 2 October 2015
[ 10 Downing Street ] [ 03 Oct 2015 03:11 GMT ]

I urge President Sirisena to develop the work he has already started - to build a peaceful, prosperous and united country where every community has a voice. [Full Story]

The UNHRC adopts consensus resolution on Sri Lanka
[ Channel4 ] [ 03 Oct 2015 02:02 GMT ]

An immediate focus of campaigning will be for the establishment of properly staffed and adequately funded regional office of the OHCHR in the Jaffna or Kilinochchi areas of the north. [Full Story]

U.N. rights boss urges Sri Lanka to probe secret jails, missing people
[ Reuters ] [ 02 Oct 2015 05:57 GMT ]

Sri Lanka must investigate reports of secret places of detention and set up a "credible and independent" body to clarify the fate of people missing. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN war crimes resolution marks a turning point for victims
[ Amnesty International ] [ 01 Oct 2015 19:14 GMT ]

A crucial resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council today offers the victims of Sri Lanka's armed conflict the prospect of finally getting the truth and justice they deserve, Amnesty International said. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka war crimes resolution softened before U.N. debate
[ Reuters ] [ 01 Oct 2015 00:05 GMT ]

Some diplomats say that reflects the balancing act needed to keep Sri Lanka's new reformist leadership on board while making a credible attempt to end a culture of impunity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN Resolution Could Advance Justice
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 30 Sep 2015 00:03 GMT ]

'The resolution's endorsement of a judicial mechanism with international participation is an important recognition of the need for an international role to ensure justice for victims.' [Full Story]

The UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Sri Lanka is Tabled
[ The Diplomat ] [ 29 Sep 2015 05:15 GMT ]

'Getting a consensus resolution passed would be a huge leap forward for Sri Lanka after years of (international) isolation. [Full Story]

Interview: UN Report on Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 28 Sep 2015 00:05 GMT ]

There is a desire not to fight each other. We have to find the correct domestic mechanism to make it happen. [Full Story]

Dispatches: Awaiting Sri Lanka''s 'Courage and Leadership'
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 27 Sep 2015 04:40 GMT ]

The main sponsors of this resolution, led by the United States, owe it to Sri Lankan victims - and to their own credibility - to properly deliver justice for these terrible crimes. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka likely to dodge international war crime probe
[ AFP ] [ 26 Sep 2015 00:02 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said the resolution, initiated by the US and co-sponsored by Sri Lanka, was the "product of a difficult consensus". [Full Story]

At U.N., Pope rails against craving for wealth and power
[ Reuters ] [ 25 Sep 2015 21:39 GMT ]

"In opposing every attempt to create a rigid uniformity, we can and must build unity on the basis of our diversity of languages, cultures and religions," Francis said. [Full Story]

Resolution on Sri Lanka at the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 25 Sep 2015 11:44 GMT ]

Today the United States, Sri Lanka, and our partners tabled a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that represents a landmark shared recognition of the critical importance of truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence in promoting reconciliation and ensuring an enduring peace and prosperity for all Sri Lankans. [Full Story]

Help Sri Lanka face the truth
[ The Asian Age ] [ 24 Sep 2015 03:11 GMT ]

Healing an ethnically fractured country is more important. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's watershed moment
[ The Boston Globe ] [ 23 Sep 2015 05:01 GMT ]

The process of accountability in Sri Lanka has to be accompanied by domestic pursuit of a lasting political solution. [Full Story]

Tamil women ready to forgive murderers but they want the truth
[ Asia News ] [ 22 Sep 2015 04:08 GMT ]

For the women, the 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth' attitude towards the harm received did not bring any results so far. "For this reason, we must forgive and seek justice right away. [Full Story]

Statement on the UN Sri Lanka Investigation Report
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 21 Sep 2015 02:15 GMT ]

Their acceptance by the government and strong follow-through by the president and prime minister can be a path-breaking moment in Sri Lanka's democratic recovery and its emergence as a more stable and inclusive state. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Says New Govt Averted Much Adverse UN Report
[ Outlook India ] [ 20 Sep 2015 01:08 GMT ]

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said Sri Lanka needs to look at the report in a sense of satisfaction as the country will no longer face economic sanctions. [Full Story]

The fine balance of hybrid courts
[ The Hindu ] [ 19 Sep 2015 05:51 GMT ]

It stops short of calling for an international investigation, preferring instead to advocate a 'hybrid court' - a mechanism utilised in aid of transitional justice. [Full Story]

UN officials outraged at accounts of Sri Lanka war crimes, stress need for accountability
[ United Nations ] [ 18 Sep 2015 04:35 GMT ]

'This is a process that will be painful and difficult, but indispensable for long-lasting peace and stability in the country,' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN Members Should Back Hybrid Court
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 17 Sep 2015 05:44 GMT ]

'The Sri Lankan government should build on the goodwill of the international community and embrace this important initiative.' [Full Story]

UN Human Rights Council urges Sri Lanka war crimes court
[ BBC ] [ 16 Sep 2015 15:55 GMT ]

UN Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said only a special court with international magistrates and investigators would be up to the huge task of examining the alleged crimes over a nine year period. [Full Story] [UNHRC Report] [UNHRC Full Report]

Without trust, Sri Lanka cannot investigate its own war crimes
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 15 Sep 2015 05:02 GMT ]

The survivors do not believe their government is capable of ensuring justice. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's 'Accountability' Dilemma
[ The Diplomat ] [ 14 Sep 2015 00:03 GMT ]

It appears that Colombo will be given a chance to find truth and justice on its own terms - at least for the time being. [Full Story]

Call to probe Sri Lanka war crimes
[ Independent Online ] [ 13 Sep 2015 02:05 GMT ]

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is backed overwhelmingly by ethnic minority Tamils and Muslims, has promised a domestic probe with international standards to address abuses and reconciliation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: It's Time to Turn Promises Into Action
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 12 Sep 2015 03:53 GMT ]

In order to help ensure that Colombo fully commits to reform, sustained engagement from the United States and other members of the international community is more important than ever. [Full Story]

Documentary urges international justice for Sri Lankan war victims
[ Reuters ] [ 11 Sep 2015 14:01 GMT ]

"Most of the Tamil victims believe that a purely domestic judicial process would be nothing less than a victor's court," Macrae said [Full Story]

Some 30,000 displaced Tamil still suffering
[ Asia News ] [ 10 Sep 2015 05:15 GMT ]

We want to see them get out of their currently subhuman conditions and start to lead a decent living.' [Full Story]

TNA Wants International Court, Not International Probe
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 09 Sep 2015 03:47 GMT ]

The UNHRC investigation's report will necessitate an international judicial process. [Full Story]

Human misery behind a cup of tea
[ BBC ] [ 08 Sep 2015 03:55 GMT ]

Living and working conditions are so bad, and wages so low, that tea workers and their families are left malnourished and vulnerable to fatal illnesses. [Full Story]

Hopes rise for closure over Sri Lanka's wartime 'disappeared'
[ Financial Times ] [ 07 Sep 2015 14:14 GMT ]

How Sri Lanka plans to examine all this remains unclear. [Full Story]

Investigate enforced disappearances, activists urge Sri Lanka
[ Vatican Radio ] [ 06 Sep 2015 03:18 GMT ]

"It is the right of the parents to know what happened to their loved ones," [Full Story]

'The new government should give priority to housing and land rights'
[ Frontline ] [ 05 Sep 2015 01:55 GMT ]

TNA leaders should adopt a rational and gradual approach in getting their demands fulfilled. [Full Story]

The Curse of the Obama Doctrine
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 04 Sep 2015 05:24 GMT ]

The abrogation by the world's leading power of its leadership responsibilities has contributed to the contemporary tragedy we are witnessing. [Full Story]

Ethnic Tamil lawmaker becomes opposition leader in Sri Lanka for first time in decades
[ Fox News ] [ 03 Sep 2015 12:48 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's Parliament has recognized an ethnic Tamil lawmaker as the opposition leader for the first time in decades in what is seen a positive step toward post civil-war reconciliation with the minority community. [Full Story]

Finding peace in post-war Sri Lanka - What's being done to achieve reconciliation after war?
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 02 Sep 2015 04:14 GMT ]

Human rights activists also say torture and enforced disappearances are still being used by government forces against Tamils to intimidate and discourage dissent. [Full Story]

Roadmap to reconciliation: 4 post-election challenges for Sri Lanka
[ Open Democracy ] [ 01 Sep 2015 00:54 GMT ]

The government needs to begin providing clear indications of plans for addressing wartime accountability and, in the longer term, reconciliation. [Full Story]

Daybreak in Lanka
[ The Statesman ] [ 01 Sep 2015 00:16 GMT ]

Even after six years of the end of the civil war, the war-weary Tamils' most urgent needs remain unmet. [Full Story]

Tamil parties turn down U.S. call for internal 'war crimes' probe
[ The Hindu ] [ 31 Aug 2015 04:02 GMT ]

The three parties did not trust in the domestic mechanism in view of past experiences. [Full Story]

Tamils Firm on Demand for International Inquiry: TNA
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 30 Aug 2015 03:55 GMT ]

'Just as the Sri Lankan government has an agenda which it will press, we Tamils also have an agenda, which we will press,' [Full Story]

DMK, PMK condemn U.S. stand on Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 29 Aug 2015 02:58 GMT ]

'The U.S. government's move looks as if it wants to cover up the war crimes. I hope it will not happen. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Tamils still wait for elusive reconciliation
[ UCA News ] [ 28 Aug 2015 05:49 GMT ]

"A number of unresolved issues remain, including the lack of progress toward a long-term political solution, human rights violations, thousands of widows, political prisoners and disappeared, allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes," [Full Story]

U.S. to work with Sri Lanka on UN resolution addressing alleged war crimes
[ Reuters ] [ 27 Aug 2015 04:05 GMT ]

Washington will move the resolution, to address responsibility for alleged human rights abuses and propose a framework for reconciliation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's parliamentary election - Mahinda misfires
[ The Economist ] [ 26 Aug 2015 01:27 GMT ]

The new government has a chance to resolve decades of ethnic strife between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamils. [Full Story]

US Cautions Patience, Cites Progress in Sri Lanka Reconciliation
[ Voice of America ] [ 25 Aug 2015 02:55 GMT ]

U.S. officials said Tuesday it will take time for Sri Lanka to achieve reconciliation following the country's 26-year civil war, but that the new government in Colombo is making positive steps in that direction. [Full Story]

Tamil refugee: How Australia is complicit in Sri Lankan genocide
[ Greenleft ] [ 24 Aug 2015 03:47 GMT ]

Only an international investigation will ensure that all those who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity are held accountable for what they did. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Chooses Change
[ Despatch Times ] [ 23 Aug 2015 04:08 GMT ]

Wickremesinghe agreed with President Sirisena's party to form a national unity government to push ahead with reforms. [Full Story]

UN boss Ban Ki-moon calls on Sri Lankan government to forge 'long term peace'
[ South China Morning Post ] [ 22 Aug 2015 03:28 GMT ]

In a memorandum of understanding, the two parties pledged to ensure 'ethnic and religious reconciliation' in a country that still bears the scars of a separatist war. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan ice-cream parlour gains fame after surviving brutal conflict
[ Channel News Asia ] [ 21 Aug 2015 02:38 GMT ]

For many, their trip to Jaffna would not be complete without a stop at its most popular ice-cream parlour. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Wants to Be the Next Singapore as War Legacy Fades
[ Bloomberg ] [ 20 Aug 2015 00:07 GMT ]

'The danger is if the pace of progress on this reconciliation agenda doesn't pick up you will get growing frustration among Tamils.' [Full Story]

Sri Lankan PM warns against return to divisive politics
[ Channel News Asia ] [ 19 Aug 2015 09:52 GMT ]

Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which holds the balance of power with 16 seats, will allow the party to carry out promised political and economic reforms. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's voters invited to turn page on fractious past
[ EuroNews ] [ 18 Aug 2015 00:02 GMT ]

Voters have a clear choice between future promise or past glory, a unity or nationalist government. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka elections: Results of 'peaceful vote' awaited
[ BBC ] [ 17 Aug 2015 17:01 GMT ]

The president's seven months in power have seen a very gradual easing of the human rights situation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka calls on international help to find former first family's alleged foreign fortune
[ The Telegraph ] [ 16 Aug 2015 01:45 GMT ]

Mr Rajapaksa turned the country's government into a family affair. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Ensure Safe, Secure, Free Polls
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 15 Aug 2015 05:08 GMT ]

'Meeting the basic requirements of a free and fair election is an important step toward addressing the country's persistent rights problems.' [Full Story]

Luxury Sri Lanka resort can't hide country's divisions
[ BBC ] [ 14 Aug 2015 05:48 GMT ]

Some of its resorts hide dark secrets. [Full Story]

Five Things to Know About Sri Lanka's General Elections
[ TIME ] [ 13 Aug 2015 22:54 GMT ]

Minority votes are likely to go in favor of Sirisena's supporters. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Between Elections
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 12 Aug 2015 11:12 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's chance to finally start on the road to a sustainable resolution of the country's decades-long ethnic strife, including a negotiated political settlement, depends on the outcome. [Full Story]

VISION OF HOPE - Part II - Freedom
[ TWG ] [ 12 Aug 2015 02:12 GMT ]

The Tamil question must be resolved within the framework of a federal system that is free of interference from Colombo, with Tamils able to exercise their desire to control their own lives, to rule their own destinies, and to govern themselves in their traditional home land. [Full Story]

Sundar Pichai and the world of Indian CEOs
[ BBC ] [ 11 Aug 2015 12:06 GMT ]

The Times of India hailed the "quiet yet thoughtful" man from Chennai (Madras). [Full Story]

In Peaceful Sri Lanka, Army Holds Thousands Of Acres Seized In Civil War
[ NPR ] [ 10 Aug 2015 03:15 GMT ]

For thousands of civilians displaced by war, the fight to recover their land continues. [Full Story]

Party loyalty should not be sole criterion for election, Sri Lankan bishops say
[ UCA News ] [ 09 Aug 2015 04:57 GMT ]

The bishops urged citizens to think of present and future generations by electing representatives with great care. [Full Story]

India must ensure decentralisation in Sri Lanka
[ First Post ] [ 08 Aug 2015 00:02 GMT ]

In her memorandum, Jayalalitha said India had a commitment to protect the Tamil minority community in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

ACF killings: No justice 9 years on
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 07 Aug 2015 03:15 GMT ]

In 2014 ACF publically accused Sri Lanka of delaying justice for the massacres and called for an international inquiry into the killings. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: If It's Not Decisive, It Can Be A Divisive Election - Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 06 Aug 2015 04:08 GMT ]

For the first time in decades, it looks as if the Tamils cannot be blamed for divisiveness. [Full Story]

Tamil people and all citizens of Sri Lanka need to consolidate the recent progressive changes in the country
[ GTF ] [ 05 Aug 2015 05:05 GMT ]

The resolution of the Tamil problem invariably will involve meaningful negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the elected representatives of the Tamil people. [Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka Massacred Tens of Thousands of Tamils While the World Looked Away
[ VICE ] [ 04 Aug 2015 01:15 GMT ]

For the traumatized Tamils, such a domestic process would be the final insult-nothing less than victor's justice over a beaten people. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Tamils push for autonomy and justice; hopes pinned on an upcoming election
[ The Economic Times ] [ 04 Aug 2015 00:51 GMT ]

"After the new government came to power, Tamil people are slowly breathing again," [Full Story]

Tamil community unites to preserve culture, do community service
[ Essex News Daily ] [ 03 Aug 2015 00:02 GMT ]

Dozens of Tamils - who belong to an ethnic group based primarily in Sri Lanka and Southern India that dates back more than 5,000 years - paid tribute to their culture. [Full Story]

Internal UN document details plan for 'domestic probe' in Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 02 Aug 2015 04:01 GMT ]

The Northern Provincial Council is mentioned as one of the key implementing partners of the project. [Full Story]

The 'Unfinished War' Against Sri Lanka's Tamils
[ The Diplomat ] [ 01 Aug 2015 01:05 GMT ]

Let's hope that those walking the corridors of power in Washington, London, Geneva and elsewhere haven't forgotten that sustained, constructive engagement with Sri Lanka is absolutely essential. [Full Story]

Injustice is still the lot of many of Sri Lanka's war widows
[ Asia News ] [ 31 July 2015 02:48 GMT ]

After 30 years of bloody civil war, a group of dozens of Tamil war widows met with a delegation of foreign diplomats on 24 July and made a desperate plea that their suffering not be forgotten. [Full Story]

A Still Unfinished War: Sri Lanka's Survivors of Torture and Sexual Violence 2009-2015
[ International Truth & Justice Project ] [ 30 July 2015 03:33 GMT ]

Family members remaining in Sri Lanka of those who protest or speak out in the media about torture from abroad are also being killed, disappeared, physically hurt or threatened. [Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka justice: leaked UN document casts doubts
[ Channel4 ] [ 29 July 2015 05:35 GMT ]

A leaked UN document raises concerns over the prospects for genuine justice for the Sri Lankan victims of alleged war crimes. [Full Story]

Abdul Kalam: People's president, extraordinary Indian
[ BBC ] [ 28 July 2015 07:07 GMT ]

A scientist who could recite classical Tamil poetry, who played the rudra-veena, a traditional South Indian instrument. [Full Story]

Activists commemorate 'Black July' in Sri Lanka
[ UCA News ] [ 28 July 2015 00:07 GMT ]

'Tamils still live in fear in the country.' [Full Story]

TAMIL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
[ Harvard University ] [ 27 July 2015 05:22 GMT ]

Tamil has one of the oldest literary traditions in the world with traceable beginnings to over 2,000 years ago and is spoken by over 65 million people worldwide. [Full Story]

The Tamil National Alliance - Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi - Parliamentary Election Manifesto - 2015
[ CT ] [ 26 July 2015 05:55 GMT ]

The TNA calls upon the voters in the electoral districts of Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara to unitedly and overwhelmingly exercise their franchise in favour of the TNA. [Full Story]

TNA reiterates self determination, North-East re-merger
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 July 2015 15:09 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a coalition of four parties in Sri Lanka, on Saturday reiterated its adherence to the right to self determination for Tamils and the re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces under federal structure. [Full Story]

Riots helped to define Canada's Tamil community
[ Toronto Star ] [ 24 July 2015 04:05 GMT ]

Black July, therefore, was an enormously important turning point in Sri Lanka, but also marked, in a very real way, the birth of a successful and influential diaspora. [Full Story]

Black July anniversary: the legacy of the Tamil massacre in Sri Lanka
[ The Week ] [ 24 July 2015 04:01 GMT ]

More than three decades later, no one has been prosecuted for the atrocities committed. [Full Story]

From Black July 1983 to Manifestos For Peace
[ Sri Lanka Guardian ] [ 23 July 2015 02:57 GMT ]

The people need to be told of the problems that should be solved for the country to march forward. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamil party says to push for political solution to Tamil issues
[ Shanghai Daily ] [ 23 July 2015 02:44 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), on Monday said it will push for a permanent political solution to issues faced by the Tamils. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - in-year update July 2015
[ Foreign & Commonwealth Office UK ] [ 22 July 2015 00:04 GMT ]

The human rights situation in Sri Lanka improved during the first half of 2015, although some concerns remain. [Full Story]

Is Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa making a comeback?
[ BBC ] [ 21 July 2015 03:11 GMT ]

Creating space for a political comeback by Mr Rajapaksa has irked many who voted for Mr Sirisena in January. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka PM promises devolution
[ The Asian Age ] [ 20 July 2015 01:01 GMT ]

His government would look to devolve power in an undivided island, Mr Wickremesinghe said. [Full Story]

The American Stake in Myanmar and Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 19 July 2015 01:55 GMT ]

Washington has made it clear that democratic progress must continue, and that there must be accountability for the killings at the end of the civil war for bilateral relations to improve. [Full Story]

Irony, thy name is Sri Lanka
[ Business Standard ] [ 18 July 2015 02:27 GMT ]

A quick recap for those who haven't followed politics in Sri Lanka closely. [Full Story]

EU to observe Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka
[ EU ] [ 17 July 2015 01:03 GMT ]

This shows our continued commitment to work with Sri Lanka to strengthen democracy by advancing the openness and inclusivity of the election process". [Full Story]

'Tamil people must attain self-rule'
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 16 July 2015 05:08 GMT ]

The Northern Province Chief Minister, C. V. Wigneswaran, has stressed that comprehensive autonomy for Tamils in the North-East is the only way of recovering from the effects of genocide. [Full Story]

Thousands flock to Walsingham for annual Tamil pilgrimage
[ Lynn News ] [ 15 July 2015 00:05 GMT ]

More than 11,000 Tamil pilgrims took part in their second pilgrimage to Walsingham this year at the weekend. [Full Story]

Veteran Indian composer MS Vishwanathan dies
[ BBC ] [ 14 July 2015 09:58 GMT ]

Vishwanathan's compositions "transcended every known category of music. [Full Story]

WhatsApp reunion for Lankan refugee siblings after 36 yrs
[ The Times of India ] [ 13 July 2015 02:34 GMT ]

A 72-year-old refugee reunited with his 76-year-old sister on Friday in the city, thanks to social networking mobile application. [Full Story]

Political Risk Around the World in Third Quarter 2015
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 12 July 2015 05:41 GMT ]

Mahinda Rajapaksa is eyeing a comeback as a prime ministerial candidate - this could lead to residual ethnic tensions resurfacing as Sri Lanka still works on post-conflict reconciliation. [Full Story]

For Sri Lanka's displaced Tamils, homecoming is bittersweet
[ The Star ] [ 11 July 2015 01:09 GMT ]

Only a handful of villagers have been able to reclaim their property in full. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan politics - Rajapaksa redux
[ The Economist ] [ 10 July 2015 03:29 GMT ]

A fragmented result, with nobody getting a comfortable majority, is quite possible. [Full Story]

Tamil Doctors and the Sri Lankan War
[ BBC ] [ 09 July 2015 04:23 GMT ]

Hear his memories of the fighting, and the bizarre press conference he was required to take part in after the killing had stopped. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Seize this opportunity for true reform
[ The Hill ] [ 08 July 2015 05:22 GMT ]

The country's Tamil population in the North and East remains disempowered and displaced. [Full Story]

The Slow Process of Reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ Citizens for Global Solutions ] [ 07 July 2015 02:49 GMT ]

The beginning is going to be frustrating for everyone involved, especially for those who suffered the most. [Full Story]

All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils agrees objectives for new Parliament
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 06 July 2015 00:07 GMT ]

They would not rule out encouraging the British government to employ soft powers, to further the objective of promoting reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka, including through supporting the UN investigation into war crimes. [Full Story]

Bittersweet return for Sri Lanka's displaced Tamils
[ UCA News ] [ 05 July 2015 05:04 GMT ]

'There will be no real peace or reconciliation unless the government treats all of its citizens on an equal footing and respects their civil rights.' [Full Story]

Sri Lankan activists, Tamils and Buddhists together against all forms of torture
[ Asia News ] [ 04 July 2015 02:47 GMT ]

"Torture belongs to a slave society. It is cruel, inhuman and not suitable to a free society. [Full Story]

Politics in Sri Lanka - Come again?
[ The Economist ] [ 03 July 2015 05:05 GMT ]

But having been elected to keep Mr Rajapaksa at bay, Mr Sirisena has little choice. [Full Story]

Looking to Sri Lanka's Parliamentary Election
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 02 July 2015 01:25 GMT ]

And yet six months on, so much remains unknown and more drama is sure to come. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's War Widows Pin Hopes on New President
[ NDTV ] [ 01 July 2015 03:40 GMT ]

Widows and the wider Tamil community argue there is still a long way to go, including meeting a key demand to remove large concentrations of troops still stationed in the north. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's War Is Long Over, But Reconciliation Remains Elusive
[ NPR ] [ 30 June 2015 00:04 GMT ]

The war cannot be over as long as what happened to the disappeared like her son remains a mystery, and she's counting on the new government to solve it. [Full Story]

Jayalalithaa launches Chennai Metro Rail
[ The Times of India ] [ 29 June 2015 07:25 GMT ]

The metro rail is expected to cover 32 stations in the coming years. [Full Story]

Shattered, but Unbroken: Survivors of torture in Sri Lanka
[ JDS ] [ 28 June 2015 18:01 GMT ]

The absence of justice is further compounded by the dirty smog of denial that blankets the truth. [Full Story]

PM Nagamootoo says… Yoga presents another avenue to 'tackle scourges'
[ Guyana Chronicle ] [ 27 June 2015 01:55 GMT ]

The Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr V. Mahalingham, indicated that India is proud that the United Nations has approved the proposal. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's president dissolves parliament
[ BBC ] [ 26 June 2015 15:38 GMT ]

Mr Sirisena defeated incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa in presidential elections held in January. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 26 June 2015 04:29 GMT ]

Throughout the year numerous reports emerged regarding the killing of suspects under questionable circumstances while in police custody. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka says war crimes probe delayed by elections
[ AFP ] [ 25 June 2015 05:25 GMT ]

Up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the military's final push to end the war against ethnic minority Tamil rebels. [Full Story]

In Defence of Diaspora and Sri Lanka's Invisible Victims
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 24 June 2015 02:57 GMT ]

Hundreds of recent survivors of the very worst abuses who are now abroad against their will. [Full Story]

Young refugees in TN keen on trying luck in Sri Lanka
[ Business Standard ] [ 23 June 2015 03:05 GMT ]

Going to Sri Lanka to start life anew deserved serious thought. [Full Story]

Yoga: A harmony of mind, body & soul
[ The Statesman ] [ 22 June 2015 02:28 GMT ]

The show will be telecast in five languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Bangla. [Full Story]

Age-old Tolerant Haven Warrants Legal Props
[ New Indian Express ] [ 21 June 2015 04:44 GMT ]

We should renew our commitment to extend our helping hand to these unfortunate people who have been forced to flee their homeland due to insecurity and persecution. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka returns land confiscated by military during decades-long war
[ IRIN ] [ 20 June 2015 05:25 GMT ]

'Winning the hearts and minds of these people is a hard task and will take years,' [Full Story]

Number displaced worldwide hits record high - UN report
[ BBC ] [ 19 June 2015 02:50 GMT ]

The number of people displaced by war, conflict or persecution reached a record high. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Balancing Ties Between China and the West
[ The Diplomat ] [ 18 June 2015 04:01 GMT ]

The next elections will determine whether Sri Lanka opposes or cooperates with the UN Human Rights Council, and whether it aligns with the East or the West. [Full Story]

Justice in Sri Lanka: With just 273 people in custody, how many disappeared?
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 17 June 2015 09:22 GMT ]

This announcement also hardens doubts if a Sri Lankan-led judicial process into mass atrocities, such as disappearances, will bring justice to the victims. [Full Story]

Stateless in Tamil Nadu
[ The Statesman ] [ 16 June 2015 03:55 GMT ]

She had the qualifying marks but was denied a seat as she is a refugee child. [Full Story]

29th Human Rights Council: General debate following High Commissioner's update
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 15 June 2015 05:48 GMT ]

In establishing a credible and transparent justice and accountability process, the new government in Sri Lanka should ensure genuine consultations with those affected by violations, enhance the security and independence of the process. [Full Story]

Can reconciliation heal Sri Lankan war wounds?
[ The Washington Post ] [ 14 June 2015 04:17 GMT ]

The government only allowed families to return in April, six years after the end of the civil war that claimed more than 80,000 lives. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Wounds of War
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 13 June 2015 05:08 GMT ]

It remains too early to say for now how far Sri Lanka will be able to go in mending its strained past. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka, an appeal from the north: Save the Tamils from the army (and drugs)
[ Asia News ] [ 12 June 2015 05:27 GMT ]

Drug dealers have spread drugs to prevent young people from the north from furthering their education, to reduce their sense of freedom and hamper their progress. [Full Story]

Asylum seekers should not be sent back to Sri Lanka yet, say religious leaders
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 11 June 2015 02:49 GMT ]

It is too early to send asylum seekers back to the country, despite the recent change of government. [Full Story]

More Electoral Surprises in Sri Lanka?
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 10 June 2015 01:28 GMT ]

It would be unfortunate if elections are not held before that report is released. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka holds talks with Tamil diaspora in London
[ The Hindu ] [ 09 June 2015 00:45 GMT ]

It said the need for constructive engagement by the Sri Lankan diaspora was discussed, including the needs of displaced people. [Full Story]

Smartphone-wielding civilians to combat war crimes with an app
[ Reuters ] [ 09 June 2015 00:03 GMT ]

"Until now, it has been extremely difficult to verify the authenticity of these images and to protect the safety of those brave enough to record them," [Full Story]

Open Door to Uprooted Hill Country Tamils
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 08 June 2015 00:04 GMT ]

New Delhi should immediately make an exception in the case of hill country refugees and enact necessary laws. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's constitution - All latest updates Strides in the right direction
[ The Economist ] [ 07 June 2015 00:54 GMT ]

The new president succeeds in curtailing the power of his own office. [Full Story]

The blight of militarisation
[ The Hindu ] [ 06 June 2015 01:25 GMT ]

The occupation by the military of the land of those displaced in the civil war is a prime cause of resentment. [Full Story]

Scores of Sri Lankan Tamils Still Living Under the 'Long Shadow of War'
[ IPS ] [ 05 June 2015 03:56 GMT ]

This is one of just many unanswered questions that could be put to rest by a just reconciliation process. [Full Story]

Indian Origin Tamil Parties Band to Fight for Political Rights
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 04 June 2015 02:07 GMT ]

"The TPA will take the IOT's issue to both the national and international levels," [Full Story]

After the World's First Female Premier, Sri Lanka Struggles For Equality in Politics
[ The Wall Street Journal ] [ 03 June 2015 05:27 GMT ]

Minority rights have received significant attention resulting in proposals to increase the present 225 seats in Parliament to 255 to accommodate more Tamil and Muslim legislators. [Full Story]

British Tamil Forum Seeks India's Help in Sri Lanka
[ PTI ] [ 02 June 2015 04:41 GMT ]

The point was made and unanimously applauded that peaceful and diplomatic avenues only remain our work-ethic base,". [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: The more things change...
[ Frontline India ] [ 01 June 2015 03:07 GMT ]

The current developments are open-ended and that it may be premature yet to uncross our fingers. [Full Story]

Atrocities in the frame
[ Open Democracy ] [ 31 May 2015 01:14 GMT ]

Documentaries such as No Fire Zone perform a politically crucial service in safeguarding the subjectivity and the very humanity. [Full Story]

Tamils brave harassment, threats to mourn their dead
[ CM ] [ 30 May 2015 02:09 GMT ]

Uninvited guests from the security forces took photos of all the participants who were mostly women in terrible grief. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka accused of waging 'silent war' as Tamil land is appropriated by army
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 29 May 2015 00:02 GMT ]

The study says thousands of Tamils are still internally displaced and without homes and livelihoods. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka president visits Jaffna over gang-rape anger
[ AFP ] [ 28 May 2015 00:05 GMT ]

Official figures show about 2,200 cases of rape and other forms of serious violence against women and children are reported annually. [Full Story]

Help at last for Sri Lanka war widows
[ IRIN ] [ 27 May 2015 01:08 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's new government estimated last month that Northern Province, which bore the brunt of the three decades of conflict, has an astonishing 50,000 families headed by single women. [Full Story]

Jacques Audiard hopes Dheepan's Cannes win will help Europe's migrants
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 26 May 2015 00:02 GMT ]

After his Palme d'Or win for the story of a former Tamil Tiger seeking a new life in France, Audiard said that it is 'important to reflect' on the current situation. [Full Story]

Cannes winner stars Sri Lankan former child soldier
[ AFP ] [ 25 May 2015 04:50 GMT ]

"Even today, we don't know how many prisoners of war were captured by the government, we have no real information." [Full Story]

Army still holds 5,000 acres of private land
[ The Hindu ] [ 24 May 2015 00:02 GMT ]

At least 5,000 acres of private land, part of high security zones taken over by the Sri Lankan Army since 1990, are still in their posession, according to a study. [Full Story]

Jayalalitha: sworn in a chief minister of Tamil Nadu
[ BBC ] [ 23 May 2015 10:42 GMT ]

Supporters praise her poverty relief efforts. [Full Story]

Why accountability in Sri Lanka still matters
[ UCA News ] [ 22 May 2015 01:44 GMT ]

Accountability will help war-affected communities heal from a violent past. [Full Story]

Trying to rebuild their homes, and lives
[ The Hindu ] [ 21 May 2015 04:01 GMT ]

Nearly 25 years have passed by since his family left the house in June 1990 on the directions of the army. [Full Story]

Disappearances In Custody Six Years Ago Today
[ CT ] [ 20 May 2015 02:56 GMT ]

Families of the disappeared have repeatedly sought answers from the Government of Sri Lanka on the fate of loved ones. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Tamils openly mark anniversary of war's end
[ The HIndustan Times ] [ 19 May 2015 03:41 GMT ]

Hundreds of Tamils lit oil lamps and gave offerings of flowers during a ceremony in Mullivaikkal village that was held openly for the first time after the country's new government lifted a ban on commemorating Tamil victims. [Full Story]

A new Sri Lanka?
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 19 May 2015 01:20 GMT ]

Sirisena has made a number of small but positive moves to address longstanding grievances of Tamils in the north and east where they are the majority. [Full Story]

VISION OF HOPE
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 18 May 2015 00:18 GMT ]

The question remains as to whether Tamils will be brave and prepared to move on from the past violent years of suffering by swapping a clear opportunity for peace. [Full Story]

Beyond Victory Parades & Commemorations
[ CT ] [ 18 May 2015 00:05 GMT ]

Only Realism, Truth and Justice can lead us to Peace. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: New Army Chief a Blow to Justice
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 17 May 2015 12:02 GMT ]

'The government's appointment of General Dias is further proof that Sri Lanka needs an independent justice process with a strong international component that can undertake impartial investigations and prosecutions,' Adams said. [Full Story]

'Majority of Tamil refugees not willing to return'
[ The Hindu ] [ 16 May 2015 03:28 GMT ]

'The refugees were scared of interrogation' [Full Story]

Acknowledging the plight of Sri Lanka's Tamil war widows
[ UCA News ] [ 15 May 2015 04:55 GMT ]

A generation of war widows was created, and the women left largely to fend for themselves. [Full Story]

In Sri Lanka, the aim today is to win the peace
[ The Daily Star ] [ 14 May 2015 12:02 GMT ]

Rajapaska made only the most halfhearted of efforts to bring about reconciliation with our Tamil citizens. [Full Story]

This Divided Island review by Samanth Subramanian - Sri Lanka's tragedy
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 13 May 2015 13:02 GMT ]

An account of the civil war in Sri Lanka and its aftermath is all the more devastating for withholding judgment. [Full Story]

Jayalalitha: India court clears ex-Tamil Nadu leader of corruption
[ BBC ] [ 12 May 2015 00:29 GMT ]

Monday's ruling means she can return as the head of Tamil Nadu government. [Full Story]

Why No Tamil Has Made It to British Parliament
[ Indian Express ] [ 11 May 2015 01:25 GMT ]

The Tamils lack encouragement from their families and the Tamil community to enter politics. [Full Story]

THE UNTOLD STORY - Growing up in the war zone of Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 10 May 2015 02:59 GMT ]

'The war, for many victims struggling to put their lives back on track, is not over. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Small concessions, but Tamils still facing oppression
[ Green Left ] [ 09 May 2015 04:24 GMT ]

Sirisena defeated the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had presided over a genocidal war against the Tamil people and then kept them under military occupation. [Full Story]

UK election results: David Cameron pledges a 'greater Britain'
[ BBC ] [ 08 May 2015 13:58 GMT ]

"In this parliament I will stay true to my word and implement as fast as I can the devolution that all parties agreed for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland." [Full Story]

In search of truth in Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 07 May 2015 02:09 GMT ]

The one-hour film was screened at the Chennai Press Club here on Sunday as part of the World Press Freedom Day celebrations. [Full Story]

UK minister welcomes Conservative party stance on Sri Lanka, pledges to push for political solution for Tamils
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 06 May 2015 04:55 GMT ]

'We will promote reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka, including through supporting the UN investigation into war crimes, which the Prime Minister was instrumental in securing following his historic visit to Jaffna.' [Full Story]

Tracing the Journey of Tamil Music
[ Indian Express ] [ 05 May 2015 01:13 GMT ]

The show will trace the journey of Tamil music in the last 75 years. [Full Story]

6 years after war, Tamil families want to know where their loved ones are
[ LA Times ] [ 04 May 2015 02:04 GMT ]

Sri Lankan authorities were holding about 8,000 people in "what may be the largest mass administrative detention anywhere in the world. [Full Story]

Kerry backs justice for Sri Lanka's war-hit Tamils
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 03 May 2015 12:02 GMT ]

"Try to find wherever the truth may lead. No matter how painful that truth is," Kerry said. [Full Story]

John Kerry praises Sri Lanka government progress in peace process
[ IBNlive ] [ 02 May 2015 11:32 GMT ]

The US is expected to press the Sirisena government for a credible local mechanism. [Full Story]

Small steps forward? International pressure and accountability for atrocities in Sri Lanka
[ Open Democracy ] [ 01 May 2015 02:42 GMT ]

If governments that have committed atrocities won't prosecute themselves, and ICC action isn't on the table, is impunity in these cases a foregone conclusion? [Full Story]

Kerry Hopes to Reset US Relations With Sri Lanka
[ Voice of America ] [ 30 Apr 2015 01:57 GMT ]

During his trip, Kerry will meet with members of the Tamil National Alliance, elected officials who represent many of the country's ethnic Tamils. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka parliament votes to curb president's powers
[ BBC ] [ 29 Apr 2015 03:54 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's parliament has voted to curb the powers of the president and restore a two-term limit for incumbents. [Full Story]

"Squatters in Our Own Cities": The Displacement of Sri Lanka's Populations
[ Truthout ] [ 28 Apr 2015 01:47 GMT ]

The change in the Colombo government has also brought out a lot of hope as Tamils voted overwhelmingly against Rajapaksa's third term. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Widows of War
[ Aljazeera ] [ 27 Apr 2015 02:03 GMT ]

The guns have since fallen silent but 90,000 widows like Sivalingam are now struggling to earn enough to feed themselves and their children. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Frittered and frazzled
[ The Economist ] [ 26 Apr 2015 16:41 GMT ]

Divisions within the coalition have prevented the government fulfilling its grand promises for its early months. [Full Story]

Indian-origin Estate Workers Get Land With Papers in Sri Lanka
[ The Indian Express ] [ 25 Apr 2015 00:28 GMT ]

The government plans to give all 200,000 families land and houses. [Full Story]

Refugees don't need our tears. They need us to stop making them refugees
[ The Guardian UK] [ 24 Apr 2015 01:49 GMT ]

Migration illustrates one of the signal features of modern life, which is malice by proxy. [Full Story]

Federal solution recognising Tamil nation can solve ethnic problem in Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 23 Apr 2015 03:27 GMT ]

A federal arrangement that recognises Tamils as a distinct nation would solve the ethnic problem. [Full Story]

How countries cope with migrants seeking asylum by boat
[ CTV ] [ 22 Apr 2015 02:52 GMT ]

Two recent shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea believed to have taken the lives of as many as 1,300 asylum seekers and migrants has highlighted the escalating flow of people fleeing persecution, war and economic difficulties in their homelands. [Full Story]

Minority Report
[ The Asian Age ] [ 21 Apr 2015 03:18 GMT ]

Any democratic government has to be mindful of the views of small groups that have a significant number of votes. [Full Story]

The Wind Hums A Tamil Air
[ Outlook ] [ 20 Apr 2015 02:04 GMT ]

Ties had been built with Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Indo­nesia, onward to China. Dominating this maritime trade were Tamil merchants. [Full Story]

Lankan Minorities Opposed to Changes in Electoral System
[ Outlook India ] [ 19 Apr 2015 01:09 GMT ]

"It is only under this system that minority parties were able to win representation in elected bodies," [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Can Sirisena Deliver on Reforms?
[ The Diplomat ] [ 18 Apr 2015 00:25 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's complex political transition - towards more responsible governance, lasting institutional reform, and healing the wounds of three decades of war - is still in its early stages. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: The more things change...
[ Frontline ] [ 17 Apr 2015 01:02 GMT ]

'successive governments asked the Lankan public to tolerate the curtailment of civil liberties under Emergency Regulations…. Over time, these restrictions created an entire generation that does not know what normalcy is.' [Full Story]

Fisherman caught in a struggle for survival
[ UCA News ] [ 16 Apr 2015 04:07 GMT ]

Indian fishing community depends on the waters of the Palk Strait for its livelihood. [Full Story]

Ancient skeletons found in India
[ BBC ] [ 15 Apr 2015 05:11 GMT ]

Mohenjo Daro is the world's oldest surviving city and dates back to the pre-Hindu Indus Valley civilisation. [Full Story]

APPGT chairman prays for 'new dawn'
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 14 Apr 2015 04:14 GMT ]

'I wish you every success and a brighter future, and may I say Inya Tamizh Puthaandu Nalvaazhthukkal,' [Full Story]

Observations by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
[ UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ] [ 13 Apr 2015 02:57 GMT ]

These obligations include the right to the full truth about the violations that took place during a long swath of its history; to the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of those responsible for those violations; to the effective and equitable reparation of the violations. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka releases army-controlled land in Northern Province
[ Business Standard ] [ 12 Apr 2015 01:41 GMT ]

Thousands dislocated during Sri Lanka's brutal war still live in camps for internally displaced persons. [Full Story]

The Seasons of Trouble book review: Peace by piece
[ Financial Express ] [ 11 Apr 2015 03:32 GMT ]

This happens in the closing months of 2008 when the Tamil dream of Eelam, an independent homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east, is crumbling. [Full Story]

Effective War Crimes Inquiry Could Heal Sri Lanka's Old Wounds
[ Inter Press Service ] [ 10 Apr 2015 00:05 GMT ]

Many feel that the country has a long way to go before the wounds of conflict are healed. [Full Story]

Senior UN official visits war-ravaged north of Sri Lanka
[ Xinhua ] [ 09 Apr 2015 02:29 GMT ]

A senior UN official has visited the war ravaged north to assess the development needs in the area and hold discussions with government officials. [Full Story]

Winning Sri Lanka's peace
[ Japan Times ] [ 08 Apr 2015 04:55 GMT ]

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa made only the most half-hearted of efforts to bring about reconciliation with our Tamil citizens. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tortuous Path to Reconciliation and Justice
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 07 Apr 2015 03:46 GMT ]

Transitional justice in Sri Lanka is unlikely to happen without sustained international pressure. [Full Story]

Talks held in Singapore on promoting reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 06 Apr 2015 03:08 GMT ]

It was agreed to continue this engagement and dialogue to accelerate the process of achieving meaningful reconciliation. [Full Story]

Easter: The silence of the innocent and the gag
[ Asia News ] [ 05 Apr 2015 05:41 GMT ]

Violations of religious freedom and the West's hypocricy surrounding this issue are likely to drag the world into an unprecedented chaos. [Full Story]

'Success depends on accountability and reconciliation' in Sri Lanka says US official
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 04 Apr 2015 02:34 GMT ]

Experience has taught us that no society can move forward by burying the past. [Full Story]

Chandrika calls for national reconciliation
[ The Hindu ] [ 03 Apr 2015 02:05 GMT ]

The engagement between Colombo and the Tamil National Alliance, the main Tamil party representing Sri Lanka's northern Tamils, in her view, has been 'excellent.' [Full Story]

US says Sri Lanka failed after war
[ CG ] [ 02 Apr 2015 04:41 GMT ]

The United States says the opportunities that existed in 2009 to bring the country together were not seized. [Full Story]

EU reactivates LTTE ban after Sri Lanka protest
[ UCANews ] [ 01 Apr 2015 05:29 GMT ]

'The ban is not the answer; you must look into the root cause of the problem. [Full Story]

PM Invites Indian-origin Tamils to Delhi
[ New Indian Express ] [ 31 Mar 2015 01:24 GMT ]

The Indian leaders told Modi about their demand for 20,000 houses for Indian Origin Tamil estate workers in the Central Province. [Full Story]

A bridge too far: Special report from Sri Lanka
[ CNN-IBN ] [ 30 Mar 2015 03:21 GMT ]

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka and its impact on both the countries. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka plans legislation outlawing racist, religious extremist groups
[ Ecumenical News ] [ 29 Mar 2015 02:53 GMT ]

The proposed law is a step in the right direction considering the growing number of violent incidents against minorities in the country. [Full Story]

A House For Tamils
[ Outlook India ] [ 28 Mar 2015 00:11 GMT ]

We want a political solution first and only then, all this development.' [Full Story]

ICRC received over 16,000 requests to trace disappeared in Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 27 Mar 2015 00:07 GMT ]

"Their priority is the need to know the fate and whereabouts of a missing relative, without which they have no closure. [Full Story]

Chief Minister CV Vigneswaran's speech on IDP's
[ Lankasri ] [ 26 Mar 2015 00:02 GMT ]

The Chief Minister highlighted the plight of IDP's to the President including the necessity to provide compensation for the use of the private land. [Video]

Tamils in Sri Lanka hold demontrations demanding international probe into war crimes
[ First Post ] [ 25 Mar 2015 00:05 GMT ]

They claim to have no faith in the domestic investigation based on past experiences going slow on them and producing nothing meaningful. [Full Story]

'Lee Kuan Yew, a friend of Tamils'
[ The Hindu ] [ 24 Mar 2015 04:55 GMT ]

The Tamils across the world have lost a good friend. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka planning to lift 'terrorist' ban on Tamils abroad
[ Daily Mail UK ] [ 23 Mar 2015 03:09 GMT ]

Most of the groups as well as the individuals designated terrorist had merely been vocal proponents of Tamil rights. [Full Story]

Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91
[ BBC ] [ 22 Mar 2015 21:01 GMT ]

Speaking at a press conference after the split in 1965, he pledged to build a meritocratic, multi-racial nation. [Full Story]

Malcolm Fraser: Former Australian PM dies aged 84
[ BBC ] [ 22 Mar 2015 03:41 GMT ]

Many praised Mr Fraser for his efforts to create a home in Australia for refugees and to fight for the rights of those suffering racial discrimination. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: the suffering of war widows, in the midst of pain and social exclusion
[ Asia News ] [ 21 Mar 2015 02:05 GMT ]

If the disappeared people are with us no more, there should be an effective mechanism to strengthen the lives and livelihoods of those family members left behind. They need to return land to dispossessed families. Above all they need to release the political prisoners. [Full Story]

'Tortured' UK asylum seeker gets deportation reprieve
[ Channel4 ] [ 20 Mar 2015 01:55 GMT ]

A spokesman for the Home Office insisted that the UK has a "proud history" of granting asylum to those who need protection. [Full Story]

Tamil Diaspora Is Becoming Part Of Larger Sri Lankan Community
[ CT ] [ 19 Mar 2015 02:22 GMT ]

The Tamil Diaspora is a factor in Sri Lanka's life that cannot be ignored or marginalized. [Full Story]

International judicial mechanism needed to serve justice for all in Sri Lanka - Callum Macrae
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 18 Mar 2015 01:05 GMT ]

Establish an international judicial mechanism in order to ensure justice is served to all communities, said the director. [Full Story]

Corporate report: Sri Lanka - Country of Concern
[ Foreign & Commonwealth Office UK ] [ 17 Mar 2015 02:17 GMT ]

The UK used its position in the HRC to urge the international community to establish an independent international investigation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamil Minority Grows Impatient With Just Promises
[ The New York Times ] [ 16 Mar 2015 03:09 GMT ]

Tamil leaders worry that the military will refuse to release more detainees because their stories will provoke outrage. [Full Story]

In Jaffna 'to wipe tears' from those that suffered - Modi
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 15 Mar 2015 02:44 GMT ]

"We need you as a guarantor of our rights," the chief minister said, addressing Prime Minister Modi. [Full Story]

Narendra Modi gives Sri Lanka the India example
[ The Indian Express ] [ 14 Mar 2015 05:47 GMT ]

When we accommodate the aspirations of all sections of our society, the nation gets the strength of every individual.' [Full Story]

Modi Bats for Federalism in Lankan Parliament
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 13 Mar 2015 15:16 GMT ]

"I believe in cooperative federalism," Modi told the 225 member House in a message of great significance to Sri Lankan leaders. [Full Story]

Modi's Lankan Visit Can be 'Transformational': Tamil Diaspora
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 12 Mar 2015 04:04 GMT ]

The devolution package contained in the 13th Amendment of the Lankan constitution is inadequate and requested Modi to bring about a permanent political solution 'jointly facilitated, mediated, and underwritten by India, EU, US, and the UN.' [Full Story]

Is Sri Lanka changing under President Sirisena?
[ Channel4 ] [ 11 Mar 2015 02:42 GMT ]

Mr Cameron said the Sri Lankan government had taken "encouraging steps" but added that he would call on President Sirisena to keep up the pace. [Full Story]

Travels with The Tamils: A Sri Lankan Warzone's Fragile Peace
[ Daily Beast ] [ 10 Mar 2015 03:05 GMT ]

In Jaffna, that history can't be avoided. The sad procession of demolished houses see to that. [Full Story]

This Divided Island: Stories from the Sri Lankan War review - a moving portrayal of the agonies of the conflict
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 09 Mar 2015 04:37 GMT ]

The country's Tamil population was herded into internment camps accompanied by widespread torture, rape and abuse. [Full Story]

Thanthi TV Exclusive with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
[ Thanthi TV ] [ 08 Mar 2015 01:16 GMT ]

Watch some Straight answers about issues concerned from the Newly elected Sri Lankan PM. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's uneven road to reconciliation and harmony
[ The Australian ] [ 07 Mar 2015 00:07 GMT ]

The issue has highlighted a potential crisis for moderate Tamil politicians. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Unfinished Humanitarian Business
[ Refugees International ] [ 06 Mar 2015 02:28 GMT ]

First, the new administration must address the problem of internal displacement in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Historic Contribution of the Tamils for the Democratic Transition
[ SL Guardian ] [ 05 Mar 2015 04:49 GMT ]

Our struggle for truth and justice has a noble/sacred cause, namely freedom, dignity and equality of a people and their basic human rights as a Tamil nation with their traditional homeland. [Full Story]

Tamil Widows' Endless Wait in Sri Lanka
[ New Indian Express ] [ 04 Mar 2015 03:57 GMT ]

'My life is terrible without my husband, but I am determined to live for my children. [Full Story]

Top UN political official urges Sri Lanka to seize 'historic moment' for reconciliation
[ UN News Centre ] [ 03 Mar 2015 02:09 GMT ]

He underscored the country's need to develop 'a strong framework for accountability that meets international standards and norms and that is seen as credible across Sri Lanka.' [Full Story]

Next Version will Win Sinhala Voice for Tamils, says Macrae
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 02 Mar 2015 05:05 GMT ]

Macrae raises the question whether the change in government will really mark a step forward in the search for justice. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Press Ahead on Rights Reforms
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 01 Mar 2015 02:31 GMT ]

Arbitrary Detention, Torture, Accountability Should Top Agenda. [Full Story]

Australia kept mum on Sri Lanka rights abuses in exchange for asylum deal - report
[ RT ] [ 28 Feb 2015 00:11 GMT ]

Rights groups argue that local Tamils, who have lived on the island since around the 2nd century BC, seek asylum to prevent torture, rape and other violence at the hands of the military. [Full Story]

With UN War Crimes Report Delay, Sri Lanka Must Deliver on Post-War Accountability
[ The Diplomat ] [ 27 Feb 2015 01:09 GMT ]

Hussein notes that the delay in the report will 'allow for a stronger and more comprehensive report.' [Full Story]

Letter: Sri Lanka Publication of UN Investigation into war crimes
[ TWG ] [ 26 Feb 2015 00:05 GMT ]

What is now in question is not only the integrity of the Human Rights Council but your own. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamil ex-stronghold Jaffna on the road to recovery
[ France24 ] [ 25 Feb 2015 01:54 GMT ]

They remained keenly aware of their minority status in a country where the government and the army are controlled by the Buddhist Sinhalese majority. [Full Story]

Australia silent on Sri Lanka rights abuses
[ Arab News ] [ 24 Feb 2015 02:19 GMT ]

Australia stayed silent about human rights abuses in Sri Lanka in exchange for its cooperation in cracking down on people-smuggling. [Full Story]

UN deferral must be used to make Sri Lanka war crimes report stronger
[ UCA News ] [ 23 Feb 2015 04:51 GMT ]

Politicians, journalists and civil society activists should take advantage of the less repressive environment to engage. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Promises of a new beginning - international cooperation is essential to ensure justice, accountability and an end to impunity
[ Amnesty International ] [ 22 Feb 2015 04:25 GMT ]

International expertise and technical assistance could help it to fulfil its reform agenda, particularly where truth seeking, reparation and justice are concerned. [Full Story]

2015 No Fire Zone Impact Distribution Project
[ KS ] [ 21 Feb 2015 12:21 GMT ]

Please support us with whatever you can afford. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan minister calls on poets to help unite a divided nation
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 21 Feb 2015 00:05 GMT ]

'The best way to have reconciliation is to meet the grievances that we have laid out explicitly and clearly and for which we are clamouring for 65 years,' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Restoring balance
[ The Economist ] [ 20 Feb 2015 03:08 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's treatment of ethnic Tamils in its north had troubled many in India, especially Tamils. [Full Story]

Movie Review: 'No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka'
[ EOL ] [ 19 Feb 2015 04:50 GMT ]

Macrae told the audience that the situation in Sri Lanka is not over and nowhere near a resolution. [Full Story]

Opening up? Sri Lanka's new government confronts legacy of war
[ IRIN ] [ 18 Feb 2015 02:48 GMT ]

'For victims, civil society in Sri Lanka, and the international community to trust the [new] government it will need to fully cooperate with the UN Office. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's main Tamil party puts conditions to join unity govt
[ Global Times ] [ 17 Feb 2015 03:57 GMT ]

Only if the government can reach a solution to the Tamil issue, will we consider joining the proposed national government," [Full Story]

U.N. rights chief backs delay for Sri Lanka war crimes report
[ Reuters ] [ 16 Feb 2015 14:45 GMT ]

The United Nations estimated in 2011 that about 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final weeks of the civil war, which ended in 2009. [Full Story]

After decades, Sri Lanka war widows demand justice
[ Asia News] [ 16 Feb 2015 02:29 GMT ]

The signatories call on Sri Lankan authorities to set up an independent investigation to find the truth about past human rights violations, discover the fate of the "forgotten" victims of the civil war. [Full Story]

'Delhi must push Colombo on devolution'
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Feb 2015 03:07 GMT ]

There are similar constitutional arrangements in India, he said, adding that the countries needed to engage on the basis of an idea of shared sovereignty. [Full Story]

Sangam IV To Throw 10-day Treat for Tamil Lovers from February 13
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 14 Feb 2015 02:55 GMT ]

Today there is a need for Tamil renaissance that will lead to enlightened thinking which will have its impact among the Tamils across the world. [Full Story]

A time for healing
[ The Indian Express ] [ 13 Feb 2015 00:02 GMT ]

The new government has given indications that it will not be unresponsive to the concerns of the Tamils. [Full Story]

SPIN THE GLOBE, SRI LANKA: THE TWO FACES OF PARADISE
[ AFAR ] [ 12 Feb 2015 01:44 GMT ]

It's impossible to understand what it means to go north in Sri Lanka without a basic map of the fault lines that catalyzed the civil war. [Full Story]

Guns, war and a dove - Sri Lanka looks for a new life
[ Reuters ] [ 11 Feb 2015 02:22 GMT ]

The war, the book points out, was fuelled by a sense of fear among the Sinhalese of being captured by the Tamils one day. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Duty on War Crimes
[ The New York Times ] [ 10 Feb 2015 04:53 GMT ]

However noble its motives, the Sirisena government must deal with the legacy of the past. [Full Story]

Getting Real about Rights and Justice in Sri Lanka
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 09 Feb 2015 03:05 GMT ]

Pursuing strategies that downplay Sri Lanka's burning need for justice and accountability are misguided. [Full Story]

Largest Tamil Cultural Festival Sangam-4 Begins on Feb 13 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
[ Sangam4 ] [ 08 Feb 2015 02:35 GMT ]

Sangam-4 is evolving as one of the major Tamil events spanning over ten days in TamilNadu capital Chennai. [Full Story PDF]

Singapore to host annual conference on Tamil language
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 07 Feb 2015 04:32 GMT ]

A three-day conference on Tamil language computing and Tamil internet will be held in Singapore by the end of May. [Full Story]

Time to Heal Tamil Wounds in Sri Lanka
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 06 Feb 2015 03:17 GMT ]

The ethnic divide occurred when the Tamils felt that their language, culture and identity would not survive. [Full Story]

Acts Of Betrayal That Broke The Letter & Spirit Of Independence
[ CT ] [ 05 Feb 2015 02:08 GMT ]

The rich heritage of the Tamils and proof of their origins had to be said to make it absolutely clear they were not minorities but were a Nation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's new president vows reconciliation
[ UCA News ] [ 04 Feb 2015 04:55 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), attended the national day celebrations for the first time in decades. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must address its past before it can move on
[ UCA News ] [ 03 Feb 2015 04:54 GMT ]

If the UN undertakes an inquiry, the ultimate agenda is only to facilitate peace. [Full Story]

16,000 SL refugee kids born in India stateless
[ The Times of India ] [ 02 Feb 2015 02:08 GMT ]

They do not have Sri Lankan citizenship and enjoy a mere refugee status. [Full Story]

Genocide occurs when 'warning signs' ignored - UN
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 01 Feb 2015 01:01 GMT ]

The killing of thousands of Tamils in Sri Lanka at the end of the armed conflict in 2009, was the "failure of the international community". [Full Story]

Shock and Joy in Sri Lanka
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 31 Jan 2015 02:56 GMT ]

The biggest challenge will be reconciliation with the minorities and resolving the Tamil national issue. [Full Story]

A Chance for Justice in Sri Lanka?
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 30 Jan 2015 00:07 GMT ]

Accountability for atrocities committed in Sri Lanka can offer the country a chance to heal. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Rajapaksa Legacy of Abuse
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 29 Jan 2015 04:55 GMT ]

The short-term gains of undermining core values of freedom and non-discrimination are rarely worth the long-term price. [Full Story]

No to Federal System Setback for Tamils
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 28 Jan 2015 03:41 GMT ]

The Tamil National Alliance has expressed its willingness to negotiate a political settlement,†he said. [Full Story]

Canadian Tamil Congress 8th Annual Thai Pongal Dinner
[ CTC ] [ 27 Jan 2015 00:05 GMT ]

The Tamil calendar month of thai, or January, is heralded as the coming of new beginnings. [Video]

USTPAC Urges President Obama to Continue Leadership on Accountability in Sri Lanka
[ PR Newswire ] [ 26 Jan 2015 00:12 GMT ]

US and India must lead mediating power sharing for durable solution to the ethnic conflict. [Full Story]

Consolidating post-election gains in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 Jan 2015 03:41 GMT ]

Tamils in the north are saying that they have heard it before and will believe it only when implemented. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's new government and the possibility of justice
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 24 Jan 2015 00:02 GMT ]

“The scars from the conflict are still raw, and any attempt by the new government to unreasonably bury the past would not be acceptable. [Full Story]

IMPLEMENTING THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT: THE FIRST STEP OF A LONG JOURNEY
[ GV ] [ 23 Jan 2015 04:47 GMT ]

The wise thing to do is not scoff and boycott, but to engage and consolidate small gains step by step. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s ‘rainbow revolution’
[ The Hindu ] [ 22 Jan 2015 05:01 GMT ]

Our vision for Sri Lanka is one of post-war unity, and this means appealing to the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens in the North and East. [Full Story]

TN parties hail Sri Lanka's announcement on 13th Amendment
[ Zee News ] [ 21 Jan 2015 04:44 GMT ]

DMK and several other parties in Tamil Nadu Wednesday welcomed the announcement. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka and the rest of the world - Beyond the rainbow revolution
[ The Economist ] [ 20 Jan 2015 00:15 GMT ]

Its long civil war, which only ended in 2009, drew scrutiny from distant powers, notably from North America and Europe, which are home to large Tamil diaspora. [Full Story]

On train to once-forbidden Jaffna, a wipe, a swipe & the hope of a soldier scarred by war
[ The Telegraph India ] [ 19 Jan 2015 02:01 GMT ]

"I have hope," she said. [Full Story]

Pope in Sri Lanka: “Mary forgave her son’s killers at the foot of his cross…â€
[ CNS ] [ 18 Jan 2015 02:05 GMT ]

She wants to guide Sri Lankans to greater reconciliation, so that the balm of God’s pardon and mercy may bring true healing to all.†[Full Story]

New Crossroad?
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 17 Jan 2015 03:55 GMT ]

The return of normalcy to the Tamil areas and a political solution to the Tamil question, will be determined entirely by international pressure. [Full Story]

A New Era in Sri Lanka’s Politics?
[ IDSA ] [ 16 Jan 2015 02:27 GMT ]

The unfettering of democracy would work to the advantage of all the stakeholders with an interest in fostering a multi-ethnic and plural polity and maintaining democratic stability. [Full Story]

Can the ‘unknown angel’ deliver?
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Jan 2015 04:48 GMT ]

The international community will and should continue to pressure for accountability for the unspeakable atrocities during the war: brutal murders, rapes and killing of innocent civilians. [Full Story]

The civil war that 'tore open heart' of Sri Lanka - Pope
[ Channel 4 ] [ 14 Jan 2015 08:55 GMT ]

Pope Francis visits a former war zone in northern Sri Lanka, preaching forgiveness. [Full Story]

Pope Francis lands in Sri Lanka, urges investigation into Tamil war
[ Christian Today ] [ 13 Jan 2015 03:49 GMT ]

"The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity," he said. [Full Story]

For Sri Lanka, Pope's visit solidifies peace after brutal civil war
[ CNA ] [ 12 Jan 2015 01:23 GMT ]

Pope Francis has always been a person who represents peace and reconciliation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka to probe alleged coup attempt by ex-president Rajapaksa
[ The Times of India ] [ 11 Jan 2015 17:55 GMT ]

Rajapaksa had made an attempt to deploy the army and police to stop the counting of votes when initial results showed he was heading for defeat. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s new president promises ‘no more abductions, no more censorship’
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 11 Jan 2015 03:25 GMT ]

An adamant refusal to act on reconciliation with the Tamil minority and growing sectarian violence denied Rajapaksa votes among other constituencies. [Full Story]

Tamils booted out Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka
[ Economy Lead ] [ 10 Jan 2015 15:41 GMT ]

The outcome of the presidential election can only reinforce the ethnic differences that still plague Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Inside Story - New era for Sri Lanka?
[ Aljazeera ] [ 10 Jan 2015 00:58 GMT ]

But does this mark the beginning of a new political era for Sri Lanka? Or is the new man too closely associated with the old guard? [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's new president - An unknown angel
[ The Economist ] [ 09 Jan 2015 10:01 GMT ]

The victory of Mr Sirisena is also one for democracy. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Test for triumphalism
[ Financial Times UK ] [ 08 Jan 2015 03:34 GMT ]

Tamil parties talk of a post-election civil disobedience campaign. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's election could change everything... and nothing
[ Channel4 ] [ 07 Jan 2015 15:15 GMT ]

Some observers fear that the demise of his regime could also take the pressure off in the international campaign for truth, justice and accountability over the crimes at the end of the war. [Full Story]

Hope and fear battle for supremacy in Sri Lanka’s presidential election campaign
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 07 Jan 2015 04:58 GMT ]

Whoever wins will face the challenge of mending a polity in urgent need of being brought together. This is true not just of Colombo’s politics but also with respect to the many legitimate demands of Sri Lanka’s beleaguered Tamil community that remain to be addressed. [Full Story]

Postwar Sri Lanka’s Awkward Peace
[ The New York Times ] [ 06 Jan 2015 02:55 GMT ]

Thousands of civilians had died there, trapped between the government and the rebels during the last, flattening assaults of the war, but there is no memorial for them. [Full Story]

Tamils Caught Between The Devil & The Deep Sea
[ SG ] [ 05 Jan 2015 09:59 GMT ]

The Sinhala polity has never treated the Tamils as equals and they need a permanent solution to their post colonial problems. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Violent Buddhists
[ The New York Times ] [ 04 Jan 2015 00:25 GMT ]

If it continues unchecked, Sri Lanka will face more instability, ethnic polarization and suppression of dissent. [Full Story]

Diaspora split on the Tamil vote
[ CG ] [ 03 Jan 2015 01:11 GMT ]

Changing the nature of the state, not just a change in government, is the viable path to genuine democracy and permanent peace in the island. [Full Story]

Last days of the Raj?
[ The Economist ] [ 02 Jan 2015 02:25 GMT ]

Electing Mr Sirisena may also be the only way of saving Sri Lankan democracy. [Full Story]

Statement by TNA on upcoming Presidential election
[ TNA ] [ 01 Jan 2015 00:01 GMT ]

The experience of our people has been that the struggle for democracy over dictatorship is inextricably linked to the pursuit of our most cherished values: equality, justice, dignity and freedom. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Electoral Dysfunction
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 31 Dec 2014 00:05 GMT ]

The island nation’s upcoming election could be a choice between two oppressors. [Full Story]

2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: how Aceh recovered, and Sri Lanka declined
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 30 Dec 2014 00:03 GMT ]

In one, these pressures highlighted differences, drove opposing sides apart and ultimately led to a further human catastrophe; in the other it pushed opposing sides to seek compromise. [Full Story]

China,Sri Lanka to expand investment through 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative
[ Global Post ] [ 29 Dec 2014 01:11 GMT ]

China,Sri Lanka to expand investment through 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative. [Full Story]

The heart of Jaffna Tamil community
[ The Star ] [ 28 Dec 2014 00:25 GMT ]

“They sweated blood to build these establishments to preserve their culture and heritage,†[Full Story]

Sri Lanka think tank calls for a genuine truth seeking mechanism
[ The Economic Times ] [ 27 Dec 2014 02:28 GMT ]

The Commission while holding public sittings in the former conflict zones have received nearly 20,000 complaints of missing persons. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka, the tsunami and the evolution of disaster response
[ IRIN ] [ 26 Dec 2014 04:59 GMT ]

Within a year of the tsunami, the government and LTTE camps had polarized further, which had a direct impact on how aid was allowed to be distributed. [Full Story]

Economy, tolerance and reconciliation on minds of Sri Lankan voters
[ KSA ] [ 25 Dec 2014 02:27 GMT ]

"The Tamil community has yet to receive what was promised to them," [Full Story]

SRI LANKA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND PREDICAMENT OF TAMIL PARTY – ANALYSIS
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 24 Dec 2014 01:58 GMT ]

Sirisena cannot win without substantial Tamil votes. [Full Story]

Will Tamils see any justice from UNHRC in March?
[ PressTV ] [ 23 Dec 2014 02:25 GMT ]

This conflict of war crimes, needs to be viewed for what it is, an attempt by Sri Lanka's top political leaders to eradicate a race of people. [Full Story]

Breaking the Silence Journal: Kings College London
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 Dec 2014 03:41 GMT ]

Kings College London held its annual 'Breaking the Silence' exhibition on the November 20, to raise awareness among fellow students. [Full Story]

Tamil Catholics call for end to 'untouchable' discrimination
[ UCANews ] [ 21 Dec 2014 01:55 GMT ]

A group of Tamil Catholics belonging to several dalit organizations and a Tamil political party called for Vatican intervention. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka think tank calls for a genuine truth seeking mechanism
[ The Economics Times ] [ 20 Dec 2014 02:14 GMT ]

The Commission, operating under the Commissions of Inquiry apparatus, is structurally flawed, given its dependence on the Executive for appointments, financing and follow up action. [Full Story]

How Caste Plays a Role in India’s Biggest Classical Music Festival
[ The Wall Street Journal ] [ 19 Dec 2014 05:07 GMT ]

One of the world’s biggest – and longest – festivals of classical music and dance begins in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: THE FUTURE IS NOW: A HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA FOR SRI LANKA’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
[ Amnesty international ] [ 18 Dec 2014 04:28 GMT ]

Victims of crimes under international law have not received truth, justice and reparation. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan election – ‘The tighter the race, the more violent it threatens to be’
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 17 Dec 2014 03:57 GMT ]

Tamils have suffered heavily from Sri Lanka’s excessive concentration of power and lack of independent checks on executive power, and they would benefit from the democratic reforms the opposition is proposing. [Full Story]

A Chance to Close Sri Lanka’s One-Family Show
[ The Wall Street Journal ] [ 16 Dec 2014 00:02 GMT ]

The military presence remains oppressive, especially in the north. [Full Story]

Tamil man returns home after 25 years in detention
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 15 Dec 2014 01:54 GMT ]

Following his arrest, Vairavanathan was held in a detention camp in Hambantota for 25 years without being charged. [Full Story]

Book review: Sri Lanka's Secrets
[ Brisbane Times ] [ 14 Dec 2014 03:38 GMT ]

Initial discrimination in work and educational environments, following independence from the British in 1948, eventually led to state-sanctioned persecution culminating in violent attacks against Tamils. [Full Story]

THE CENTRALITY OF ECONOMICS IN SRI LANKA – ANALYSIS
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 13 Dec 2014 01:50 GMT ]

There is absolutely no trust between the central government and the Tamil community. [Full Story]

Vaiko Calls on EU, Bats for Referendum in Lanka
[ Outlook India ] [ 12 Dec 2014 02:07 GMT ]

"The help and contribution of European Union countries in holding a referendum on the Tamils issue in Sri Lanka is very essential," [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Release or Charge Human Rights Activist Balendran Jeyakumary
[ Amnesty International ] [ 11 Dec 2014 03:26 GMT ]

A prominent Sri Lankan human rights activist, has been detained since March 13, 2014 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election: Risks and Opportunities
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 10 Dec 2014 02:18 GMT ]

“Whoever wins in January, issues of devolution of power, accountability and reconciliation, and of the equal status of Tamils and Muslims in a Sinhala majority state, will remain contentious†[Full Story]

Vaiko exit from NDA shows BJP's cultural nationalism a dud in Tamil Nadu
[ First Post ] [ 09 Dec 2014 04:55 GMT ]

If the BJP doesn’t devise a unique strategy, that is distinctively different from its policy on Gita, Sanskrit and Sri Lanka, its revival in Tamil Nadu is likely to be a non-starter. [Full Story]

Sizing up the Sri Lankan strife
[ The Express Tribune ] [ 08 Dec 2014 00:01 GMT ]

The face of Sri Lanka, with all its natural beauty and jovial people, seems like the face of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa – half-smiling, half-troubled. [Full Story]

Tamil issues remain unaddressed in Lanka election: TNA
[ Business Standard ] [ 07 Dec 2014 04:33 GMT ]

"Tamils are facing various issues. There are hundreds of people who still can't go back to their own lands because Army is occupying them". [Full Story]

S African Tamils Slap War Crime Charges Against Lankan General
[ Outlook ] [ 06 Dec 2014 02:02 GMT ]

We are surprised at the ease of allowing a war criminal into the country," the statement said. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s Next Step
[ The Wall Street Journal ] [ 05 Dec 2014 04:52 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has yet to heal from a civil war that cost more than 80,000 lives. [Full Story]

Appeal from a Sri Lankan Catholic to Pope Francis: 'Please don’t come'
[ UCANews ] [ 04 Dec 2014 01:41 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is a country where even a Catholic priest can disappear for writing a letter to the pope. [Full Story]

Rights of minorities’ in South Asia
[ TC ] [ 03 Dec 2014 04:35 GMT ]

Sri Lankan population consists of 72% of Sinhalese, 12%-13% of Tamils, 8% of Muslims and Indian Tamils for plantations around 7%. [Full Story]

A legacy for generations
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 02 Dec 2014 03:57 GMT ]

The Tamil homeland remains under military occupation, Tamils continue to face the threat of rape, disappearance, torture and death by the state and the Tamil nation lacks any meaningful autonomy. [Full Story]

U of T prof was admired for compassion, academic contributions
[ Toronto Star ] [ 01 Dec 2014 02:14 GMT ]

Chelva Kanaganayakam, a Tamil Canadian who taught English at the University of Toronto, leaves a legacy of ‘life-changing’ courses and important contributions to Tamil poetry translation. [Full Story]

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: FORUM ON MINORITY ISSUES
[ Amnesty International ] [ 30 Nov 2014 01:35 GMT ]

The United Nations, including the Human Rights Council, must be attentive to this risk and be prepared to assert its authority to prevent further violence and to respond robustly to violence if it occurs. [Full Story]

A fault in his stars?
[ The Economist ] [ 29 Nov 2014 00:47 GMT ]

Mahinda Rajapaksa expected a coronation. Instead he faces a tricky election. [Full Story]

British lawmakers urge EU to stop Sri Lanka trade perks if UN probe not given access
[ Reuters ] [ 28 Nov 2014 02:29 GMT ]

The United Nations has estimated about 40,000 civilians were killed in the final weeks of the 26-year conflict. [Full Story]

Claims that sri lanka tourism covers for military takeover
[ TM ] [ 27 Nov 2014 03:11 GMT ]

Tourism to Sri Lanka is being used as cover for the military's takeover of civilian life in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Pope Francis hits out at 'bureaucratic' Europe
[ BBC ] [ 26 Nov 2014 02:45 GMT ]

He praised the EU for its commitment to human rights. [Full Story]

SAARC URGED TO DEPLOY HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS TO PROTECT UN WAR CRIMES WITNESSES IN SRI LANKA
[ EINNews ] [ 25 Nov 2014 04:38 GMT ]

In short, the Tamil’s very right to life, and their right to existence, are in danger. [Full Story]

A rough journey for refugees in Malaysia
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 24 Nov 2014 03:09 GMT ]

Refugees are not allowed to attend Malaysian schools - practical advice, and emotional support. [Full Story]

In Sri Lanka, a priest who protected thousands
[ UCANews ] [ 23 Nov 2014 02:55 GMT ]

Key defender of human rights lauded for work during civil war. [Full Story]

Clinging to power in Sri Lanka?
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 22 Nov 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Opponents accuse him of changing the constitution so he can hang on to power, and creating a family dynasty. [Full Story]

The ghosts of the colonial past
[ The Hindu ] [ 21 Nov 2014 04:42 GMT ]

The plantation Tamils are trapped in a spot where the only reality appears to be consistent exclusion. [Full Story]

U.N. Rights Chief Says Sri Lanka Is Obstructing War Crimes Inquiry
[ The New York Times ] [ 20 Nov 2014 01:05 GMT ]

“Why would governments with nothing to hide go to such extraordinary lengths to sabotage an impartial international investigation?†[Full Story]

Sri Lanka's civil war Giving voice to the voiceless
[ The Economist ] [ 19 Nov 2014 00:02 GMT ]

The accounts of ordinary people caught up in the same horrendous conflict, which killed up to 100,000 people, are not usually heard. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka’s rogue regime under the scanner of Malaysian MPs
[ The Weekend Leader ] [ 18 Nov 2014 00:47 GMT ]

The MPs expressed concern on the issue of land grab by the Sri Lankan State in Tamil areas. [Full Story]

The Seasons of Trouble: Life Amid the Ruins of Sri Lanka's Civil War
[ Amazon ] [ 17 Nov 2014 02:17 GMT ]

More than a million had been displaced by the conflict, and the resilient among them still dared to hope. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA AND EUROPE: THEN AND NOW – ANALYSIS
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 16 Nov 2014 03:57 GMT ]

Much will depend on how the genuine grievances of the minority Tamil community are addressed, and not swept under the carpet. [Full Story]

ISLAND OF PAIN: SRI LANKA’S CIVIL WAR
[ War on the Rocks ] [ 15 Nov 2014 01:15 GMT ]

If allowed to continue – will likely augur a return to more extensive ethnic violence further down the road. [Full Story]

An appeal to India’s conscience
[ The Hindu ] [ 14 Nov 2014 00:29 GMT ]

Mr. Wigneswaran’s lecture marks the first articulation from a public platform in Chennai on the plight of Tamils by a legitimately elected leader of the community in the last 25 years. [Full Story]

Book reviews: The Best Music Writing Under the Australian Sun, The Coral Battleground, Sri Lanka's Secrets:
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] [ 13 Nov 2014 02:41 GMT ]

As Australians, we are implicated in the ongoing atrocities because our Prime Minister condones the torture of Sri Lankan citizens. [Full Story]

Commonwealth fabricates genocidal history
[ TamilNet ] [ 12 Nov 2014 02:01 GMT ]

The page is a good example for how the Eezham Tamils and their posterity (if it wants to remain as Eezham Tamils) would be looked at and treated under a single State in the island. [Full Story]

UN rights body seeks entry to Sri Lanka despite government's refusal
[ The Economic Times ] [ 11 Nov 2014 03:20 GMT ]

They will help independent verification throughout the investigation to establish the facts and circumstances of alleged violations, abuses and crimes by both parties. [Full Story]

On Safeguarding Security And Sovereignty
[ CT ] [ 10 Nov 2014 00:02 GMT ]

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and in the final analysis, its only keepers are the people. [Full Story]

State violence in Sri Lanka continues: CM Wigneswaran
[ Business Standard ] [ 09 Nov 2014 04:39 GMT ]

Militarisation of North in Lanka took place to "maintain a stranglehold" over Tamils. [Full Story]

UN blasts Sri Lanka for sabotaging war crimes inquiry
[ Reuters ] [ 08 Nov 2014 00:01 GMT ]

“A wall of fear has been created that has undoubtedly served to deter people from submitting evidence,†Zeid said. [Full Story]

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS HARASSMENT OF ITS CHAPTER IN SRI LANKA
[ Transparency International Secretariat ] [ 07 Nov 2014 00:04 GMT ]

“The role of civil society is to hold those in power to account and to do this it must be allowed to function free from intimidation. [Full Story]

Navy to commemorate Tamil King Rajendra Chola's 1000th-year of coronation
[ The Economic Times ] [ 06 Nov 2014 04:28 GMT ]

The achievements of the Chola Navy, whose ships have sailed and conquered lands in South-East Asia, which is present day Java, Sumatra and Malay Peninsula. [Full Story]

Cosmetic Fixes: Sri Lanka’s Poor Progress on Human Rights
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 05 Nov 2014 00:03 GMT ]

The past five years have proven that Sri Lanka’s domestic institutions are still not capable of adhering to acceptable standards of governance, accurately accounting for the past or punishing perpetrators for their crimes. [Full Story]

Impeding justice
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 04 Nov 2014 00:45 GMT ]

Five years ago the government sought to ban international actors from the battlefied as it systematically herded and slaughtered Tamils in their tens of thousands. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Activists petition parliament on Day of the Disappeared
[ Amnesty International ] [ 03 Nov 2014 01:56 GMT ]

The actual number of disappeared is much higher with at least 30,000 cases alleged up to 1994 and many thousands reported after that. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka, "premeditated" death sentence for five Indian fishermen
[ Asia News ] [ 02 Nov 2014 02:33 GMT ]

The ruling "is the result of the ongoing dispute between India and Sri Lanka". [Full Story]

SRI LANKA LANDSLIDE: TGTE DISAPPOINTED THAT TAMIL DIASPORA GROUPS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE
[ EIN News ] [ 01 Nov 2014 00:02 GMT ]

This sorrowful event also demonstrates the urgent need for uplifting of the living conditions of hill country Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN review highlights ongoing human rights abuse and impunity
[ Amnesty International ] [ 31 Oct 2014 05:45 GMT ]

The Committee also expressed concern over Sri Lanka's failure to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of human rights violations. [Full Story]

Hundreds missing after Sri Lanka mudslides
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 30 Oct 2014 02:30 GMT ]

The victims were tea plantation workers and their families. [Full Story]

Reynaldo Bignone: Argentina ex-ruler gets fresh sentence
[ BBC ] [ 29 Oct 2014 01:14 GMT ]

The 86-year-old is already in jail serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: No.2 in enforced disappearances
[ Pearl ] [ 28 Oct 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Sri Lanka ranks second in the world with the highest number of disappearances, just behind Iraq. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's recovery: Are new roads the way forward?
[ BBC ] [ 27 Oct 2014 01:55 GMT ]

They highlight the people in the former conflict-affected areas still living in temporary housing - and those still waiting for the wounds of war to heal. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka revisited: The whitewashing of a war crime by corporate lobbyists
[ The Independent UK ] [ 26 Oct 2014 02:33 GMT ]

The development comes as Sri Lanka is being investigated by a UN team. [Full Story]

Our eyes are blind to Tamil torture
[ The Age ] [ 25 Oct 2014 01:05 GMT ]

The detail in this book is shocking, the descriptions of torture and casual brutality hellish. [Full Story]

INDIA'S IMPERATIVES IN SRI LANKA - ANALYSIS
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 24 Oct 2014 01:26 GMT ]

No country has a greater stake than India in ending the legal and political discrimination against Tamil-origin Sri Lankans because of the resonance of their concerns, especially in Tamil Nadu. [Full Story]

Tamil Canadians Saddened by the Ottawa Attack
[ CTC ] [ 23 Oct 2014 02:01 GMT ]

Tamil Canadians stand in solidarity with all other Canadians as we deal with this despicable act. [Full Story]

Restoring train to Jaffna isn't enough
[ Deccan Herald ] [ 22 Oct 2014 00:05 GMT ]

The Tamil demand for greater devolution of power remains unfulfilled. [Full Story]

Unfinished war in Sri Lanka threatens paradise regained
[ Reuters ] [ 21 Oct 2014 03:58 GMT ]

Behind the gleaming bridges, roads, schools and hospitals lie allegations of violations against Tamils by government forces, ranging from land grabs and intimidation to abduction and rape. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka calls early presidential elections
[ BBC ] [ 20 Oct 2014 02:28 GMT ]

Sri Lankan MPs voted to approve constitutional amendments allowing Mr Rajapaksa to seek an unlimited number of presidential terms. [Full Story]

Review: 'This Land Belongs to the Army'
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 19 Oct 2014 03:47 GMT ]

The documentary is an important contribution to the documenting of the ongoing violence against the Tamil nation in Sri Lanka, particularly providing photographic evidence of militarisation and land grabs. [Full Story]

Red card to Sri Lanka: European Commission announces severe fishing trade sanctions
[ Greenpeace ] [ 18 Oct 2014 01:34 GMT ]

Greenpeace welcomed today's announcement by the European Commission that it will take a tougher stance against the government of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Death threats en masse for Sri Lankan journalists
[ UCANews ] [ 17 Oct 2014 02:25 GMT ]

According to the Free Media Movement more than 50 journalists have been forced to flee the country during the last 25 years, while more than 80 journalists, staffers or owners of media organizations have been murdered. [Full Story]

EU court overturns Tamil Tiger sanctions but maintains asset freeze
[ Reuters ] [ 16 Oct 2014 04:55 GMT ]

European Union judges struck down anti-terrorism sanctions against the Tamil Tigers that were imposed by the EU. [Full Story]

Reconnecting Sri Lanka's north - Slow train through Jaffna
[ The Economist ] [ 15 Oct 2014 02:14 GMT ]

In a strange twist, foreigners were banned from travelling north, on the grounds that they might 'threaten national security'. [Full Story]

Fears for refugees as Sri Lanka rejects bid to halt deportations
[ UCA News ] [ 14 Oct 2014 02:01 GMT ]

UN rights experts criticized Sri Lanka for deporting asylum seekers without properly assessing their claims. [Full Story]

The Scottish independence referendum and its relevance to Sri Lanka
[ The News Hub ] [ 13 Oct 2014 00:55 GMT ]

If a referendum was held in North Sri Lanka in 1955, 99% of Northerners would have voted in favour of separation. [Full Story]

Call for Submissions: OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka
[ United Nations Human Rights Council ] [ 12 Oct 2014 01:01 GMT ]

The OISL will not make final judgments as to criminal guilt; rather, it would make an assessment of possible suspects that may pave the way for future criminal investigations. Submissions must be made by 30 October 2014. [Full Story]

Reynaldo Bignone: Argentina ex-ruler gets fresh sentence
[ BBC ] [ 11 Oct 2014 00:04 GMT ]

The 86-year-old is already in jail serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka before UN Human Rights Committee this week
[ Just Security ] [ 10 Oct 2014 00:09 GMT ]

The issue of accountability, particularly in the context of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's decades-long civil war, has come under continuing international scrutiny. [Full Story]

Buddhist hardliners reject federal solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic issues
[ Shanghai Daily ] [ 09 Oct 2014 02:55 GMT ]

An organization of Buddhist hardliners in Sri Lanka has rejected a federal solution to the country's long running ethnic problems. [Full Story]

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE HOLDS ITS ONE HUNDRED AND TWELFTH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 7 TO 31 October 2014
[ UN Human Rights ] [ 08 Oct 2014 03:33 GMT ]

The Human Rights Committee will hold its one hundred and twelfth session in Geneva from 7 to 31 October during which it will review the reports of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN review highlights empty rights promises
[ Amnesty International ] [ 07 Oct 2014 04:29 GMT ]

Sri Lanka must stop making empty promises to the international community. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: FORTY NEW CASES OF POST-WAR TORTURE DOCUMENTED IN PAST 8 MONTHS
[ Freedom from Torture ] [ 06 Oct 2014 02:12 GMT ]

Freedom from Torture is calling on Sri Lanka to allow free and unfettered access to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as a matter of urgency. [Full Story]

UK Ministers and MPs rally behind Tamil calls for justice
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 05 Oct 2014 01:45 GMT ]

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. [Full Story]

Diaspora backs Jayalalithaa
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 Oct 2014 02:07 GMT ]

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa might be the victim of a malicious prosecution. [Full Story]

U.S. position on Sri Lanka
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 03 Oct 2014 03:39 GMT ]

The Secretary, in no uncertain terms, made clear to the president that Sri Lanka needed to take meaningful steps to act like a country that is no longer at war and instead is now building a future that includes all of its citizens. [Full Story]

Why Sri Lanka's Detention of Mrs Balenderan Jayakumari Is So Sinister
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 02 Oct 2014 03:50 GMT ]

The world failed to act with sufficient speed and seriousness to stop the massacres during the war. Is it about to fail again? [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Leading Tamil party gives ultimatum for power-sharing deal
[ WSWS ] [ 01 Oct 2014 01:41 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's Tamil elite, have set a January deadline for the government to offer a power-sharing deal. [Full Story]

News from Jaffna
[ Aljazeera ] [ 30 Sep 2014 03:58 GMT ]

A young reporter dares to cover press freedom in one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists - Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Timing of Jayalalithaa case targets Dravidian polity
[ Tamilnet ] [ 29 Sep 2014 01:23 GMT ]

The recent judicial moves against Dravidian leaders have a larger and more insidious agenda. [Full Story]

UN Human Rights Council: General Debate on Sri Lanka and South Sudan
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 28 Sep 2014 03:14 GMT ]

We urge the government of Sri Lanka to rethink its approach and cooperate fully with the OHCHR investigation, the best hope for justice for Sri Lanka's war victims. [Full Story]

OHCHR wants accountability in Lanka
[ CG ] [ 27 Sep 2014 02:08 GMT ]

The High Commissioner firmly believes that a more fundamental and far-reaching accountability process in Sri Lanka, addressing both past and ongoing violations. [Full Story]

British Airways to end flights to Sri Lanka
[ Telegraph UK ] [ 26 Sep 2014 03:49 GMT ]

Holiday accommodation built on the site of Sri Lanka's 'killing fields' was last years described as 'tasteless war tourism'. [Full Story]

Recognise Tamil right to self-determination, Tamils tell Labour Party
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 25 Sep 2014 01:55 GMT ]

A host of prominent Labour MPs and local politicians pledged their support to the Tamil cause. [Full Story]

Beyond Angkor: How lasers revealed a lost city - The Lost Hindu Empire of Cambodia
[ BBC ] [ 24 Sep 2014 00:02 GMT ]

The empire was founded in the early 9th Century by a great king, Jayavarman II. [Full Story]
The first inscriptions found on temple walls, dating back to 5th century, resembled the script used by Pallavas of South India. [Related Story I]
Elements of Indian (Tamil) culture was interwoven with Cambodian culture that lasted for over a 1000 years. [Related Story II]

Dealing with devolution
[ The Hindu ] [ 23 Sep 2014 03:51 GMT ]

With no usable leverages, India may have to live with 13A minus police powers. [Full Story]

Pope Francis calls on Muslims to condemn extremists who 'pervert' religion to justify violence
[ National Post ] [ 22 Sep 2014 00:02 GMT ]

'Let no one consider themselves to be the 'armor' of God while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression!' Francis said [Full Story]

Global observer needed for talks with Sri Lanka, says Sampanthan
[ Hindu ] [ 21 Sep 2014 03:12 GMT ]

He reiterated his party's position that negotiations should be on the basis of recognition that the Tamils have the right to self determination. [Full Story]

Renewing resolve
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 20 Sep 2014 01:01 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has systematically sought to criminalise NGOs and activists. [Full Story]

Loss of life in Sri Lanka conflict could have been averted: US
[ PTI ] [ 19 Sep 2014 03:41 GMT ]

The US said a delayed response by the international community resulted in decaying human rights situations in those countries. [Full Story]

Follow UK's Example and Hold That Referendum On Independence In The NorthEast
[ CT ] [ 18 Sep 2014 02:55 GMT ]

Why Sri Lanka can't follow UK's example and hold that referendum on independence in the NorthEast and Let the People Decide. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka signs on to China's maritime 'Silk Road'
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] [ 17 Sep 2014 03:05 GMT ]

'The people are clueless. [Full Story]

2009 was a genocide says former UK home secretary
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 16 Sep 2014 02:42 GMT ]

Mr Blunkett said he 'believed genocide had taken place on the island of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

INDIA: IMPORTANCE OF LEADING INDIAN OCEAN NEIGHBOURS - ANALYSIS
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 15 Sep 2014 03:35 GMT ]

In the 21st century global and regional contexts, it's too much for India and its southern neighbours to expect the US to stay away from the region, militarily. [Full Story]

NEW UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, ADDRESSES OPENING OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL'S 27TH SESSION
[ The United Nations Office at Geneva ] [ 14 Sep 2014 01:49 GMT ]

I attach great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka mandated by this Council, on which Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights will report later in the session. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka profile: A chronology of key events
[ BBC ] [ 13 Sep 2014 02:00 GMT ]

Third century BC - Beginning of Tamil migration from India. [Full Story]

Ethnic discrimination in Sri Lanka
[ Khaleej Times ] [ 12 Sep 2014 01:44 GMT ]

It is indeed a tragedy that the entire world has conveniently forgotten about the massacre of the Tamil population in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Tamil party threatens agitation
[ The Hindu ] [ 11 Sep 2014 04:54 GMT ]

The announcement was made at the party's recent 15th national convention held in Vavuniya. [Full Story]

Vavuniya: relatives of missing people want the government to stop atrocities
[ Asia News ] [ 10 Sep 2014 03:27 GMT ]

Relatives of people who went missing during and after the civil war want the government of Sri Lanka to stop atrocities against the Tamils and tell the truth about missing people. [Full Story]

Ambassador Keith Harper Press Statement: Opening Day of the 26th Human Rights Council
[ Mission of the USA to the United Nations ] [ 09 Sep 2014 02:59 GMT ]

The Human Rights Council is a critical venue for addressing some of the most persistent threats to human rights around the world. [Full Story]

Geneva human rights meet today
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 08 Sep 2014 03:01 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has announced it would not cooperate. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Ensure security detainees are charged or released
[ Amnesty International USA ] [ 07 Sep 2014 02:55 GMT ]

Several years after the end of the war in Sri Lanka, hundreds of people are languishing in prison without charge or trial under the country's repressive anti-terrorism laws. [Full Story]

U.N. failed to protect civilians during Sri Lanka's bloody war end, says report
[ Reuters ] [ 06 Sep 2014 03:37 GMT ]

The United Nations failed in its mandate to protect Sri Lankan civilians caught up in the final phases. [Full Story]

NATO summit: Pugnacious Putin provides new purpose for alliance
[ The Christian Science Monitor ] [ 05 Sep 2014 02:22 GMT ]

“In some ways, NATO should thank Vladimir Putin because it was really searching for its purpose. [Full Story]

Tamil Solidarity Day - building unity to fight oppression
[ The Socialist ] [ 04 Sep 2014 01:45 GMT ]

Tamil Solidarity Day is a day to build bridges between different communities and their struggles. [Full Story]

Army presence unsettles Tamils
[ The Hindu ] [ 03 Sep 2014 03:51 GMT ]

The Chief Ministers elected by the people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have no powers now. [Full Story]

'A Thousand Mirrors' Shows Two Views Of One Long, Brutal War
[ NPR ] [ 02 Sep 2014 01:07 GMT ]

But what happens post-war. [Full Story]

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
[ UN Human Rights ] [ 01 Sep 2014 02:44 GMT ]

States must urgently address the anguish of the relatives of the disappeared and reinvigorate their investigations into cases of disappearances. [Full Story]

Today's Sangam explores grief, trauma and exile
[ THE TIMES OF INDIA ] [ 31 Aug 2014 01:55 GMT ]

Murder, death and ruins dominate the imagery in most of the works of poets writing in from Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

UN's Navi Pillay: they called me a lunatic - video
[ Channel 4 ] [ 30 Aug 2014 00:55 GMT ]

She tried to ensure the UN did all it could to save lives around the world. [Full Story]

'Soft Stance against SL Not Good for India'
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 29 Aug 2014 01:35 GMT ]

Manmohan Singh government did not respect the sentiments of Tamils and Congress has lost deposits. [Full Story]

Sinhala colonisation a great worry for Tamils
[ The Hindu ] [ 28 Aug 2014 04:12 GMT ]

The most urgent step necessary in Sri Lanka is to halt the Sinhala colonisation programme being implemented by the government to change the very identity of the traditional Tamil areas. [Full Story]

Rights groups demand protection for Sri Lanka war crimes witnesses
[ AFP ] [ 27 Aug 2014 04:52 GMT ]

Six organisations in a joint letter expressed alarm over alleged intimidation, threats and reprisals against those likely to engage investigators. [Full Story]

Pope to visit and bless Tamils on Sri Lanka visit
[ UCANews ] [ 26 Aug 2014 04:47 GMT ]

Pope Francis will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu and will thus be the first Pope in history to set foot in a territory where most inhabitants are Tamil. [Full Story]

A Letter to Pope Francis
[ TWG ] [ 25 Aug 2014 01:40 GMT ]

We sincerely hope it will also include an open visit to the war ravaged northern Sri Lanka and one which will be free of any attempt to muzzle the local people's access to you. [Full Story PDF]

Tamils in Sri Lanka Must Get Dignity, Justice: India
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 25 Aug 2014 01:11 GMT ]

The delegation, led by veteran Tamil politician R. Sampanthan, made a detailed presentation on the political situation in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Intransigence
[ The New York Times ] [ 24 Aug 2014 03:09 GMT ]

If Mr. Rajapaksa's goal is truly, as he claims, truth, justice and reconciliation, he should cooperate with the investigation. [Full Story]

Human rights chief Pillay criticises UN Security Council
[ BBC ] [ 23 Aug 2014 00:04 GMT ]

She said the Council too often lacked the resolve to end conflicts. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka minorities hit by economic hardship
[ Aljazeera ] [ 22 Aug 2014 00:58 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's sectarian divisions are having an economic impact on its minority citizens. [Full Story]

IN THE SERVICE OF INDIAN TAMILS IN TEA PLANTATIONS IN CEYLON – BOOK REVIEW
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 21 Aug 2014 03:50 GMT ]

All of them were silent on the subject which had serious implications for Tamil speaking people living outside India. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka visa ban won't stop UN inquiry - Navi Pillay
[ BBC ] [ 20 Aug 2014 00:45 GMT ]

One UN report published three years ago said around 40,000 Tamil civilians died in the final weeks of the conflict, largely as a result of government shelling. [Full Story]

Call for Submissions: OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka
[ United Nations Human Rights Council ] [ 19 Aug 2014 00:01 GMT ]

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to undertake a comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka. Submissions must be made by 30 October 2014. [Full Story]

India-Sri Lanka Relations And China: Q & A
[ Sri Lanka Guardian ] [ 18 Aug 2014 03:05 GMT ]

It provided a fillip for anti-Sri Lanka lobbies in Tamil Nadu to gain strength. [Full Story]

Spreading an Ancient Palette in Dimensions Seen and Unseen
[ The New York Times ] [ 17 Aug 2014 01:57 GMT ]

It can be a beautiful shock to feel the invigorating intensity with which the South Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam brings all those dimensions keenly to life. [Full Story]

Book Review: Sri Lanka - Genocide & War Crimes
[ Sri Lanka Guardian ] [ 16 Aug 2014 02:34 GMT ]

State sovereignty implies responsibility to protect, not to kill. [Full Story]

UN says Sri Lanka is violating refugee laws
[ Aljazeera ] [ 15 Aug 2014 00:22 GMT ]

The UN refugee agency has accused Sri Lanka of breaking international law in its growing campaign to force out Pakistani asylum seekers without a fair hearing. [Full Story]

Tribute To Navi Pillay From Sri Lankan Activist
[ Sri Lanka Guardian ] [ 14 Aug 2014 02:07 GMT ]

Navi Pillay is a hero of our times. [Full Story]

The nowhere people
[ The Hindu ] [ 13 Aug 2014 01:25 GMT ]

The refugees have not had access to legal aid,. [Full Story]

Hidden from view, Sri Lanka is trampling over the rights of its Tamil population
[ The Independent UK ] [ 12 Aug 2014 00:11 GMT ]

The government can do what it likes to the Tamil population in the north. [Full Story]

UN rights body seeks entry to Lanka despite Govt's refusal
[ PTI ] [ 11 Aug 2014 00:25 GMT ]

The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was empowered by the UNHRC resolution late March to carry out an independent investigation into alleged rights abuses. [Full Story]

Tamil asylum seekers: 80% reported showing signs of torture and trauma
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 10 Aug 2014 02:25 GMT ]

'It seems more [about] the government finding an excuse to keep politicians, advocates and lawyers out of detention centres than it is about the genuine issues facing people inside,' [Full Story]

Losing Battles but Winning Wars: How the Sri Lankan Government is Crushing Dissent
[ International Policy Digest ] [ 09 Aug 2014 05:40 GMT ]

These actions gained them considerable ground in their long term objectives of pacifying the Tamil majority areas of Sri Lanka by force, silencing internal dissent, and building a lasting regime. [Full Story]

Beaten and spied on, asylum seekers reveal oppression of being returned
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 08 Aug 2014 00:45 GMT ]

The cycle will continue interminably 'criminalised by Sri Lanka for fleeing, and then again by Australia for seeking refuge. [Full Story]

Cambodia Khmer Rouge leaders jailed for life
[ BBC ] [ 07 Aug 2014 07:59 GMT ]

Two top Khmer Rouge leaders have been jailed for life after being convicted by Cambodia's UN-backed tribunal of crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's accountability crisis
[ Open Democracy ] [ 06 Aug 2014 00:04 GMT ]

It is necessary that all allegations of serious violations of humanitarian and human rights law are credibly investigated, and systematic patterns of abuse exposed. [Full Story]

Michele Sison in New York, Sri Lanka issues get solid grounding in UN
[ AT ] [ 05 Aug 2014 01:08 GMT ]

It is well known that she was heavily influenced by the US non-action during the Rwanda Genocide in 1998. [Full Story]

Turmoil in Parliament over 'derogatory' article against Jayalalithaa
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 Aug 2014 04:55 GMT ]

AIADMK members in both Houses disrupting the proceedings seeking a statement from the Government. [Full Story]

Navi Pillay: Speaking truth to power
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 03 Aug 2014 02:25 GMT ]

From Syria and Iraq, to Sri Lanka, Egypt, Ukraine and Gaza and Israel - accusations abound that human rights are violated. [Full Story]

We can act together to stop the violence in Gaza
[ CAFOD ] [ 02 Aug 2014 03:09 GMT ]

The UK government can and should do more to secure a lasting ceasefire and push for long-term measures to end the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. [Full Story]

Conflicted UN struggles in global peace efforts
[ BBC ] [ 01 Aug 2014 03:50 GMT ]

The body designed to resolve and mediate them looked so thoroughly incapable of doing so. [Full Story]

Black July in Sri Lanka, Yesterday and Today
[ Digital Journal ] [ 31 July 2014 02:14 GMT ]

'Tamil lands are expropriated, Tamils are denied the right to mourn their dead. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: International Religious Freedom Report for 2013
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 30 July 2014 01:48 GMT ]

There was an overall decrease in societal respect for religious freedom, as Buddhist nationalist groups led campaigns targeting Muslims and Christians. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: China gets land for 'defence'
[ Green Left ] [ 29 July 2014 02:50 GMT ]

China has an advantage over the US in making agreements with Sri Lanka, as China does not talk about human rights. [Full Story]

Culture causerati forget a 1000yr milestone
[ The Telegraph ] [ 28 July 2014 04:56 GMT ]

Rajendra Chola I, whose empire stretched from Bengal to India's southern tip, covered the whole of Sri Lanka and extended up to Indonesia. [Full Story]

Australia to move detained asylum group onshore
[ BBC ] [ 27 July 2014 03:25 GMT ]

Rights groups say Tamils can still face intimidation and violence in Sri Lanka, five years after the end of the civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's NGO Clampdown
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 26 July 2014 01:54 GMT ]

Talking about what actually happened during the end of the war would be extremely difficult and even dangerous. [Full Story]

Bishop of Mannar: Pope Francis' visit, a consolation for victims of war
[ Asia News ] [ 25 July 2014 02:22 GMT ]

He will also meet the survivors of the civil war, to listen to their painful testimonies and pray with and for them. [Full Story]

Deep scars and delicate prose: Romesh Gunesekera's Sri Lanka
[ The Spectator ] [ 24 July 2014 04:44 GMT ]

Sometimes he encounters signs of hope. [Full Story]

Apart from the Games, what does the Commonwealth do?
[ The Independent UK ] [ 23 July 2014 03:44 GMT ]

The Commonwealth has been accused of failing to see its members uphold its basic principles. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: WAS IT A GENOCIDE? - ANALYSIS
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 22 July 2014 01:25 GMT ]

U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright had stated that the least the U.S. could do for the Eelam Tamils was to grant them the right of “remedial sovereignty†[Full Story]

When it comes to persecution, we've given Sri Lanka plenty of help
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 21 July 2014 00:17 GMT ]

At the very least, we should call for rights to be recognised and improved in foreign lands and at home. [Full Story]

This Divided Island; Stories From The Sri Lankan War
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 20 July 2014 02:17 GMT ]

A community that feels insecure about its past and its future in its own country. [Full Story]

Jaffna: government erodes freedom and dignity of Tamil people
[ Asia News ] [ 19 July 2014 04:56 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan army has only 200 thousand soldiers, of which 150 thousand deployed in the north. [Full Story]

World leaders demand answers after airliner downed over Ukraine with 298 dead
[ Reuters ] [ 18 July 2014 12:17 GMT ]

'The external aggression against Ukraine is not just our problem but a threat to European and global security,' he said. [Full Story]

International community must not forget Sri Lanka
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 17 July 2014 03:48 GMT ]

Sustained international engagement is more needed than ever. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Downward Spiral
[ Foreign Policy ] [ 16 July 2014 02:14 GMT ]

The international community's failure to intervene in a host of global hot spots has had devastating consequences. [Full Story]

Australian government blocked over Tamil asylum seekers
[ Channel 4 ] [ 15 July 2014 03:44 GMT ]

The United Nations is currently investigating alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Civil activities and freedoms curbed, five years after Sri Lanka's civil war
[ Radio Australia ] [ 14 July 2014 02:05 GMT ]

This is due to a near collapse of the rule of law and ongoing militarisation in the former war zones. [Full Story]

Hundreds of Tamils Have Simply Vanished on the Perilous Sea Voyage to Australia
[ TIME ] [ 13 July 2014 01:19 GMT ]

800 asylum seekers men, women and children have set off for Australia in the past three years and have simply never been heard from again. [Full Story]

Australian minister whitewashes Sri Lankan repression
[ WSWS ] [ 12 July 2014 05:28 GMT ]

This bipartisan whitewashing of the Sri Lankan government flies in the face of all the evidence that the persecution of Tamils and Muslims is worsening, not lessening. [Full Story]

The Rise of Buddhist Nationalism in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 11 July 2014 00:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka should concentrate on nation-building and reconciliation. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka tells NGOs to keep quiet
[ Aljazeera ] [ 10 July 2014 03:35 GMT ]

'They need to deal with the investigation by the U.N., deal with the core issues and not come to the NGOs with vengeance,' [Full Story]

Australia: Handover of Sri Lankan asylum seekers a dangerous precedent
[ Amnesty International ] [ 09 July 2014 02:49 GMT ]

'Australia stands alone in failing to recognise the ongoing human rights violations taking place in Sri Lanka,' Graeme McGregor added. [Full Story]

Fear of Sri Lankan security forces still drives Tamils into exile, advocates say
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] [ 08 July 2014 00:51 GMT ]

'There is a lot of fear and uncertainty. [Full Story]

Handing over Tamils to the state they fled breaks international law
[ The Conversation Trust ] [ 07 July 2014 02:07 GMT ]

Given the continuing allegations of the torture of Tamils in Sri Lanka, Australia may be in violation of its obligation to protect at least some of the asylum seekers from torture. [Full Story]

Tamil woman raped by Sri Lankan soldiers to be deported
[ Channel 4 ] [ 06 July 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Weeks after William Hague's summit on sexual violence in conflict, the British government is to deport a Tamil woman back to Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Asylum-seekers in Sri Lanka: Paradise lost
[ The Economist ] [ 05 July 2014 02:14 GMT ]

It would violate international laws and principles that restrain countries from forcibly returning asylum-seekers to places where they could face persecution. [Full Story]

UN: 'profound concern' at Australia's handling of Tamil asylum seekers
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 04 July 2014 03:08 GMT ]

UNHCR says any forced return of asylum seekers would be inconsistent with 'fundamental refugee protection principles'. [Full Story]

Sending asylum seekers to Sri Lanka 'risks flagrant violation of convention'
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 03 July 2014 02:22 GMT ]

'For asylum seekers, this is a matter of life and death, particularly in Sri Lanka which has a long history of political violence on a scale unimaginable to Australians.' [Full Story]

Reconciliation elusive on the ground
[ The Hindu ] [ 02 July 2014 01:41 GMT ]

The war is over, but the conflict is not.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must end media restrictions to facilitate reconciliation
[ Committee to Protect Journalists ] [ 01 July 2014 02:50 GMT ]

It must be a free and safe undertaking for journalists seeking to promote reconciliation. [Full Story]

New UN rights probe intensifies pressure on SLanka
[ AP ] [ 30 June 2014 04:57 GMT ]

Kohona distanced himself from earlier comments, now saying he doesn't personally know what happened. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Refugees returned from Malaysia at grave risk
[ Aliran ] [ 29 June 2014 02:45 GMT ]

The return to Sri Lanka of three at-risk Tamils violates Malaysia's international obligations, says Human Rights Watch. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ETHICAL TOURISM
[ Right Now ] [ 28 June 2014 02:02 GMT ]

War-weary citizens are eager to see some economic benefits and most tourists are oblivious to the history of the war and beaches of Mullaitivu where tens of thousands died. [Full Story]

Amnesty International India welcomes establishment of Sri Lanka war crimes investigation
[ Amnesty International ] [ 27 June 2014 00:54 GMT ]

Victims in Sri Lanka have bravely shared testimony and have high expectations that the inquiry will galvanise the international community to take action. [Full Story]

Three international experts tapped to assist with UN-mandated Sri Lanka conflict probe
[ UN News Centre ] [ 26 June 2014 02:05 GMT ]

'Each of them brings not only great experience and expertise, but the highest standards of integrity, independence, impartiality and objectivity to this task,' she added. [Full Story]

Modi's Sweet and Spicy Sri Lanka Strategy
[ The Diplomat ] [ 25 June 2014 03:41 GMT ]

The AIADMK is the third largest party in the Lok Sabha, the lower house, and its views will need to be taken into account. [Full Story]

On Universal Human Rights: Navi Pillay, Prince Zeid, and Keeping a Strong Voice at the United Nations
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 24 June 2014 02:04 GMT ]

Thank Navi Pillay for her strong voice and support for human rights for all peoples as well as wishing the next High Commissioner the very best. [Full Story]

Who is behind Sri Lanka's religious violence?
[ Aljazeera ] [ 23 June 2014 01:46 GMT ]

So, will further violence be averted? Or could Sri Lanka slip into another civil war? [Full Story]

U.N. Reports Sharp Increase in Refugees as Civil Wars Cripple Nations
[ The New York Times ] [ 22 June 2014 01:36 GMT ]

It is the war in Syria that most dramatically illustrates how quickly a country's fate can be upended by civil war. [Full Story]

Dispatches: 40,000 Reasons Why Sri Lanka Is No Model for Nigeria
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 June 2014 00:28 GMT ]

Replicating Sri Lanka's lawless approach to counterinsurgency would further endanger a civilian population. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Justice Key to End Anti-Muslim Violence
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 20 June 2014 02:47 GMT ]

'The Rajapaksa government has long been ineffectual in holding those responsible for abuses to account,' Adams said. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Parliament votes against UN-led probe
[ Global Post ] [ 19 June 2014 00:02 GMT ]

The UN-led investigation into the war in Sri Lanka will begin this month and the investigation team will be operational for a period of 10 months. [Full Story]

General Assembly confirms Jordan's Prince Zeid as new UN human rights chief
[ UN News Centre ] [ 18 June 2014 01:11 GMT ]

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization, by all people, of all rights established in the UN Charter and in international human rights laws and treaties. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka riots: One killed as Buddhists target Muslims
[ BBC ] [ 17 June 2014 11:55 GMT ]

The outbreak of sectarian violence is Sri Lanka's worst in years. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Pillay alarmed by intercommunal violence, calls for end to hate speech
[ Office of the HC for Human Rights ] [ 17 June 2014 03:44 GMT ]

The Human Rights Council in March 2014 expressed its alarm at the significant surge in attacks against members of religious minority groups in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: Advocating A Different Political Project
[ Asian Human Rights Commission ] [ 16 June 2014 00:08 GMT ]

The exploitation, and ultimate destroying, by the political elite of popular movements formed by survivors of political violence from the North to the South is an important core point of this socio-political exploration. [Full Story]

UN inquiry team on Sri Lanka war crime named
[ Aljazeera ] [ 15 June 2014 01:35 GMT ]

The investigation that is expected to be in operation for a 10-month period, beginning in mid-June 2014 and end in mid-April 2015. [Full Story]

Pope voices fears over Scottish independence
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 14 June 2014 00:27 GMT ]

The break-up of Yugoslavia was justifiable because the cultures that made up that country were so diverse. [Full Story]

William Hague to investigate claims of Tamil rape victims being deported
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 13 June 2014 02:47 GMT ]

Pledge follows allegations UK is sending back Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have been abused by security forces. [Full Story]

One Sri Lankan Tamil's testimony: beaten, branded, suffocated and raped
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 12 June 2014 00:17 GMT ]

A Tamil from Sri Lanka, is facing deportation from the UK for the second time in two years. [Full Story]

Time To Act on Sri Lanka
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 11 June 2014 00:55 GMT ]

Why has the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict forgotten the Sri Lankan survivors? [Full Story]

Sexual violence in war: Jolie opens summit in London
[ BBC ] [ 10 June 2014 17:09 GMT ]

Sexual violence was systematically being used as a weapon of war in the 20th and 21st Centuries. [Full Story]

MAKING INDIA A GLOBAL PLAYER: IT WILL HAVE TO COME FROM WITHIN - ANALYSIS
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 09 June 2014 01:19 GMT ]

New Delhi had timidly let Colombo, for instance, wave the Pakistan or the China flag every now and then as a way of 'warning' India. [Full Story]

The perils of peacekeeping
[ UCA News ] [ 08 June 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Making peace is not just a question of political parleying, it's very much a matter of healing souls and bodies. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka again rejects devolving police powers to ease tension with Tamils
[ Reuters ] [ 07 June 2014 00:41 GMT ]

Sri Lanka agreed with India in 1987 to devolve powers. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: The Island of mass graves
[ Asian Human Rights Commission ] [ 06 June 2014 01:50 GMT ]

The country is ignoring calls for an independent and credible investigation into alleged wartime atrocities. [Full Story]

Lord Naseby has misled the Lords over Sri Lanka. He must withdraw his allegations
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 05 June 2014 00:18 GMT ]

Unfortunately Lord Naseby has failed to be accurate in his recent attack on Channel 4's harrowing documentaries. [Full Story]

Jayalalithaa takes firm stand on Sri Lankan Tamil issue
[ Times of India ] [ 04 June 2014 02:14 GMT ]

She said the resolution should demand a referendum among the Tamils in Sri Lanka for the formation of a separate Tamil Eelam. [Full Story]

In the north, Tamils defy government to remember Fr Sara, who died during the Civil War
[ Asia News ] [ 03 June 2014 02:11 GMT ]

Exhausted by weeks without food or water, he died helping his community move away from a no fire zone. [Full Story]

UN drafts probe team for Lanka
[ Daily FT ] [ 02 June 2014 03:39 GMT ]

The UN team probing major human rights abuses by both sides during the last seven years of the Sri Lankan war will comprise at least 13 members. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan film, With You Without You, to open in India
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 01 June 2014 00:44 GMT ]

Easy to label the work political, With You, Without You goes far deeper than the mere repercussions of the war. [Full Story]

Sadness and fear: what the drawings by children in detention showed us
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 31 May 2014 01:52 GMT ]

Detention has been shown to be harmful for children in Australia and in many other countries. [Full Story]

Slice of Lankan life
[ Financial Chronicle ] [ 30 May 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Gives you a insights into the lives of poor Tamil estate workers unceremoniously packed off to India, uprooted from their soil, feeling the ground slip from beneath their feet. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Sifting the earth of the killing fields
[ The Economic Times ] [ 29 May 2014 03:55 GMT ]

As a responsible and emerging global power, India should own up to its responsibility and facilitate a UN-led independent probe into alleged war crimes. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must repeal its dangerous terrorism law
[ UCA news ] [ 28 May 2014 03:47 GMT ]

The PTA is used to crack down on any activities construed to be anti-government. [Full Story]

Exclusive: Sri Lankan President set not to attend Glasgow 2014 after fears presence will overshadow Games
[ Inside the Games ] [ 27 May 2014 00:25 GMT ]

A potentially harmful diplomatic challenge for Glasgow 2014 is likely to be avoided. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Cheran - Poetry Postcards
[ BBC ] [ 26 May 2014 02:01 GMT ]

We look once more at our friends who were denied the peace of a painless death. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Youth Desperate for Change
[ IPS ] [ 25 May 2014 03:47 GMT ]

Mega development projects have failed to improve the lives of the local population, possibly due to lingering racial discrimination against the Tamil minority. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: Judicial mind and judicial matters in Sri Lanka
[ Asian Human Rights Commission ] [ 24 May 2014 01:18 GMT ]

The failure of judicial institutions have enabled the entrenchment of state authoritarianism and the erosion of minority rights. [Full Story]

How young Sri Lankans see peace
[ IRIN ] [ 23 May 2014 02:05 GMT ]

There seems to be little space for opposing stories to be told or be heard.' [Full Story]

US Senate Resolution On Sri Lanka, 19 May 2014
[ Sri Lanka Guardian ] [ 22 May 2014 13:24 GMT ]

Whereas the people of Sri Lanka suffered greatly as a result of this conflict, the impact and aftermath of which has been felt especially by women, children, and families. [Full Story]

Island stories: A 300-mile trip across post-war Sri Lanka
[ BBC ] [ 22 May 2014 02:45 GMT ]

These are the stories of the people he - BBC's Charles Haviland - met on the way. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Comply with Rights Council Investigation
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 May 2014 01:25 GMT ]

'This is the third council resolution on Sri Lanka in three years and reflects the impatience of the international community to see justice done,' Adams said. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka 5 Years on: Beyond the Beach
[ Aljazeera ] [ 20 May 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Sri Lanka hovers between war and peace, as a profoundly traumatised population grapples with creeping militarisation, continuing ethnic divisions and a crackdown on dissent. [Full Story]

The Truth About Justice in Sri Lanka
[ The Diplomat ] [ 19 May 2014 03:22 GMT ]

To ensure that genuine reconciliation happens in Sri Lanka, accountability, truth and justice are essential. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka blocks Tamil memorials amid war parade
[ BBC ] [ 18 May 2014 18:11 GMT ]

Security forces in the north surrounded party offices and religious sites, blocking memorial ceremonies for Tamils killed in the separatist war. [Full Story]

Five Years On Tamils Still Under Siege
[ CT ] [ 17 May 2014 04:44 GMT ]

Time not Ripe for Truth and Reconciliation, Rather for Justice and A Referendum on Eelam. [Full Story]

Tamils bank on Modi
[ The Hindu ] [ 16 May 2014 21:31 GMT ]

The TNA leadership seemed let down by the fact that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, contrary to speculation, would not be an ally at the Centre. [Full Story]

Live Election Results 2014 - South: Amma wave in Tamil Nadu
[ The Indian Express ] [ 16 May 2014 11:15 GMT ]

J Jayalalithaa's party could even emerge as the third biggest party in the country. [Full Story]

THE WAR THAT WASN'T LIVE
[ Newsweek ] [ 15 May 2014 02:55 GMT ]

It's been five years since the civil war in Sri Lanka was declared over. [Full Story]

Jaffna varsity teachers assert right to mourn
[ The Hindu ] [ 14 May 2014 03:09 GMT ]

'The Tamil people should have the freedom to mourn collectively the untimely death of a large number of members of their community whether or not the dead persons are members of their family,' [Full Story]

Pope to visit Sri Lanka in January, bishops say
[ Vatican Insider ] [ 13 May 2014 01:17 GMT ]

Meanwhile, the Tamil areas north and east of the island are still under military occupation, with over 300 thousand troops concentrated in a small geographical area: [Full Story]

TWG 10th Anniversary CJT Thamotheram Memorial Lecture I : The future of the Tamils
[ TWG ] [ 12 May 2014 03:23 GMT ]

If our future is guaranteed, and we are confident of it, we would not be today having this talk on the 'future of the Tamil people'. [Full Story PDF]

At Election Season's End, Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees Forgotten Again
[ The New York Times ] [ 11 May 2014 01:12 GMT ]

Since India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, there is no structured route to citizenship for those who seek asylum. [Full Story]

A Letter to Pope Francis
[ TWG ] [ 10 May 2014 00:02 GMT ]

I wish to bring the fate of the downtrodden Tamils in Sri Lanka to your kind notice. [Full Story PDF]

Australia's asylum seeker obsession puts democracy at risk
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 09 May 2014 04:32 GMT ]

They have primary responsibility for a policy which treats people badly and illegally, both in terms of Australian domestic law and international law. [Full Story]

'Counter diaspora influence with strong domestic process'ÂÂÂ: EU Ambassador
[ Daily FT ] [ 08 May 2014 02:14 GMT ]

The resolution in Geneva is obviously a very serious issue. It is an issue not to be underestimated or downplayed. [Full Story]

Pope reminds Sri Lankan bishops of urgency of reconciliation
[ The Tablet ] [ 07 May 2014 03:29 GMT ]

He warned that ethnic and religious tensions still split the country. [Full Story]

5 years today - IDP death toll rises, call for UN war crimes probe
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 06 May 2014 03:58 GMT ]

Members of the Tamil diaspora continued to protest and demand their governments to take action to stop further deaths of Tamil civilians. [Full Story]

Lankan Tamils Safer Abroad
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 05 May 2014 03:50 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora numbers more than one million spread across the globe. [Full Story]

TWG 10th Anniversary CJT Thamotheram Memorial Lecture II :
The future of the Tamils & The Challenge for the Tamil Diaspora

[ TWG ] [ 04 May 2014 02:41 GMT ]

An entire ethnic group, the Tamils in the North and East of Sri Lanka are ceasing to exist as a people and are suffering indescribable misery. [Full Story PDF]

Pope: in Sri Lanka, 'much work needs to be done to promote reconciliation, to respect the human rights'
[ Asia News ] [ 03 May 2014 01:35 GMT ]

'Many have lost their employment and so families have been separated as spouses leave their homes to find work'. [Full Story]

Canada Concerned by Sri Lanka's Inclusion of Canadians on Terrorist List
[ Government of Canada ] [ 02 May 2014 00:07 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's action has no legal effect in Canada: it does not constrain the freedom of listed groups and individuals to lawfully express their views in Canada. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Annual Report 2013
[ International Federation of Red Cross ] [ 01 May 2014 03:15 GMT ]

The programme supports a number of community-led initiatives addressing various risks posed by natural and human-made hazards. [Full Story]

Enter South Africa?
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 30 Apr 2014 02:20 GMT ]

The government of Sri Lanka is not genuine in its attitude to find a political solution, and the talks about talks is just another diversionary tactic,' [Full Story]

Indian Ocean: The story of India's bid for regional leadership
[ Indian Council on Global Relations ] [ 29 Apr 2014 03:56 GMT ]

The following excerpt discusses India's intervention in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

TNA criticises ban on diaspora groups
[ The Hindu ] [ 28 Apr 2014 03:41 GMT ]

Reform was needed not only to achieve ethnic peace. [Full Story]

Constitution bench to decide fate of Rajiv killers
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 27 Apr 2014 02:23 GMT ]

Supreme Court has tried to make it clear how both the state and central governments should share powers. [Full Story]

British tourist Naomi Coleman 'treated like a criminal' in Sri Lanka
[ BBC ] [ 26 Apr 2014 02:50 GMT ]

Naomi Coleman said she had been forced to share a room with 60 women. [Full Story]

India elections: Tamil Nadu chief feeds goodwill with five-rupee meals
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 25 Apr 2014 01:38 GMT ]

State officials have described Jayalalithaa as 'incredibly tough' with 'superb political instincts'. [Full Story]

BBC correspondent denied visa and told to leave Sri Lanka
[ The Republic Square ] [ 24 Apr 2014 01:12 GMT ]

The move to deny the BBC correspondent a visa will both increase worries about the freedom of the press. [Full Story]

UN inquiry holds few terrors for a Sri Lanka used to impunity
[ SBS ] [ 23 Apr 2014 03:44 GMT ]

Sri Lanka’s dismissive attitude to a long record of war crimes is more than just political arrogance. [Full Story]

Transcending Terror
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 22 Apr 2014 02:27 GMT ]

Any remaining faint hopes of reconciliation, are made even more unlikely. [Full Story]

How strategic is Sri Lanka?
[ CNN ] [ 21 Apr 2014 01:12 GMT ]

In a world of maritime geopolitics, countries such as Oman and Sri Lanka emerge as strategic players. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - UN Inquiry Just the Start of a Long Road to Justice
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 20 Apr 2014 00:50 GMT ]

Most worrying is the rising frustration on the part of Tamils who can see no solution to the problems in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Reconciliation After War
[ The Platform ] [ 19 Apr 2014 01:12 GMT ]

It is important to uncover what truly occurred in the last days of the war. [Full Story]

Playing with fire
[ The Hindu ] [ 18 Apr 2014 00:55 GMT ]

A section from the Tamil epic 'Manimekhalai' is placed as a parallel of the 'Mullivaikkal' which evokes the actors to speak about the Sri Lanka episode. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Straining the Commonwealth
[ Huntington News ] [ 17 Apr 2014 02:08 GMT ]

This time the Sri Lankan government is refusing to co-operate with a UN-mandated investigation. [Full Story]

Inducing fear
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 16 Apr 2014 01:14 GMT ]

As the international probe begins its work, escalation of state violence, as a means of repressing Tamil engagement with the probe, is inevitable. [Full Story]

Canada Suspends Voluntary Commonwealth Funds
[ Government of Canada ] [ 15 Apr 2014 02:06 GMT ]

Canada believes that if the Commonwealth is to remain relevant it must stand in defence of the basic principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human dignity. [Full Story]

An Act to proclaim the month of January Tamil Heritage Month
[ Legislative Assembly of Ontario ] [ 14 Apr 2014 00:15 GMT ]

Tamil Canadians have overcome tremendous obstacles and have made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of Ontario. [Full Story]

Hearing the silence
[ The Indian Express ] [ 13 Apr 2014 21:48 GMT ]

The Jewish minority was brutally attacked, interned and killed. [Full Story]

Controversial MP trip to Sri Lanka cancelled at 11th hour
[ Channel 4 ] [ 12 Apr 2014 01:28 GMT ]

An all-expenses-paid trip by five UK MPs and their partners, including business-class travel to and from Sri Lanka, is cancelled. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Country of Concern
[ UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office ] [ 11 Apr 2014 03:33 GMT ]

A resolution which establishes an international investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international law on both sides of the conflict, and calls on the Sri Lankan government to make progress on accountability, reconciliation and human rights. [Full Report]

Sri Lanka stance needs urgent rethink
[ The Herald ] [ 10 Apr 2014 00:50 GMT ]

Sri Lankan Tamils have almost universally made it clear that an honest account of what happened to civilians, along with a political solution, is the only way forward. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Displaced
[ The Diplomat ] [ 09 Apr 2014 03:55 GMT ]

Tens of thousands of internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka place their hopes in a recent UN resolution. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Asset Freeze Threatens Peaceful Dissent
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 08 Apr 2014 03:45 GMT ]

'The government is putting all Tamil activists at risk by delegitimizing the major Tamil organizations abroad,' Adams said. [Full Story]

Foreign Minister: Sri Lanka Won't Cooperate With UN War Crime Probe
[ Voice of America ] [ 08 Apr 2014 02:34 GMT ]

A U.N. panel has found credible evidence that around 40,000 mainly ethnic minority Tamil civilians were killed. [Full Story]

Still searching for justice: victims in Sri Lanka
[ Open Democracy ] [ 06 Apr 2014 01:25 GMT ]

For the victims and their families in Sri Lanka, the resolution passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council this week in Geneva offers the first glimmer of hope for truth, justice and reparation. [Full Story]

UN vote and reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 06 Apr 2014 00:05 GMT ]

It will give hope to many who simply want to know the truth and who seek justice as citizens of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Critics question Sri Lanka's ban on Tamil exile groups
[ UCANews ] [ 05 Apr 2014 02:02 GMT ]

The ban may also be designed to make it more difficult for activists within Sri Lanka to gather and disseminate information about alleged war crimes and other human rights violations. [Full Story]

Post-conflict societies: To hell and back
[ The Economist ] [ 04 Apr 2014 04:56 GMT ]

Some societies manage to heal the deepest of wounds. [Full Story]

Groups warn of backlash as U.N. calls for probe into Sri Lanka civil war abuses
[ CNN ] [ 03 Apr 2014 03:55 GMT ]

The diaspora would likely have family members remaining in Sri Lanka who could be vulnerable to potential retribution. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Displaced in north long for home
[ BBC ] [ 02 Apr 2014 00:44 GMT ]

"Our mistake was being born to a Tamil mother." [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN Human Rights Council - Written statement to Parliament
[ Foreign & Commonwealth Office ] [ 01 Apr 2014 01:51 GMT ]

The United Kingdom will continue to work with the UN HRC and our international partners to ensure proper implementation of this resolution. [Full Story]

Finally, the UN Exercises Moral Authority
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 31 Mar 2014 02:15 GMT ]

The United Nations has acted in ways its founding fathers would have hoped for when it wrote the UN Charter. [Full Story]

British Tamil Conservatives thank Cameron for fulfilling promise to Tamil people
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 30 Mar 2014 02:15 GMT ]

"The BTC is thankful to the Prime Minister, everyone in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [Full Story]

The Forever War?: Military Control in Sri Lanka’s North
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 29 Mar 2014 03:51 GMT ]

The social and political consequences of the sheer number of boots on the ground are themselves disturbing. [Full Story]

'Victory for Sri Lankan people': UN to probe 'war crimes'
[ Channel 4 ] [ 28 Mar 2014 00:02 GMT ]

A turning point for the battle for the human rights of the Tamil people. [Full Story]

UN investigation brings new hope for justice in Sri Lanka
[ Amnesty International ] [ 27 Mar 2014 20:39 GMT ]

“This resolution is important for those human rights defenders who have risked their lives and freedom to seek the truth. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka 'war crimes': the evidence
[ Channel 4 ] [ 27 Mar 2014 20:20 GMT ]

Channel 4 News presents the evidence collected by this programme over the past five years. [Full Story]

U.N. launches investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka
[ Reuters ] [ 27 Mar 2014 12:59 GMT ]

By a vote of 23 states in favor, 12 against (including China and Pakistan) and 12 abstentions (including India), the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council adopted a resolution presented by the United States on behalf of countries including Britain. [Full Story]

Facing a War Crimes Inquiry, Sri Lanka Continues to Vex the U.N.
[ The New York Times ] [ 27 Mar 2014 02:04 GMT ]

The United Nations described its silence as “a grave failure,†taking to task officials who “did not perceive the prevention of killing of civilians as their responsibility.†[Full Story]

Why a UN probe of Sri Lanka would spark new hope for reconciliation
[ The Globe and Mail ] [ 26 Mar 2014 00:28 GMT ]

A UN inquiry will ascertain the facts without prejudice. [Full Story]

Time to Act
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 25 Mar 2014 01:11 GMT ]

What is in the balance are both the possibility of stability and peace in the island, on the one hand, and, the relevance of international humanitarian and human rights law, on the other. [Full Story]

Why the Commonwealth must regain its ethical zeal
[ The Age ] [ 24 Mar 2014 03:50 GMT ]

The organisation can be a force for good again, but only if it stands by its principles. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka and human rights - Never a good time
[ The Economist ] [ 23 Mar 2014 02:05 GMT ]

The world would do Sri Lankan democracy a great favour on March 26th if the UN were to push ahead and call for an international inquiry into both war crimes and ongoing repression. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Tamils subjected to horrific abuse after 2009 civil war, says report
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 22 Mar 2014 01:45 GMT ]

Claims of abuse of Tamils have continued since the end of the war. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Tamils Fear 'Culture Cleansing'
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 21 Mar 2014 00:44 GMT ]

The ancient and medieval history of Tamils is not included in the syllabus, citing the absence of archaeological evidence for our history,†[Full Story]

Sri Lankan government amplifies its ‘dirty tactics’ during UN session
[ Amnesty International ] [ 20 Mar 2014 01:12 GMT ]

The Council is due to vote next week on a resolution calling for an international investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The international community must shine a light on human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, past and present
[ Thomson Reuters Foundation ] [ 19 Mar 2014 02:05 GMT ]

I am astonished by the power of many individuals’ resilience and courage. [Full Story]

3 Activists Held in Sri Lanka, Raising Fears of Crackdown
[ The New York Times ] [ 18 Mar 2014 03:45 GMT ]

Fears of a broad crackdown against rights activists in Sri Lanka have been heightened. [Full Story]

Healing the wounds of a bitter war
[ The Hindu ] [ 17 Mar 2014 03:34 GMT ]

It will be highly difficult for Sri Lanka to establish long-term peace. [Full Story]

4,000 Tamils protest in Geneva for Sri Lanka war crimes probe
[ Japan Today ] [ 16 Mar 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Thousands of Tamils demonstrated in Geneva on Monday to protest Sri Lanka’s rejection of calls for an international probe into alleged war crimes at the end of its civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka arrest for missing son's campaigning mother
[ Channel4 ] [ 15 Mar 2014 01:24 GMT ]

The problem is that in Sri Lanka, under the prevetion of terrorism act, "judicial scrutiny" can be an indefinite process. [Full Story]

Growing China ties let Sri Lanka rebuff US war inquiry push
[ Helsinki Times ] [ 14 Mar 2014 02:47 GMT ]

China has an "all-weather partnership" with Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

In Sri Lanka, signs of war slowly being erased, but not the scars
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 13 Mar 2014 00:16 GMT ]

There is “a basic denial that there really is any ethnic conflict or ethnic problem or problem of how power is shared between different communities,†said Alan Keenan. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Rape of Tamil women, men and children
[ TWG ] [ 12 Mar 2014 03:07 GMT ]

International intervention is mandatory and urgent. [Full Story PDF]

Accountability in focus
[ The Hindu ] [ 12 Mar 2014 01:08 GMT ]

The question of the political rights of Tamils remains to be addressed with a measure of seriousness and urgency. [Full Story]

Britain joins call for UN to investigate alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 11 Mar 2014 01:25 GMT ]

David Cameron's office says decision taken after Sri Lanka failed to conduct its own inquiry into civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka inquiry: genuine progress or diplomatic fudge?
[ Channel4 ] [ 10 Mar 2014 02:35 GMT ]

The main city in the traditionally Tamil north of Sri Lanka, crowds of people came onto the streets to ask for help in locating their missing sons, husbands and fathers. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: new video evidence of grotesque violations
[ Channel4 ] [ 09 Mar 2014 19:09 GMT ]

Despite David Cameron's deadline, the resolution does not call - in so many words - for the setting up of an international Commission of Inquiry from this meeting of the UN Human Rights Council. [Full Story]

New Resolution on Sri Lanka Falls Short: Time for UNHRC to Take Decisive Action
[ CTC ] [ 08 Mar 2014 03:03 GMT ]

The overwhelming calls for an independent, international investigation in Sri Lanka can no longer be ignored. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Bring up the bodies
[ The Economist ] [ 07 Mar 2014 01:42 GMT ]

Evidence of past atrocities keeps turning up in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Myanmar's Tamils seek to protect their identity
[ BBC ] [ 06 Mar 2014 02:55 GMT ]

The decision to give preferential treatment to the majority Burmese community pushed Tamils down in the social hierarchy. [Full Story]

Tutu to the UN: Sri Lanka needs healing
[ Mail & Guardian ] [ 05 Mar 2014 03:08 GMT ]

Nearly five years after the war ended, the situation appears to be getting worse, not better. [Full Story]

Our new report points to ongoing crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka's north
[ Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 04 Mar 2014 05:51 GMT ]

This provides further proof of the pressing need for an independent international investigation in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Briefing Note: Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka: UNHRC action remains crucial
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 03 Mar 2014 02:05 GMT ]

No progress on accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka turns killing fields into tourist attraction
[ Toronto Star ] [ 02 Mar 2014 00:07 GMT ]

“The government is building victory monuments, but the people are unable even to cry for the dead,†[Full Story]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013 - Sri Lanka
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 01 Mar 2014 03:14 GMT ]

The president’s family dominates government. [Full Story]

Channel 4 refutes “Sri Lankan propaganda offensive"
[ Channel4 ] [ 01 Mar 2014 02:45 GMT ]

Channel 4 has today taken the unprecedented step of publishing a detailed refutation. [Full Story]

Foreign Office responds to UN report on Sri Lanka
[ Foreign & Commonwealth Office ] [ 28 Feb 2014 09:25 GMT ]

The British Government attaches great importance to lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN Rights Chief Backs International Inquiry
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 28 Feb 2014 00:25 GMT ]

It will be up to members of the UN Human Rights Council to take decisive action at the coming March session,†Adams said. [Full Story]

Peer suggests government has broken promise on Sri Lanka
[ BBC ] [ 27 Feb 2014 03:53 GMT ]

Lord Bach confirmed the opposition's support for the government's approach and urged the prime minister to be "true to his word on this" and work closely with allies to secure an inquiry at the "earliest possible time". [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Briefing exposes how activists brave retaliation before UN human rights session
[ Amnesty International ] [ 26 Feb 2014 02:20 GMT ]

Authorities have deported several foreigners participating in human rights-related meetings. [Full Story]

UK citizen Visvalingam Gobithas dies in Sri Lanka jail
[ BBC ] [ 26 Feb 2014 01:52 GMT ]

Tamil politician Mano Ganesan described the death as "political murder". [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN report must be call to action on international war crimes investigation
[ Amnesty International ] [ 25 Feb 2014 04:55 GMT ]

“Sri Lanka has so far done all it can to throw sand in the eyes of the international community and to block attempts to bring genuine accountability for past human rights violations. [Full Story]

Festering wounds of Sri Lanka's war
[ Aljazeera ] [ 24 Feb 2014 03:41 GMT ]

Tamils in the war-affected areas of the North, are growing disillusioned with the slow machinery of the international community. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan conflict gets the attention of Kollywood directors
[ The Times of India ] [ 23 Feb 2014 03:58 GMT ]

The Tamil film industry is also currently churning out films on the Sri Lankan issue. [Full Story]

US v China: is this the new cold war?
[ The Financial Times UK ] [ 22 Feb 2014 01:11 GMT ]

The US and China are doomed to repeat the intense security competition of the cold war. [Full Story]

'We're not terrorists'
[ BBC ] [ 21 Feb 2014 00:02 GMT ]

The central government should stop viewing the north as a "terrorist area". [Full Story]

Ontario court rules against terror expert for defamation of Tamil group
[ The Vancouver Sun ] [ 20 Feb 2014 01:45 GMT ]

Gunaratna was part of the Sri Lankan government’s “smear campaign prior to the final military onslaught of May 2009 in northern Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

European Parliament resolution of 12 December 2013 on the situation in Sri Lanka
[ European Parliament ] [ 19 Feb 2014 00:17 GMT ]

Calls on the UN and its member states to analyse carefully the failures of the international community in Sri Lanka and to take adequate measures. [Full Story]

UN calls for Sri Lankan war crimes inquiry
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 18 Feb 2014 02:01 GMT ]

Spokeswoman for Human Rights Watch welcomed the development. [Full Story]

Relatives search for Sri Lanka's missing
[ BBC ] [ 17 Feb 2014 03:55 GMT ]

The island has thousands of outstanding unsolved cases of disappearance. [Full Story]

UN call for Sri Lanka war crime inquiry
[ The Australian ] [ 16 Feb 2014 15:59 GMT ]

“National mechanisms have consistently failed to establish the truth and achieve justice (in Sri Lanka),†[Full Story]

Master craftsman who was also a great teacher
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 Feb 2014 01:44 GMT ]

“This film is my contribution to my future generations. One should never forget one’s ancestors.†[Full Story]

Suspected foreign war criminals 'able to stay in UK'
[ BBC ] [ 14 Feb 2014 01:18 GMT ]

Human rights groups say too few suspected war criminals in Britain are being investigated by police. [Full Story]

'UN Ignored Plight of Lankan Tamils'
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 13 Feb 2014 05:55 GMT ]

The proposed international independent investigation recommended by the UNHRC was ignored by Ban Ki-moon, denying justice to Tamils. [Full Story]

A traumatic past and a stifling present
[ The Hindu ] [ 12 Feb 2014 02:21 GMT ]

It is important to fix accountability for the atrocities committed during the war, it is equally crucial to see if the end of the war has actually translated to peace. [Full Story]

US senators call for Sri Lanka war crimes probe
[ The New Zealand Herald ] [ 11 Feb 2014 03:55 GMT ]

Momentum is building for such a step because of dissatisfaction over Sri Lanka's own efforts to account for ethnic Tamil civilians killed. [Full Story]

Is Sri Lanka turning into a rogue state?
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 10 Feb 2014 00:50 GMT ]

The Tamils' suffering goes deep and continues despite the government's welfare and reconciliatory measures. [Full Story]

Appeasement is no answer to war crimes
[ The Age Editorial ] [ 09 Feb 2014 00:04 GMT ]

We have an abiding moral duty to do all we can to ensure justice is done. [Full Story]

Why Sri Lankan children in north drop out
[ IRIN ] [ 08 Feb 2014 02:54 GMT ]

The conflict-affected north, where economic pressure and poor prospects are creating conditions that could have negative consequences for the future development of the region. [Full Story]

Report makes legal case for war crimes charges against Sri Lanka
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 07 Feb 2014 01:04 GMT ]

The only way to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka is for these credible allegations to be subjected to a formal international commission of inquiry," [Full Story]

Rule of law in armed conflict: Investigating the Sri Lankan civil war: International Crimes Evidence Project
[ ICEP ] [ 06 Feb 2014 01:04 GMT ]

ICEP aims to contribute to accountability for violations of international law and achieving justice for victims of alleged crimes committed during the civil war. [Full Story]

Dispatches: Film Censorship Case Puts Malaysia’s Rights Record in the Dock
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 05 Feb 2014 00:21 GMT ]

Malaysia is pursuing a case that has all the earmarks of a politically motivated vendetta against Lena Hendry. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan tourism - Post Tiger economy
[ The Economist ] [ 04 Feb 2014 00:08 GMT ]

It highlighted the disgust of many at unresolved allegations of war crimes. [Full Story]

Holding Sri Lanka to Account
[ The New York Times ] [ 03 Feb 2014 05:58 GMT ]

It is important that the world stand with those Sri Lankans who have demanded a full accounting of what happened during the war. [Full Story]

“Tamil People Are Gravely Harmedâ€
[ Sangam ] [ 02 Feb 2014 03:44 GMT ]

The Government is engaged in implementing a programme, the objective of which is to further alter the demographic composition of and alter the linguistic and cultural identity of the Northern and Eastern provinces. [Full Story]

Land grabs constitute genocide of Tamil nation
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 01 Feb 2014 01:29 GMT ]

The conference, organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils alongside the British Tamils Forum, was inaugurated on Friday in the Houses of Parliament. [Full Story]

U.S. Envoy to Visit Sri Lanka as Pressure Builds for War Crimes Inquiry
[ The New York Times ] [ 31 Jan 2014 01:29 GMT ]

“The U.S., Britain and others have come to a conclusion that for the truth to be established, it needs to be done by an outside body,†Mr. Keenan said. [Full Story]

Press Colombo to allow war crimes probe: Amnesty to India
[ IANS ] [ 30 Jan 2014 02:57 GMT ]

"India must keep the pressure on Sri Lanka to do the right thing, accept an international investigation and cooperate with it,". [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamil leaders vow to prove ‘genocide’ in civil war
[ AP ] [ 29 Jan 2014 01:45 GMT ]

It wants to prove that the central government carried out an operation “akin to genocideâ€. [Full Story]

US to press SLanka again at UN rights council
[ The Washington Post ] [ 28 Jan 2014 02:37 GMT ]

A top aide to Sri Lanka’s powerful president is in Washington this week, hoping to head off that threat. [Full Story]

Lanka’s northern council backs international probe into war crimes
[ The Hindu ] [ 27 Jan 2014 11:55 GMT ]

A three-point resolution has been passed to bring to international attention Sri Lanka’s lack of action to resolve Tamils’ problems. [Full Story]

UK readying necessary support for potential resolution on international war crimes investigation in SL
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 26 Jan 2014 03:40 GMT ]

FCO human rights report saw further questions regarding the UK stance on ongoing human rights abuses and torture of asylum seekers deported by the UK in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - WORLD REPORT 2014
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 25 Jan 2014 02:35 GMT ]

Sri Lanka’s failure over several years to address war crimes allegations prompted the HRC in March to issue a resolution calling on Sri Lanka to independently and credibly investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. [Full Story]

Vying for Freedom in Sri Lanka: Young Author Malavi Sivakanesan Finds Her Voice
[ Digital Journal ] [ 24 Jan 2014 01:44 GMT ]

A student and passionate activist, hopes to shed light on the issues facing her homeland and inspire readers to join in the fight for justice. [Full Story]

Why international pressure has become necessary for Sri Lanka
[ Dawn ] [ 23 Jan 2014 02:10 GMT ]

The government’s policy of formulating and promising policies of economic development as an alternative to political reform have been repeatedly rebuffed. [Full Story]

Country updates: Sri Lanka
[ Foreign and Commonwealth Office ] [ 22 Jan 2014 00:25 GMT ]

The human rights situation in Sri Lanka did not improve during the last three months. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Little Progress on Rights
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 Jan 2014 05:55 GMT ]

“The Sri Lankan government makes a lot of claims about pursuing accountability for wartime abuses, but the world is still waiting to see some results,†said Brad Adams. [Full Story]

The Risk of Mass Atrocities in Sri Lanka
[ THE SENTINEL PROJECT ] [ 20 Jan 2014 01:44 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan Tamil community has also repeatedly been denied minority recognition and rights as a national group. [Full Story]

Cambridge University crowned 'Kings Of Gaana'
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 19 Jan 2014 00:55 GMT ]

The inter-university competition ‘Kings of Gaana’, hosted by King’s College London Tamil Society, provided an explosive finale for the UK Tamil student calendar. [Full Story]

Tamil writers across globe to meet in Coimbatore
[ The Hindu ] [ 18 Jan 2014 03:49 GMT ]

The Center for Tamil Culture will organise a three-day meeting of eminent Tamil writers and scholars across the globe. [Full Story]

Mass grave fuels fear of thousands buried in Sri Lanka war zone
[ Reuters ] [ 17 Jan 2014 12:35 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is already under international pressure to address alleged wartime human rights violations. [Full Story]

Four steps to secure lasting peace in Sri Lanka
[ CNN ] [ 16 Jan 2014 03:09 GMT ]

It’s no secret that politics is a Sinhalese-dominated and family business in Sri Lanka. Nothing can be done about that in the near-term. [Full Story]

Scars of Sri Lanka
[ Al Jazeera ] [ 15 Jan 2014 02:55 GMT ]

Thousands of Tamils, including many who surrendered or were arrested at the end of the war, are still unaccounted for. [Full Story]

MGR: A legend lives on
[ Business Standard ] [ 14 Jan 2014 05:39 GMT ]

A legendary hero who went on to act in over 130 movies - and also rule Tamil Nadu for 10 long years. [Full Story]

Death brings perils of immigrant workers into view
[ Boston Globe ] [ 13 Jan 2014 03:38 GMT ]

She donated money to war orphans in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

U.S. Urges Sri Lanka to Probe War Crimes, 'Seek Truth'
[ AFP ] [ 12 Jan 2014 03:55 GMT ]

"During ambassador Rapp's discussions, he listened to eyewitness accounts about serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those that occurred at the end of the war,". [Full Story]

US releases pics of civilian deaths during Lankan civil war
[ PTI ] [ 11 Jan 2014 01:14 GMT ]

Colombo has resisted calls to probe claims that over 40,000 ethnic minority Tamils were killed by the military during the final phase of the civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Genocidaires Exchange Honors with Victim of Genocide, Palestine
[ Dissident Voice ] [ 10 Jan 2014 00:03 GMT ]

No government supported the liberation of Tamils from well documented repression and oppression. [Full Story]

Genocide in Sri Lanka Continues
[ CCN ] [ 09 Jan 2014 00:45 GMT ]

Forced sterilizations of Sri Lankan Tamil women are common. [Full Story]

UN resolution on Lanka will seek fresh international probe: US
[ Business Standard ] [ 08 Jan 2014 12:58 GMT ]

According to a UN report, 40,000 civilians may have died in the last few months of the fighting. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Found Guilty of Genocide against Tamils
[ Havana Times ] [ 07 Jan 2014 01:17 GMT ]

The killings are being transformed into other forms of conduct, but the intention to destroy the group and its identity remains and continues. [Full Story]

US sends envoy to Sri Lanka to discuss war crimes claims
[ Radio Australia ] [ 06 Jan 2014 00:02 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has resisted calls to investigate allegations that up to 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed by the security forces during the final push. [Full Story]

New Year Message from Global Tamil Forum
[ GTF ] [ 05 Jan 2014 00:05 GMT ]

The deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka must change and change now! [Full Story]

Silver Lining: The Year 2013 in Human Rights
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 04 Jan 2014 01:38 GMT ]

For the past two years, the council has pressured Sri Lanka to honor its pledge to investigate war crimes. [Full Story]

Happy New Years
[ Khaleej Times ] [ 03 Jan 2014 00:41 GMT ]

It’s also a time to remember your roots, indeed the roots of civilisation. [Full Story]

Who are Sri Lanka's disappeared?
[ Channel4 ] [ 02 Jan 2014 02:28 GMT ]

The families of the disappeared face the torture of "not knowing" what has happened to their loved ones. [Full Story]

Pope stresses strength, courage, hope in new year
[ USA Today ] [ 01 Jan 2014 09:55 GMT ]

Hearing "the cry of peace from peoples who are oppressed by war and by violence," Francis prayed that "the courage of dialogue and reconciliation prevail over the temptation for vendetta, arrogance, corruption." [Full Story]

Tamil National Alliance to push for international probe into Sri Lanka war crimes
[ PTI ] [ 31 Dec 2013 02:02 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has been censured by two successive UNHRC resolutions which demanded speedier action to achieve reconciliation with the island's Tamil minority. [Full Story]

Tamils for Obama Congratulates TGTE Prime Minister Rudrakumaran for Election to his Second Term
[ Tamils for Obama ] [ 30 Dec 2013 01:49 GMT ]

TGTE promulgated a Freedom Charter on May 18, 2013 (this was inspired by the African National Congress's Freedom Charter in South Africa). [Full Story]

BTF calls on the international community to denounce Sri Lanka's “reconciliation†deception
[ BTF ] [ 29 Dec 2013 00:33 GMT ]

Mounting evidence points to a need for an international independent investigation. [Full Story]

Ancient History of Tamils in Central Asia
[ CS ] [ 28 Dec 2013 02:40 GMT ]

Tamil speaking Dravidians formerly settled and developed numerous civilizations in ancient Central Asia. [Full Story]

Tamil council to count Sri Lanka war casualties
[ Arab News ] [ 27 Dec 2013 00:35 GMT ]

“For planning purposes of the council, we want the actual numbers, not watered down figures,†he added. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka war dead count improper: Tamil party
[ PTI ] [ 26 Dec 2013 02:25 GMT ]

The government has faced accusations from international rights groups that some 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final phase of the military campaign. [Full Story]

Scars of Sri Lanka
[ Aljazeera ] [ 25 Dec 2013 03:47 GMT ]

Tamil groups also claim thousands of Tamils, including many who surrendered or were arrested at the end of the war, are still unaccounted for. [Full Story]

Mandela as example: South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
[ MYSA ] [ 24 Dec 2013 03:14 GMT ]

“A need for understanding but not for vengeance, a need for reparation but not for retaliation.†[Full Story]

New mass grave found in Sri Lanka four years after war
[ NDTV ] [ 23 Dec 2013 00:22 GMT ]

The UN has estimated that at least 100,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka's Tamil separatist war. [Full Story]

Lanka in talks to take back oil tanks leased to India
[ Business Standard ] [ 22 Dec 2013 01:25 GMT ]

The move was seen as an immediate fall out from India voting against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council on rights accountability. [Full Story]

Chennai Express unveiled: Jaya pitches for PM
[ India Today ] [ 21 Dec 2013 03:01 GMT ]

There is a need a strong leadership to handle economic and other crises. [Full Story]

Chennai Express unveiled: Jaya pitches for PM
[ India Today ] [ 20 Dec 2013 03:01 GMT ]

There is a need a strong leadership to handle economic and other crises. [Full Story]

Report: Land Acquisition North and East Nov 2013
[ Centre for Policy Alternatives ] [ 19 Dec 2013 04:24 GMT ]

Politics, policies and practices with land acquisitions and related issues in the North and East of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Modi Triggers Hopes and Fears in Lanka
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 18 Dec 2013 03:58 GMT ]

The Tamil media here noted with satisfaction Modi's remark in Chennai that States should be given a role in shaping foreign policy vis-a-vis neighbours. [Full Story]

Erasing the dead
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 17 Dec 2013 02:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's intention is not to establish an accurate count of civilian casualties. [Full Story]

A film on faceless plantation workers
[ The Hindu ] [ 16 Dec 2013 03:49 GMT ]

The film touches upon a host of issues facing the community, from wage struggles to gender inequality at work and home. [Full Story]

Tamil Eelam is not far away
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 15 Dec 2013 01:45 GMT ]

The former foreign minister insisted that the position now was different. [Full Story]

Four years after war, Sri Lanka's widows fear rape, abuse
[ The Times of India ] [ 14 Dec 2013 00:32 GMT ]

There is no justice in the former conflict areas. [Full Story]

EU piles pressure on Sri Lanka over human rights record
[ Zee News ] [ 13 Dec 2013 00:15 GMT ]

The European Union (EU) has asked Sri Lanka to allow free access to UN officials investigating the allegations of human rights violations in the country. [Full Story]

Church warns of 'foreign intervention' in Sri Lanka
[ The Daily Star ] [ 11 Dec 2013 01:12 GMT ]

The church warned that failure on the part of Colombo to ensure accountability for alleged war crimes could trigger international investigations. [Full Story]

Dodgy regime? Unruly protesters? Bell Pottinger can help
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 10 Dec 2013 00:59 GMT ]

The PR firm Bell Pottinger represents some of the world's most notorious clients. [Full Story]

Hijacked justice? Truth and reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ Open Democracy ] [ 09 Dec 2013 00:56 GMT ]

A Sri Lankan effort to mimic the SA TRC process will merely represent the government's unilateral attempt to manage its international pressures. [Full Story]

'Recognition of and justice for genocide vital for lasting peace'
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 08 Dec 2013 02:34 GMT ]

If a lasting peace is desired on the island, then it is vital that the international community accept that what is taking place here is a genocide. [Full Story]

Mandela death: How a prisoner became a legend
[ BBC ] [ 07 Dec 2013 02:11 GMT ]

Mandela had entered Robben Island a good leader, and returned a great leader. [Full Story]

Dispatches: Sri Lanka's 17 Murdered Aid Workers, Unforgotten
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 06 Dec 2013 03:09 GMT ]

Only an independent international investigation can effectively lead to prosecution of the killers.' [Full Story]

The Truth about the Assassination of 17 Humanitarian Aid Workers in Sri Lanka
[ ACF International ] [ 05 Dec 2013 03:09 GMT ]

'It is paramount that those who do not respect humanitarian aid workers are brought to justice and that these crimes do not go unpunished.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's forces accused of massacring aid workers
[ BBC ] [ 05 Dec 2013 03:03 GMT ]

ACF said its workers had been lined up, forced to kneel and each shot in the head. [Full Story]

US: Patience With Sri Lanka Could 'Wear Thin'
[ ABC News ] [ 04 Dec 2013 03:42 GMT ]

Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal stopped short of endorsing a deadline set last month by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who said he would call for a U.N.-backed inquiry into allegations of war crimes. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamil Struggle Continues
[ The Diplomat ] [ 03 Dec 2013 02:07 GMT ]

With luck and a great deal of international support, this third way seems to offer Sri Lanka's beleaguered minorities their best chance. [Full Story]

Panelists discuss 'Sri Lanka's unfinished war' at FrontLine Club
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 02 Dec 2013 03:55 GMT ]

'The continued failure of the international community to provide justice for the Tamils could result in another armed conflict.' [Full Story]

Probe war crimes against Tamils
[ Arab News ] [ 01 Dec 2013 00:05 GMT ]

If Sri Lanka takes the opportunity to heal these old wounds then there is the prospect of a much brighter future for all its people. [Full Story]

The shadow of war
[ The News International ] [ 30 Nov 2013 03:42 GMT ]

The dead, the disappeared and the displaced call for justice. [Full Story]

Britain firm on Lanka probe into war crimes
[ Business Standard ] [ 29 Nov 2013 03:03 GMT ]

British Prime Minister David Cameron has reiterated his demand for an independent inquiry into the alleged mass killing of Sri Lankan Tamils. [Full Story]

Nearly 250,000 of you stood up against human rights abuses in Sri Lanka
[ Amnesty International ] [ 28 Nov 2013 03:41 GMT ]

Thanks to Amnesty members around the world, Sri Lanka's next steps as Commonwealth chair will be watched not just by the body it leads, but by witnesses around the world. [Full Story]

Dispatches: Rights Issues Trump All at CHOGM in Sri Lanka
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 27 Nov 2013 02:55 GMT ]

It was a summit hijacked - rightly - by the poor record of its host. [Full Story]

India in Sri Lanka: Rajapaksa's regional ally or aspirant global power?
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 26 Nov 2013 02:29 GMT ]

Sri Lanka simply plays on India's paranoia. [Full Story]

He who convinced the world that Tamil is classical language
[ The Hindu ] [ 25 Nov 2013 00:55 GMT ]

Rev. Prof. Xavier S. Thaninayagam Adigalar, whose birth centenary is being celebrated in Tiruchi on Sunday, is a renowned Tamil scholar who worked for promoting Tamil language and literature throughout the world. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: World must not abandon Sri Lanka's victims after CHOGM
[ Amnesty International ] [ 24 Nov 2013 00:25 GMT ]

The upcoming UN Human Rights Council session in March can and must establish the international inquiry that is long overdue,' said Crawshaw. [Full Story]

LONDON'S TAMILS WANT TO SHARE THEIR HORROR STORIES
[ VICE ] [ 23 Nov 2013 01:18 GMT ]

If you've heard anything about the persecution of Tamil people in Sri Lanka, it's likely you've only been exposed to the tip of a very large, very depressing iceberg. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: The time for an international investigation is now
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 22 Nov 2013 00:40 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's total lack of accountability was unacceptable. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Engaging the Diaspora
[ The Diplomat ] [ 21 Nov 2013 00:12 GMT ]

Effecting a strong and credible visibility strategy of national progress, plans and challenges is critical to perception management. [Full Story]

After the shambles of Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth needs a relaunch
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 20 Nov 2013 02:55 GMT ]

After Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth needs a relaunch. It could start by finding a new secretary general. [Full Story]

Canada says Sri Lankan Tamils remain fearful
[ The Canadian Press ] [ 20 Nov 2013 02:35 GMT ]

The country's government won't allow an independent investigation into the atrocities committed in May 2009. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: trouble in paradise
[ Channel4 ] [ 19 Nov 2013 02:51 GMT ]

To host the first summit after the signing of the charter was bound to leave a strong stench of hypocrisy hanging over the affair. [Full Story]

Rajapaksa's Rule
[ LRB ] [ 19 Nov 2013 02:02 GMT ]

There is compelling evidence that tens of thousands of civilians died. [Full Story]

Cameron stole India's show
[ The Asian Age ] [ 18 Nov 2013 02:58 GMT ]

Mr Cameron has definitely won space in the hearts of over 150,000 disaffected Sri Lankan Tamils who live in the UK. [Full Story]

'Ensure financial aid fully reaches Lankan Tamils'
[ The Hindu ] [ 18 Nov 2013 01:09 GMT ]

The TESO meeting asked the Central government to inquire into the allegations and make sure that the welfare schemes reached the Tamils. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka and the politics of war crimes
[ ABC ] [ 17 Nov 2013 00:55 GMT ]

The US, it seems, is determined to bring Sri Lanka to book. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka rejects Cameron call for human rights inquiry
[ BBC ] [ 16 Nov 2013 10:06 GMT ]

The prime ministers of Canada, India and Mauritius are staying away from the summit in protest over the allegations. [Full Story]

Tamils hail David Cameron as 'god' but Sri Lankan president is not a believer
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 16 Nov 2013 00:24 GMT ]

The prime minister left a meeting with Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa no closer to securing an investigation into alleged war crimes, or an admission that many Tamils continue to be persecuted. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Cameron mixes diplomacy and strong-arm politics
[ Channel4 ] [ 16 Nov 2013 00:07 GMT ]

Channel 4 News has been met by both hostility and praise in Sri Lanka, due to revelations of war crimes allegations since the end of the civil war. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Cameron meets Tamil leaders during symbolic visit
[ BBC ] [ 15 Nov 2013 12:25 GMT ]

David Cameron has become the first foreign leader to visit northern Sri Lanka since 1948. [Full Story]

Commonwealth: Press Sri Lanka on Rights at Summit
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 15 Nov 2013 00:35 GMT ]

'It's a chance to show the victims of abuses in Sri Lanka that other countries want to see justice done. And it could set the stage for adoption of an international inquiry at the upcoming council session.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: would you holiday at a mass grave?
[ Channel4 ] [ 14 Nov 2013 02:56 GMT ]

With Sri Lanka named as British Airways' top destination for 2013, and the publicity from the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, President Rajapaksa's dynasty may well achieve the growth in tourism they desire. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's ghosts haunt the summit it's about to host
[ ITV ] [ 13 Nov 2013 03:03 GMT ]

The inconvenient truths of the deadly end to the war will echo at the Commonwealth summit. [Full Story]

'A Perfect Storm'
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 12 Nov 2013 03:03 GMT ]

The Commonwealth gives the notion of backing such blatant disregard of its basic human rights tenets by choosing Sri Lanka to host the Commonwealth Heads' meeting this month. [Full Story]

'India's presence in CHOGM, insult to Tamils'
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 11 Nov 2013 03:55 GMT ]

New Delhi's participation means a lot for the regime in Colombo and it helps the Lankan premier to erase the blood stains of war crimes and genocide of Tamils,' . [Full Story]

India PM 'to boycott Sri Lanka Commonwealth summit'
[ BBC ] [ 10 Nov 2013 03:44 GMT ]

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said Mr Rajapaksa has "serious questions" to answer about alleged war crimes. [Full Story]

Tamils 'raped and tortured' by Sri Lankan security forces
[ BBC ] [ 09 Nov 2013 00:55 GMT ]

Allegations of rape and torture by the country's security forces have emerged - some of which date from earlier this year. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - the Kings of Spin
[ Amnesty International UK ] [ 08 Nov 2013 03:08 GMT ]

Why has UK been quiet on calls for an independent, international investigation into alleged war crimes? [Full Story]

How the United Nations failed Sri Lanka:
[ The Toronto Star ] [ 07 Nov 2013 03:05 GMT ]

'The UN almost completely omitted to explicitly mention government responsibility for violations of international law.' [Full Story]

Don't shelve human rights
[ Times of India ] [ 06 Nov 2013 03:41 GMT ]

India has to confront the crimes and push for truth and justice - the preconditions for peace, reconciliation and political solutions to long-standing injustices. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's hidden genocide
[ The Toronto Star ] [ 05 Nov 2013 00:07 GMT ]

The United Nations, which has acknowledged its calamitous failures under the Responsibility to Protect - R2P. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka should be condemned, not acclaimed
[ The Independent UK ] [ 04 Nov 2013 02:33 GMT ]

The government has consequently managed to deflect investigations of its own alleged war crimes. [Full Story]

No fire zone: Commonwealth rehabilitating Sri Lankan regime
[ Channel4 ] [ 03 Nov 2013 15:55 GMT ]

According to the United Nations, forces under his command oversaw the indiscriminate killing of between 40,000 and 70,000 ethnic Tamil civilians during the final few months of the 28-year-long conflict. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's tragedy
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 02 Nov 2013 00:02 GMT ]

The relatives of the missing deserve an independent and international inquiry, empowered to discover the fate of each outstanding case. [Full Story]

Credible Sri Lankan War Crimes Investigation on the Horizon
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 01 Nov 2013 02:01 GMT ]

The High Commissioner's statement, and in particular, her fixed timeline, represent an important step in the right direction. [Full Story]

Remarks by Ambassador Sison at meeting with Chief Minister Vigneswaran
[ US Embassy ] [ 31 Oct 2013 03:44 GMT ]

We are also focusing especially on women-headed households, and will increase our efforts in this regard. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan sailor who attacked Rajiv Gandhi sells Hindi music cassettes
[ DB ] [ 30 Oct 2013 00:22 GMT ]

He struck a heavy blow on Gandhi injuring his shoulder, as the Indian premier inspected a guard of honour in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. [Full Story]

Turning to sex work in Sri Lanka's north
[ IRIN ] [ 29 Oct 2013 01:55 GMT ]

They are under immense pressure to provide for families in homes where men are either dead or reported missing. [Full Story]

Tamil diaspora thanks Jaya
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 28 Oct 2013 03:29 GMT ]

The support shown by you and the Assembly for truth, accountability, justice and human rights in Sri Lanka is most welcome. [Full Story]

Four Years after a Tamil Defeat, the Diaspora Regroups
[ IPS ] [ 27 Oct 2013 00:57 GMT ]

The council election 'a vote for liberation' and sought to 'dispel the often propagated notion of a dichotomy existing between the political aspirations of Tamils in the homeland versus those in the diaspora.' [Full Story]

'Sri Lanka violating Commonwealth values'
[ The Hindu ] [ 26 Oct 2013 01:55 GMT ]

Sri Lankan government had completely violated the core values of the Commonwealth. [Full Story]

BBC investigates Sri Lanka disappearances
[ BBC ] [ 25 Oct 2013 02:09 GMT ]

Journalists and activists in Sri Lanka have accused the government of threats, intimidation, and violence against those who criticise the authorities. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's unanswered questions over human rights
[ BBC ] [ 24 Oct 2013 01:36 GMT ]

The group Human Rights Watch says rape and sexual violence are widely used against detainees. [Full Story]

David Cameron should boycott the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 23 Oct 2013 01:25 GMT ]

Send a clear signal that the Commonwealth is no hiding place for countries that are unwilling to uphold the human rights of their citizens. [Full Story]

Abuse, marginalization of war-affected women in Sri Lanka's north
[ IRIN ] [ 22 Oct 2013 02:17 GMT ]

After the conflict the situation has got a lot worse. [Full Story]

Documenting stories of forced disappearances in Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 21 Oct 2013 03:02 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has a long history of unexplained disappearances. [Full Story]

'It will be defeat of democracy'
[ THE TIMES OF INDIA ] [ 20 Oct 2013 02:33 GMT ]

Tamils in Tamil Nadu are agitating and students and lawyers are mobilizing movements. [Full Story]

Commonwealth must change, adapt and grow: Lord Paul
[ PTI ] [ 19 Oct 2013 03:45 GMT ]

'This is a fate that its distinguished record does not deserve and to which I hope next month''s gathering will give some serious consideration,' [Full Story]

Scandal of Sri Lanka's disappeared
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 18 Oct 2013 03:45 GMT ]

Some 40,000 people were killed in just 16 weeks in what the government officially called a "humanitarian operation". [Full Story]

Commonwealth: Don't Award Sri Lanka Chairmanship
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 17 Oct 2013 02:02 GMT ]

“The Commonwealth can be an agent for improved human rights protections and justice in Sri Lanka, or it can risk becoming a propaganda vehicle for an abusive government,†Adams said. [Full Story]

Britain demands 'concrete progress' on Sri Lanka rights
[ AFP ] [ 16 Oct 2013 04:23 GMT ]

Sri Lanka needs to make concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation and a political settlement," [Full Story]

Analysis: Greater investment needed in Sri Lanka's north
[ IRIN ] [ 15 Oct 2013 03:21 GMT ]

Recent research by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) found provincial income and livelihood levels remain low. [Full Story]

Media Repression and Tamils in Sri Lanka
[ TVO ] [ 14 Oct 2013 00:18 GMT ]

We contend that violence against the media contributes to the denial of justice for crimes committed against the Tamil population in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Why we're boycotting the Sri Lanka summit
[ iPolitics ] [ 13 Oct 2013 01:48 GMT ]

A better day will come for the people of Sri Lanka. And Commonwealth nations should be leading the way to that better future - not rewarding the status quo. [Full Story]

Britain cuts funding for the Commonwealth
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 12 Oct 2013 01:22 GMT ]

Britain has pulled funds from the Commonwealth over concerns about its leadership and performance. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's record on rights makes it unfit to lead Commonwealth
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 11 Oct 2013 00:45 GMT ]

The Commonwealth is making a major mistake in holding its heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

David Cameron faces criticism from MPs over Sri Lanka visit
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 10 Oct 2013 00:05 GMT ]

There is also widespread international concern about human rights violations during and after Sri Lanka's civil war against Tamil separatists. [Full Story]

Commonwealth chief is stooge of Sri Lanka regime - Canadian envoy
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 09 Oct 2013 00:09 GMT ]

Canada's special envoy to the Commonwealth, accused Kamalesh Sharma of "acting as a shill [a stooge] for the Sri Lankan leadership, defending their every mistake". [Full Story]

Harper raises stakes by threatening to cut Commonwealth funding
[ The Globe and Mail ] [ 09 Oct 2013 00:05 GMT ]

Ottawa has been waiting for the “secretariat to engage not as a shill for the Sri Lankan government, but as an agent of the Commonwealth.†[Full Story]

Canada reviews Commonwealth support in Sri Lanka protest
[ BBC ] [ 08 Oct 2013 03:12 GMT ]

"The Sri Lankan government has failed to uphold the Commonwealth's core values, which are cherished by Canadians," [Full Story]

Sri Lanka poll: Tamil's Wigneswaran says 'peace possible'
[ BBC ] [ 07 Oct 2013 08:55 GMT ]

The TNA's plans for self-determination in the north do not amount to a separatist agenda, the former judge insists. [Full Story]

No substitute for devolution of powers in Sri Lanka
[ The Economic Times ] [ 06 Oct 2013 01:44 GMT ]

Dialogue, restraint and accommodation alone can ensure peace. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka, UN at loggerheads over human rights
[ The Toronto Star ] [ 05 Oct 2013 03:17 GMT ]

The UN must be able to meet a much higher standard in fulfilling its protection and humanitarian responsibilities.†[Full Story]

Vote for liberation
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 04 Oct 2013 03:52 GMT ]

The landslide victory of the Tamil National Alliance at the Northern Provincial Council election was an act of sheer defiance by the Tamil people. [Full Story]

Understanding obstacles in structuring people's struggle for self-determination
[ TamilNet ] [ 03 Oct 2013 03:11 GMT ]

This section of population looks up to the struggle of other oppressed nationalities, instead of looking up to the super powers, Navalan observed. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Mullaivaikkal residents face desperate plight
[ WSWS ] [ 02 Oct 2013 03:35 GMT ]

We lost everything during the war. [Full Story]

UN system failed during final days of Lankan ethnic war: Ban
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 01 Oct 2013 02:54 GMT ]

In a rare admission of "systemic failure" of the UN, its chief has said the world body had failed during the final stages of Sri Lanka's ethnic war in 2009. [Full Story]

The war in Sri Lanka is not over
[ International Herald Tribune ] [ 30 Sep 2013 02:42 GMT ]

If the war is over, then why are the north and the east so heavily militarised? [Full Story]

Forgotten woes: Sri Lanka's neoliberal politics
[ Open Democracy ] [ 29 Sep 2013 02:33 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is a case in point of the manner in which a small state in South Asia manoeuvres its foreign affairs to its relative advantage at the hour of Eastphalia. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamils - Harder lines
[ The Economist ] [ 28 Sep 2013 02:15 GMT ]

Continuing repression of Tamils, and their defiance, suggest reconciliation is far off. [Full Story]

Commonwealth giving Sri Lanka carte blanche for human rights abuses
[ Amnesty International ] [ 27 Sep 2013 04:55 GMT ]

Commonwealth leaders should be supporting calls for an independent and international investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

Charles Taylor war crimes convictions upheld
[ BBC ] [ 26 Sep 2013 13:02 GMT ]

Human rights groups have welcomed the outcome of the appeal. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka army 'harassed Tamil voters', observers say
[ BBC ] [ 25 Sep 2013 02:50 GMT ]

The government and military compromised the environment in which the vote was held, Commonwealth observers said. [Full Story]

Long, hard road ahead for the Tamils
[ Gulf News ] [ 24 Sep 2013 02:48 GMT ]

We must get an opportunity to exercise a substantial measure of self-rule that will enable us to fulfil our legitimate social, economic and cultural aspirations.†[Full Story]

Sri Lanka election shows Tamils reject the status quo
[ The Toronto Star ] [ 23 Sep 2013 12:55 GMT ]

The wounds have not healed. [Full Story]

Tamils in Sri Lanka vote resoundingly for autonomy in provincial election
[ The Toronto Star ] [ 22 Sep 2013 02:22 GMT ]

In truth the regime simply did not wish to allow minority Tamils any wedge of self-determination. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka historic vote begins in northern areas
[ BBC ] [ 21 Sep 2013 08:25 GMT ]

But there are still no confirmed figures for tens of thousands of civilian deaths in the last months of battle: estimates range between 9,000 and 75,000. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamils vote under the shadow of guns
[ Khaleej Times ] [ 20 Sep 2013 03:03 GMT ]

Tamils say they are under constant surveillance. [Full Story]

The Psychological Cost of Sri Lanka's Civil War
[ The Asia Foundation ] [ 19 Sep 2013 03:41 GMT ]

We are shifting from a “crisis intervention approach†to a “post-conflict approachâ€. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Tamils Go to Polls in First Provincial Elections Since End of Civil War
[ TIME ] [ 18 Sep 2013 03:54 GMT ]

“It's an opportunity to silently vent out their anger,†[Full Story]

Why Tamil deserves national status
[ Rediff News ] [ 17 Sep 2013 02:55 GMT ]

Recognising Tamil is to salute and internalise that diversity with a vigour that secures India's distinct civilisational colour. [Full Story]

War may be over but Sri Lanka is still far from peace
[ UCA News ] [ 16 Sep 2013 03:01 GMT ]

“Without a political solution, we have no future.†[Full Story]

Pillay incurs Sri Lanka's wrath
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 15 Sep 2013 03:44 GMT ]

Its grave human rights crisis demands a more robust united international response. [Full Story]

Tamils still face repression in Sri Lanka
[ Green Left ] [ 14 Sep 2013 03:44 GMT ]

“The worst genocide of this centuryâ€. [Full Story]

Commonwealth: Don't Attend Summit in Sri Lanka
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 13 Sep 2013 03:58 GMT ]

Lack of Accountability, Ongoing Abuses Should Not be Rewarded. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Mourning Tireless Rights Advocate Abeysekera
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 12 Sep 2013 02:01 GMT ]

In recognition of her work, Human Rights Watch gave Abeysekera its Human Rights Defender Award in 2007. [Full Story]

Open Letter To the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth
[ GTF ] [ 11 Sep 2013 02:44 GMT ]

The principles that the Commonwealth is meant to espouse must be upheld or they mean nothing. [Full Story PDF]

Analysis: Mental health cost borne by families of missing in Sri Lanka
[ IRIN ] [ 10 Sep 2013 02:50 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has yet to address the psychological trauma suffered by family members of thousands of missing persons, even decades after their disappearances. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Cornered Over Human Rights
[ IPS ] [ 09 Sep 2013 02:15 GMT ]

“Her report to the council will indicate whether the changes taking place in Sri Lanka are superficial or genuine,†[Full Story]

Watch "No Fire Zone"
[ Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 08 Sep 2013 00:05 GMT ]

"No Fire Zone" is the brand new feature length film about Sri Lanka's civil war from the team behind the two Channel 4 documentaries. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: UN visit underscores disturbing human rights reality
[ Amnesty International ] [ 07 Sep 2013 02:58 GMT ]

“The UN and Commonwealth must respond effectively to these latest concerns raised by Pillay,†said Truscott. [Full Story]

Island Blues: The end of Sri Lanka's bloody civil war promised better than this
[ The Independent ] [ 06 Sep 2013 02:39 GMT ]

Re-arranging the scenery will not be enough. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Stop Harassing Victims, Activists
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 05 Sep 2013 02:25 GMT ]

She said that reprisals against people who talk to the UN were an extremely serious matter and that she would report it to the UN Human Rights Council. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Slaughter in the no fire zone
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 04 Sep 2013 03:35 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government still denies responsibility for the killing of up to 70,000 Tamil civilians at the end of the civil war in 2009. [Full Story]

Navi Pillay spoke the truth about Sri Lanka, but will India listen?
[ First Post ] [ 03 Sep 2013 03:09 GMT ]

She refused to gloss over the real issue – the wounds of war crimes and other rights abuses that the island nation fails to acknowledge. [Full Story]

Opening remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at a press conference during her mission to Sri Lanka
[ UN ] [ 02 Sep 2013 04:15 GMT ]

It is important everyone realizes that, although the fighting is over, the suffering is not. [Full Story]

UN chief fears for post-war future of Sri Lanka
[ Herald Scotland ] [ 01 Sep 2013 03:35 GMT ]

Pillay said reconstruction and redevelopment are important achievements in former war zones, but added: "Reconstruction alone will not bring reconciliation, dignity, or lasting peace." [Full Story]

UN's Navi Pillay attacks Sri Lanka human rights record
[ BBC ] [ 31 Aug 2013 04:55 GMT ]

UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay has sharply criticised the government of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Federalism‚ enemy of secession: Sri Lankan expert
[ The Himalayan ] [ 30 Aug 2013 03:22 GMT ]

Extremism for separate Tamil homeland grew mainly because of majority Sinhalese chauvinistic approach. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka Under the Microscope
[ The Diplomat ] [ 29 Aug 2013 03:22 GMT ]

In the case of post-war Sri Lanka, time may be running out. [Full Story]

UN's Navi Pillay visits Sri Lanka former war zone
[ BBC ] [ 28 Aug 2013 02:50 GMT ]

Ms Pillay has told reporters that her job is to ensure that the government is conforming to human rights standards agreed by all nations. [Full Story]

HOW NOT TO WIN A WAR
[ The Global Mail ] [ 27 Aug 2013 03:24 GMT ]

War's end has unleashed a rampant Sinhalese nationalism that has many of the country's Tamils – fearful that they are being subjected to a generational ethnic cleansing. [Full Story]

War crimes and dispossession in Sri Lanka: Open letter to visiting UN human rights commissioner
[ Rabble ] [ 26 Aug 2013 03:49 GMT ]

The most immediate threats to peace and justice today, lay new seeds of dispossession, inequality and bitterness. [Full Story]

UN to probe Sri Lanka 'war crimes'
[ Aljazeera ] [ 25 Aug 2013 02:55 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has resisted pressure from the UN and Western nations for an investigation into allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the final months of its separatist war. [Full Story]

UN rights chief stays open-minded ahead of Sri Lanka trip
[ Reuters ] [ 24 Aug 2013 03:03 GMT ]

As many as 40,000 civilians were killed in the last months of the conflict. [Full Story]

Vigil high along Tamil Nadu coast
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 23 Aug 2013 03:58 GMT ]

The state police have enhanced security in the coastal areas. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Tamils As "Masters Of Their Destiny" - Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 22 Aug 2013 03:55 GMT ]

‘International recognition' is that makes for the creation of a ‘State', not winning a war, or a UNHRC resolution by itself. [Full Story]

Why Chennai feels Madras Cafe is anti-Tamil
[ First Post ] [ 21 Aug 2013 03:41 GMT ]

It's foolish to think that they will accept anything that paints the Tamil freedom fighters as “terroristsâ€. [Full Story]

Press Sri Lanka to honour promises
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 20 Aug 2013 03:17 GMT ]

India must press Colombo for an “independent and credible investigationâ€. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Ignoring oppression just not cricket
[ Mail & Guardian ] [ 19 Aug 2013 03:12 GMT ]

Its silence or inaction on this in Sri Lanka is a form of complicity. [Full Story]

Plantation Tamils' long battle for some land and a sense of belonging
[ The Hindu ] [ 18 Aug 2013 03:12 GMT ]

Majority of the several thousand faceless labourers behind the world-famous Ceylon tea are till date, landless. [Full Story]

India And The Peace Process In Sri Lanka: So Close, Yet So Far – Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 17 Aug 2013 03:58 GMT ]

Finding a lasting political settlement by taking into account the root causes and grievances of the aggrieved communities are vital in establishing sustainable peace. [Full Story]

The True Face Of Sri Lanka's War
[ Newmatilda ] [ 16 Aug 2013 03:33 GMT ]

The government of Sri Lanka has done little to promote reconciliation and rehabilitation and bring about justice for victims. [Full Story]

Lee: Rajapakse a Sinhalese extremist
[ Free Malaysia Today ] [ 15 Aug 2013 03:55 GMT ]

The former Singapore prime minister also described the actions taken in 2009 by the Sri Lankan government against the Tamil minority as 'ethnic cleansing'. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's recipe for renewed failure
[ Saudi Gazette ] [ 14 Aug 2013 02:44 GMT ]

Following the 30-year war with the Tamil minority, the Sri Lankan rulers have not learned their lesson. [Full Story]

Tamil nationalism in Sri Lanka
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 13 Aug 2013 02:32 GMT ]

The political system should provide sufficient space for minorities to preserve, foster and promote their distinct identities. [Full Story]

‘Do we matter to India?' ask Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 12 Aug 2013 02:57 GMT ]

On the other, with most basic facilities out of reach, the plantation community has little reason to feel citizen enough. [Full Story]

India issues demarche to Lanka on jailed fishermen
[ Times of India ] [ 11 Aug 2013 03:14 GMT ]

The frequent assaults and long detentions have triggered unrest among the Rameswaram fishermen. [Full Story]

On the long road to justice
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 10 Aug 2013 03:08 GMT ]

Given the failure of justice so far, it is hard not to see the latest government action as just another attempt to deflect criticism from the international community. [Full Story]

Diaspora Tamils to tap goodwill of India
[ The Times of India ] [ 09 Aug 2013 03:55 GMT ]

"India's intervention is needed for our cause. [Full Story]

Thirty years since the start of Sri Lanka's civil war
[ World Socialist Web Site ] [ 08 Aug 2013 03:33 GMT ]

The end of the war has not brought peace or prosperity. [Full Story]

No starting point to resolution
[ The Hindu ] [ 07 Aug 2013 03:29 GMT ]

No one has asked the Tamil people what they stand to gain by holding the Northern Provincial Council election. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Investigators of alleged army killings of protesters should be truly independent
[ Amnesty International ] [ 06 Aug 2013 03:11 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is legally bound by international human rights treaties to respect and protect the right to life, and provide effective remedy when this right is violated. [Full Story]

Bollywood courts controversy with Sri Lanka war film
[ AFP ] [ 05 Aug 2013 03:55 GMT ]

"The bigger message is that in a civil war, civilians suffer the most," [Full Story]

China Radio International's Tamil service completes 50 years
[ Business Standard ] [ 04 Aug 2013 00:45 GMT ]

The Tamil service has attracted large overseas listeners and has over 350 listeners clubs, a CRI press release said. [Full Story]

Canada attacks 'evil' of Sri Lanka hosting Commonwealth summit
[ The Independent ] [ 03 Aug 2013 03:11 GMT ]

Canada didn't get involved in the Commonwealth to accommodate evil; we came to combat it. [Full Story]

A Tamil path to Palestine
[ Rabble ] [ 02 Aug 2013 03:24 GMT ]

The Palestinian and Tamil peoples are enduring a slow and relentless genocide. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: No Justice in Aid Worker Massacre
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 01 Aug 2013 03:45 GMT ]

“Sri Lanka's history of inaction on even prominent cases with strong evidence demonstrates the need for concerted international action.†[Full Story]

In Sri Lanka, Will Mass Grave Case Be Buried?
[ The Diplomat ] [ 31 July 2013 03:25 GMT ]

“Many people are afraid to come forward to share their painful experiences about disappearances. [Full Story]

'Nearly 100 war crimes suspects' in UK last year
[ BBC ] [ 30 July 2013 03:59 GMT ]

Suspects originated from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Rwanda, Serbia and Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Tamils rejected proposal of provincial councils by Sri Lanka
[ The New Indian Express ] [ 29 July 2013 03:55 GMT ]

There was no recognition of the Tamils' right to “self-determination†and to separate “homelandâ€. [Full Story]

Thirty years backwards
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 28 July 2013 03:32 GMT ]

Tamil oppression has consistently led to widespread Sinhala triumphalism. [Full Story]

Support the Tamil struggle for human rights
[ Green Left ] [ 27 July 2013 03:44 GMT ]

Today Tamils live under military occupation. [Full Story]

30 Years Since Sri Lanka Race Attacks
[ Salem News ] [ 26 July 2013 00:25 GMT ]

Tamils are slowly being displaced with exclusively Sinhalese social and cultural institutions. [Full Story]

30 Years Later, Sri Lanka at a Political Crossroads
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 25 July 2013 02:49 GMT ]

The inability of politicians to do what has been asked of them by the people has left the country threatening to squander the bloodied peace that was achieved. [Full Story]

Black July
[ BBC Radio ] [ 24 July 2013 03:42 GMT ]

The violence ended after a few days, but the killings had sparked off a civil war which would last for more than quarter of a century. [Full Story]

Remembering Sri Lanka's Black July
[ BBC ] [ 23 July 2013 07:27 GMT ]

People were burned alive in their cars, stripped naked. Women were raped. [Full Story]

Anatomy of an Anti-Tamil Pogrom: Thirtieth Anniversary of “Black July†1983
[ Tamil Week ] [ 23 July 2013 07:23 GMT ]

The tragic history of post – independence Sri Lanka records that the Tamils of Sri Lanka have been subjected to mass–scale mob violence in the years 1956, 1958, 1977, 1981 and 1983. [Full Story]

War or Peace, Sri Lankan Women Struggle to Survive
[ IPS ] [ 23 July 2013 00:05 GMT ]

“In spite of their number, female heads of households are marginalised both by the government and their own communities in the north,†[Full Story]

No ID, no security – the dilemma of Sri Lanka's returnees
[ IRIN ] [ 22 July 2013 01:55 GMT ]

Authorities may detain suspicious individuals who fail to show any form of legal identification - a legacy of the war. [Full Story]

The Commonwealth and Sri Lanka's disintegrating democracy
[ Open Democracy ] [ 21 July 2013 03:42 GMT ]

It is certain that the present debate will have a lasting impact in defining the agenda, role and relevance of these meetings and the Commonwealth itself. [Full Story]

European lawmakers press Sri Lanka to probe war crimes
[ AFP ] [ 20 July 2013 01:25 GMT ]

“No matter how long after the conflict, people still want to know what happened to their loved ones,†she said. [Full Story]

Blood money: UK's £12.3bn arms sales to repressive states
[ The Independent ] [ 19 July 2013 01:19 GMT ]

Government approves thousands of deals with states it condemns for human rights abuses. [Full Story]

'Black July' - Sri Lanka 1983 and the beginning of civil war
[ The Socialist ] [ 18 July 2013 00:05 GMT ]

Up to 3,000 people were killed in a single day. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan film ban halts French festival, sparks anger
[ France24 ] [ 17 July 2013 03:10 GMT ]

“Four years after Sri Lanka's horrific civil war ended, many Sri Lankans await justice for the victims of abuses, news of the ‘disappeared,' and respect for their basic rightsâ€. [Full Story]

Commonwealth lawyers call for CHOGM boycott
[ Radio Australia ] [ 16 July 2013 00:22 GMT ]

Lawyers from more than 50 countries are calling for Commonwealth nations to boycott this year's Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Take bold stand for Tamils in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 15 July 2013 03:25 GMT ]

The Assembly passed a resolution on March 27 calling for a referendum on a “separate Eelam†among Tamils in Sri Lanka and Tamils displaced and resident in other countries. [Full Story]

Locked away without hope
[ The Age ] [ 14 July 2013 00:35 GMT ]

The harrowing case of a Tamil farmer confined in indefinite detention. [Full Story]

Lack of funding for post-war housing in northern Sri Lanka
[ IRIN ] [ 13 July 2013 03:07 GMT ]

Since the end of the war, more than 460,000 displaced persons have returned to Northern Province. [Full Story]

Biggest Tamil event FeTNA opens in Toronto, lends colour and charm to city
[ News EastWest ] [ 12 July 2013 02:55 GMT ]

Tamils from Canada, the US and elsewhere joined in Toronto on Friday in celebrating the 26th annual convention of the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA). [Full Story]

Fishermen alarmed by Chinese vessels under Lankan flag
[ The Hindu ] [ 11 July 2013 00:18 GMT ]

The move to let Chinese vessels operate close to common fishing ground between India and Sri Lanka would affect the livelihood of thousands of fishermen. [Full Story]

UK Immigration Court Rules on Sri Lanka Human Rights
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 10 July 2013 02:14 GMT ]

The ruling also described an ongoing Sinhalisation process to dilute Tamil strongholds and increased militarisation in the North of Sri Lanka.
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka And The 13th Amendment: Welcome Changes In India's Policy – Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 09 July 2013 03:35 GMT ]

The continuing whittling down of the provisions of the 13th Amendment is a major setback to India's Sri Lanka policy. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka won't relent on 13A amendment: Basil Rajapaksa
[ Zee News ] [ 08 July 2013 00:02 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has made it clear that they want to dilute the police and land powers for the nine provincial councils. [Full Story]

Implement 13th amendment, India tells Sri Lanka
[ Times of India ] [ 07 July 2013 03:33 GMT ]

The India-backed 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution was carried out to ensure autonomy to the country's provinces. [Full Story]

Facing the inconsequential
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 06 July 2013 01:10 GMT ]

Neither the 13th Amendment, nor the provincial council election, is of any consequence to the Tamil question. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: “Tell the Truthâ€
[ Amnesty International ] [ 05 July 2013 02:38 GMT ]

Amnesty International is calling on the Government of Sri Lanka to “Tell the Truthâ€. [Full Story]

Is Indo-Sri Lanka Accord A Path To Accountability And Reconciliation? – Analysis
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 04 July 2013 01:15 GMT ]

Ignoring of breach of International Humaitarian Law and International Human Rights Law during the conflict poses new international dilemma and there is growing demand for Independent International Inquiry to find the truth which may lead to accountability and reconciliation. [Full Story]

Beyond Sri Lanka's Big Brother syndrome
[ The Hindu ] [ 03 July 2013 02:44 GMT ]

The entire country shares the concern expressed in Tamil Nadu for the rights and welfare of Sri Lanka's Tamil community. [Full Story]

Dangerous games with devolution
[ The Hindu ] [ 02 July 2013 00:30 GMT ]

It increases minority discontent and closes vital political space, thereby exacerbating the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Bleak future for Sri Lanka's female-headed households
[ IRIN ] [ 01 July 2013 01:14 GMT ]

Four years after the end of a 26-year civil war and with donor assistance dwindling, tens of thousands of female-headed households in northern Sri Lanka face a difficult future. [Full Story]

No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka: An utterly convincing doc
[ The Globe and Mail ] [ 30 June 2013 00:11 GMT ]

The United Nations, which failed to stop or report the attacks, leading to the deaths of between 40,000 and 70,000 people. [Full Story]

Torture in Sri Lanka - ‘Many times I would lose consciousness'
[ Amnesty International ] [ 29 June 2013 00:25 GMT ]

We don't feel we'll get justice out of the system,†[Full Story]

Commonwealth ought to take Sri Lanka to task
[ Gulf News ] [ 28 June 2013 01:07 GMT ]

The leaders of the UK, Australia, India, South Africa and other democratic nations should feel sick about accepting the hospitality of a Sri Lankan government with a grim record of human-rights abuses. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka - Sun, Sea, Torture and Impunity
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 27 June 2013 02:12 GMT ]

In contrast it also detains its citizens without trial, restricts freedom of expression, arrests members of the judiciary, stands accused of committing war crimes and routinely tortures. [Full Story]

The Tamil Genocide by Sri Lanka
[ Salem-News ] [ 26 June 2013 03:58 GMT ]

International law and practice establish that an independent state of their own is the only effective protection as well as the only appropriate reparation for a people who have been the victims of genocide. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka govt shuns reconciliation with move to annul constitutional provisions
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 25 June 2013 02:55 GMT ]

The international community should therefore strengthen the Tamils within and outside Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Looking back and forward
[ Indian Weekender ] [ 24 June 2013 01:45 GMT ]

This issue needs to be dealt with realism, pragmatism, not idealism.†Weiss was particularly referring to qualifying the situation in Sri Lanka as genocide. [Full Story]

Adolf Eichmann: The Mind of a War Criminal
[ BBC ] [ 23 June 2013 00:23 GMT ]

The genocide was set in motion by others and at first proceeded independently from his office. [Full Story]

It's not the Tamils stalling settlement in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 22 June 2013 03:18 GMT ]

Underlying this is a deep conviction on the part of Sri Lanka's ruling fraternity that there is not and was never an ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The uphill road - The winners in Sri Lanka's civil war continue to make life hard for the losers
[ The Economist ] [ 21 June 2013 03:33 GMT ]

The cowed Tamil population might again take up arms. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Forgetting to Remember
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 20 June 2013 02:15 GMT ]

It now appears as though reconciliation is playing second fiddle to the growing political intrigue on all sides. [Full Story]

Return to Auschwitz: How Israel keeps Holocaust memories alive
[ BBC ] [ 19 June 2013 02:44 GMT ]

Here, the reading of the names is the only way to reclaim the dead from the anonymity of genocide. [Full Story]

Why Christian persecution is worrisome in Sri Lanka
[ Christian Today ] [ 18 June 2013 00:25 GMT ]

Sri Lanka appears to be seeking to establish social and political supremacy of the Sinhala Buddhist majority within a unitary state, instead of bringing about reconciliation. [Full Story]

Tamils reject any political solution based on the 13th amendment
[ BTF ] [ 17 June 2013 00:01 GMT ]

It neither addresses the root cause of the conflict nor safeguards the Tamil national interest on the island. [Full Story]

Former War Zone Craves Democracy
[ Independent European Daily Express ] [ 16 June 2013 00:04 GMT ]

Tamils in Sri Lanka have long demanded some degree of autonomy and independence from the rest of the island, citing economic exclusion and discrimination. [Full Story]

Rajapaksa's games
[ Deccan Herald ] [ 15 June 2013 03:15 GMT ]

The north Indians who, they believe, are also Aryans and, therefore, lack any real sense of involvement emotively with the Sri Lankan Tamils. [Full Story]

Tamils want more devolved power in Sri Lanka's north
[ IRIN ] [ 14 June 2013 01:12 GMT ]

While elections themselves cannot bring about any change, said Sampanthan, "they could provide the environment in which there can be an improvement." [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Reveal Fate of ‘Disappeared' Cartoonist
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 13 June 2013 01:12 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government needs to take serious measures to end enforced disappearances, provide information to families on the fate or whereabouts of their relatives. [Full Story]

The Forgotten Conflict And Post-War Justice And Accountability In Sri Lanka
[ Eurasia Review ] [ 12 June 2013 01:12 GMT ]

It is time for the Indian government to find its spine and stand up for a right and support a just cause. [Full Story]

Tamils Face Total Genocide in their Homeland
[ Salem News ] [ 11 June 2013 02:45 GMT ]

It started with the burning of Jaffna Library in 1981 and it is still proceeding on until the very existence of the Tamils is extinguished. [Full Story]

Tamil Nadu - A successful show begins to pall
[ The Economist ] [ 10 June 2013 00:07 GMT ]

Political neglect is hurting the economy. Tamil Nadu's share of manufacturing investment has dropped. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Perspectives on war
[ Kiwi Media ] [ 09 June 2013 00:02 GMT ]

The military still maintains a modus operandi of relentless repression and violence. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka to water down Tamil power-sharing plan
[ AFP ] [ 08 June 2013 01:14 GMT ]

The Centre for Policy Alternatives, said the government's proposed move showed it had failed to grasp the roots of the ethnic conflict. [Full Story]

China's foreign ports - The new masters and commanders
[ The Economist ] [ 07 June 2013 02:45 GMT ]

The Chinese have a hidden agenda, says someone close to the ports authority. [Full Story]

Why not give relief to Jaffna Tamils, asks Lanka court
[ Hindu ] [ 06 June 2013 01:08 GMT ]

The military says it needs land for security purposes. [Full Story]

Canada shuns Sri Lanka summit over human rights concern
[ BBC ] [ 05 June 2013 02:10 GMT ]

Many campaigners say unless there is a full war crimes investigation Sri Lanka should not host the meeting. [Full Story]

Time for U.S. pressure on Sri Lanka
[ CNN ] [ 04 June 2013 03:25 GMT ]

Judging by recent history, one thing seems clear: Sri Lanka won't solve its problems on its own. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's ugly side
[ Bangkok Post ] [ 03 June 2013 02:59 GMT ]

Although the ethnic Tamil minority, which witnessed the killing of more than 70,000 civilians during the final phase of the war against the Tamil Tigers in 2009, has yet to find its place in the post-war. [Full Story]

UN lashes out at Britain's human rights record
[ RT ] [ 02 June 2013 02:57 GMT ]

The watchdog also urged the UK government to halt the deportation of failed asylum seekers to Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Jaffna Library burns - May 31st 1981
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 01 June 2013 00:15 GMT ]

The crucible of Tamil literature and heritage - the Jaffna Public Library - was set ablaze by state security forces. [Full Story]

90,000 Tamil War Widows: Sexual Abuse By Sri Lankan Forces
[ Scoop World ] [ 31 May 2013 02:43 GMT ]

UN Internal Review Report: 70,000 Tamils killed in five months. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan bishop speaks about wounds of civil war on anniversary of its ending
[ Vatican Radio ] [ 30 May 2013 00:33 GMT ]

“There are a lot of people, especially in the north and the east†who are still prevented from going back to their own lands. [Full Story]

Seeking security
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 29 May 2013 01:25 GMT ]

Tamils have not seen a credible, international process towards accountability and justice, or a meaningful attempt to deliver a political solution that ensures their future security. [Full Story]

The Way Forward
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 28 May 2013 00:02 GMT ]

They have to stand on their own feet to be counted to claim for justice and accountability. [Full Story]

Establishing A UN Monitored Protection Mechanism In NorthEast Sri Lanka
[ Salem News ] [ 27 May 2013 02:25 GMT ]

The need for protecting the human rights of the Eelam Tamil people and for preserving the Tamil Nation from total obliteration has become an urgent priority. [Full Story]

Tension over army 'seizure' of Sri Lanka Jaffna land
[ BBC ] [ 26 May 2013 01:17 GMT ]

They accuse the government of trying to "colonise" the Tamil north with Sinhalese. [Full Story]

TNA tells China to push for solution
[ CG ] [ 25 May 2013 00:01 GMT ]

“China must look at the actual situation in Sri Lanka and not do anything that may harm Tamil sentiments. [Full Story]

China's ambitious plans for its huge reserves
[ BBC ] [ 24 May 2013 00:14 GMT ]

They invest where the Chinese economy needs bolstering. [Full Story]

The 2013 Annual Report on Sri Lanka is now live
[ Amnesty International ] [ 23 May 2013 01:32 GMT ]

The government failed to implement recommendations aimed at accountability made by Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the UN Human Rights Council. [Full Story]

Four years on, genocide continues off the battlefield
[ Open Democracy ] [ 22 May 2013 02:40 GMT ]

Tamils mark the bloody nadir of the campaign to systematically dismantle the Tamil nation. [Full Story]

The nation remembers four years on
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 21 May 2013 00:05 GMT ]

The Eelam Tamil nation remembers its loss, and reaffirms its resolve to demand justice, accountability and a lasting peace. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: No Progress 4 Years On
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 21 May 2013 00:02 GMT ]

“Four years after Sri Lanka's horrific civil war ended, many Sri Lankans await justice for the victims of abuses, news of the ‘disappeared,' and respect for their basic rights,†said Brad Adams. [Full Story]

British Tamils remember Mullivaikkal
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 20 May 2013 01:25 GMT ]

Thousands of British Tamils marched across London. [Full Story]

Journeys In Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 4 Years After The Civil War's Bloody Conclusion
[ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES ] [ 19 May 2013 00:05 GMT ]

While the destination may be elusive at the moment, the journey toward a new normal has finally begun. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Tamils: A devastated people with little hope
[ Deccan Herald ] [ 18 May 2013 02:45 GMT ]

Today, great sections of Tamil country are still a scene of devastation. [Full Story]

UK warns Sri Lanka on abuses before Commonwealth summit
[ Reuters ] [ 17 May 2013 00:11 GMT ]

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told parliament "despicable human rights violations" had taken place in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Tamils protest land acquisition
[ OneIndia ] [ 16 May 2013 00:03 GMT ]

"Although the war ended in 2009, the petitioners have been prevented from returning to their land due to the military occupation. [Full Story]

'There are no human rights in Sri Lanka'
[ Amnesty International USA ] [ 15 May 2013 00:32 GMT ]

Journalists, lawyers, grassroots activists – anyone who dares to criticise the authorities – can be picked up under arcane security laws and detained for years without access to the outside world. [Full Story]

THE RIGHTS OF UPCOUNTRY TAMIL TEA PLANTATION WORKERS
[ Price of Tea ] [ 14 May 2013 00:25 GMT ]

Thousands of tea workers earned less then 2 euro per day, continued to live in poverty, remained illiterate and faced daily abuse. [Full Story]

A long and forbidding road
[ Stuff NZ ] [ 13 May 2013 00:25 GMT ]

The ethnic conflict still exists - there has yet to be a solution for that. [Full Story]

A People Without a Story
[ The New York Times ] [ 12 May 2013 00:03 GMT ]

They are now a people without a story, a traumatized people, devastated by decades of war and migration. [Full Story]

'Hypocritical' government ignoring Sri Lankan abuses: Greens
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] [ 11 May 2013 01:04 GMT ]

''We would encourage the Australian government to properly consider all the credible evidence that exists on this issue. [Full Story]

Grounding the struggle
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 10 May 2013 02:22 GMT ]

The intensification of Sinhala oppression will lead to the intensification of Tamil resistance. [Full Story]

Queen's summit no-show is 'message': Sri Lanka party
[ AFP ] [ 09 May 2013 01:34 GMT ]

There had been a question over British Prime Minister David Cameron's attendance. [Full Story]

Queen to miss Commonwealth meeting in Sri Lanka
[ Channel4 ] [ 08 May 2013 01:55 GMT ]

There are calls for Britain to boycott the meeting due to Sri Lanka's human rights record. [Full Story]

Queen to miss Commonwealth meeting
[ BBC ] [ 07 May 2013 09:35 GMT ]

Concerns have been raised about the choice of Sri Lanka as the host nation. [Full Story]

Cameron under fire over decision to attend Sri Lanka summit
[ Channel4 ] [ 06 May 2013 00:07 GMT ]

It demonstrated a willingness to "collaborate with evil". [Full Story]

Boycott threat embodies sharp turn in Canada's ties with Sri Lanka
[ Calgary Herald ] [ 05 May 2013 00:02 GMT ]

The war did end, but the Sri Lankan government continued persecuting the country's Tamil minority. [Full Story]

Editorial: Sri Lanka's travesty of democracy
[ The Independent UK ] [ 04 May 2013 00:52 GMT ]

Canada's should not be a lone voice. [Full Story]

A rebuke to Sri Lanka
[ OTTAWA CITIZEN ] [ 03 May 2013 00:25 GMT ]

That see-no-evil attitude continues to play out on the Sri Lanka file. [Full Story]

David Cameron urged to to boycott Sri Lanka summit over 'human rights abuses'
[ The Independent ] [ 02 May 2013 00:02 GMT ]

The presidency of the group is to he handed to Sri Lanka's president. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Report exposes the government's violent repression of dissent
[ Amnesty International ] [ 01 May 2013 00:05 GMT ]

“It is abundantly clear that Colombo is unwilling and unable to investigate the credible allegations of crimes under international law, including war crimes, during the conflict.†said Truscott. [Full Story]

Protest against ethnic hatred in Sri Lanka
[ BBC ] [ 30 Apr 2013 01:24 GMT ]

The march comes amid calls against Sri Lanka's hosting of the Commonwealth summit later this year. [Full Story]

Commonwealth faces 'real test' on Sri Lanka
[ BBC ] [ 29 Apr 2013 02:55 GMT ]

"We find it absolutely appalling that Sri Lanka would be taking on a leadership role in the Commonwealth," emphasised Mr Baird [Full Story]

Reporting genocide in Sri Lanka
[ Socialist World ] [ 28 Apr 2013 02:52 GMT ]

The plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka has worsened. [Full Story]

Canada 'appalled' at Sri Lanka Commonwealth meeting
[ Channel 4 ] [ 27 Apr 2013 02:48 GMT ]

The Commonwealth position on Sri Lanka was making the body look increasingly irrelevant in the modern world. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Commonwealth Should Relocate November Meeting
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 26 Apr 2013 00:32 GMT ]

“The Commonwealth needs to have the courage of its convictions and its values and inform the Sri Lankan government that its rights record makes it ineligible to host the 2013 CHOGM,†Adams said. [Full Story]

PM hints at moving Sri Lanka leaders' summit
[ Metro News ] [ 25 Apr 2013 02:55 GMT ]

The country has become a lightning rod for concerns about the future of the 54-member Commonwealth. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA BOYCOTT CALLS MAR COMMONWEALTH COUNTDOWN
[ AFP ] [ 24 Apr 2013 00:08 GMT ]

There is a major question mark over British Prime Minister David Cameron's attendance, say diplomats. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Indians show solidarity with Eelam Tamils
[ Green Left ] [ 23 Apr 2013 01:11 GMT ]

The state assembly of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has passed a resolution calling for a United Nations-supervised referendum on independence for the Tamils of Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 - Sri Lanka
[ U.S. State Department ] [ 22 Apr 2013 00:05 GMT ]

Discrimination against persons with disabilities and against the ethnic Tamil minority continued, and a disproportionate number of victims of human rights violations were Tamils. [Full Story]

The War May Be Over But The Idea Lives On
[ Tehelka ] [ 21 Apr 2013 00:02 GMT ]

Even in the aftermath of the terror and genocide, the Tamil idea of nationhood has not disappeared. [Full Story]

The Sun Rises on Human Rights
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 20 Apr 2013 01:23 GMT ]

For decades, Japan's foreign policy has been built around the country as a donor nation, with few strings attached. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka banks on return of British Airways
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 19 Apr 2013 00:05 GMT ]

Human rights groups have criticised what they describe as "tasteless war tourism". [Full Story]

Law Society supports CLA call for suspension of Sri Lanka from Commonwealth
[ The Law Society of England and Wales ] [ 18 Apr 2013 00:02 GMT ]

When our shared values, including those respecting human rights and the rule of law, are under threat, we must act resolutely and hold firm.
[Full Story]

Mr. Rajapaksa, if all's well in your country, why are the Tamils fleeing?
[ First Post ] [ 17 Apr 2013 01:22 GMT ]

It's this atmosphere of terror and Sinhala subjugation that the Tamils are fleeing. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Amid Abuse and Fear, Tamils Continue to Flee Sri Lanka
[ Time ] [ 16 Apr 2013 02:45 GMT ]

“It was the end of a war, but not the end of conflict,†[Full Story]

Warnings over ongoing political repression in Sri Lanka
[ ABC ] [ 15 Apr 2013 02:45 GMT ]

The United States has warned that Sri Lanka risks sliding back into conflict unless the political repression of its Tamil community ends. [Full Story]

‘Obsession' with 13th Amendment won't help, say Tamil politicians
[ The Hindu ] [ 14 Apr 2013 00:02 GMT ]

The emphasis was on the need for transitional administration and for India to shed its “obsession with†the 13th Amendment as it was “inadequateâ€. [Full Story]

Office of outspoken Tamil newspaper Uthayan attacked in Sri Lanka
[ The Independent UK ] [ 13 Apr 2013 02:58 GMT ]

Amnesty International has estimated that at least 14 journalist have been killed in Sri Lanka since 2006. [Full Story]

19 Lankan Tamil refugees reprieved, will not be sent back to Sri Lanka
[ The Times of India ] [ 12 Apr 2013 02:55 GMT ]

If we are forced to go back to Sri Lanka, there is no assurance that our lives will be spared," [Full Story]

Sri Lanka blames India for Tamil separatist war
[ First Post ] [ 11 Apr 2013 01:09 GMT ]

Rajapaksa said the international community should consider a comprehensive investigation into the issue beginning with the Indian intervention. [Full Story]

US warns Sri Lanka of return to conflict
[ AFP ] [ 10 Apr 2013 02:12 GMT ]

“History has shown that societies that do not adequately address reconciliation and accountability usually return to a conflict situation at some point down the road,†[Full Story]

Why India is right on Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 09 Apr 2013 02:48 GMT ]

It is both in India's and Sri Lanka's interest to get a full and final closure on these allegations. [Full Story]

Broken Paradise
[ BBC Radio 4 ] [ 08 Apr 2013 00:08 GMT ]

Translator Lakshmi Holmström introduces some of the most powerful Tamil poetry to emerge from the 26 year long conflict, in which an estimated 70,000 people were killed. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must find aid workers' killers, charity says
[ Reuters ] [ 07 Apr 2013 00:25 GMT ]

"It's important that those responsible be held accountable. [Full Story]

UAE: Don't Deport Tamil Refugees to Sri Lanka
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 06 Apr 2013 01:15 GMT ]

“If the UAE forcibly returns these refugees, it not only will put their lives at risk, but erode the foundation of protection for refugees everywhere.†[Full Story]

India and Sri Lanka - Trawling for trouble
[ The Economist ] [ 05 Apr 2013 00:07 GMT ]

Elections aside, a genuine concern for fellow Tamils also exists. [Full Story]

India should abstain from Commonwealth meet: Sinha
[ The Hindu ] [ 04 Apr 2013 02:57 GMT ]

Mr. Sinha said India had failed to raise complaints of human rights violations in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Beyond Geneva
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 Apr 2013 01:25 GMT ]

It is Sri Lanka's repression that will continue to ensure Tamils' aspiration for independent statehood remains undiminished. [Full Story]

Rajinikanth, other actors join strike for Sri Lankan Tamils
[ NDTV ] [ 02 Apr 2013 02:49 GMT ]

The film stars are adding their voice to protests that have been on in the state for days now. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka accused of ongoing torture and abuse of Tamil prisoners
[ The Guardian UK ] [ 01 Apr 2013 01:32 GMT ]

Calls for UK to withdraw from Commonwealth summit in Colombo as report claims brutal human rights violations by state. [Full Story]

Centre's stand on Tamil Nadu fishermen issue 'discriminatory': Karunanidhi
[ NDTV ] [ 31 Mar 2013 02:54 GMT ]

"Is it justifiable to discriminate between fishermen from Kerala and Tamil Nadu? [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Genocide: Major Cover-Up Must Be Exposed
[ Colombo Telegraph ] [ 30 Mar 2013 01:15 GMT ]

The denial of allegations of the crime of genocide against Tamils is much like the ‘holocaust denial' against the Jews. [Full Story]

UK Tamil youth “disappointed†at UNHRC resolution
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 29 Mar 2013 01:33 GMT ]

“We express serious disappointment at the exclusion of an independent, international commission of inquiry into all allegations of crimes against humanity and genocide. [Full Story]

Commonwealth Fails Sri Lanka Test
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 28 Mar 2013 02:25 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is a test case for reform of the Commonwealth. [Full Story]

Jayalalithaa calls for a referendum on separate Eelam
[ The Times of India ] [ 27 Mar 2013 09:33 GMT ]

The referendum, she said, should be held for the sake of their future welfare. [Full Story]

IPL cricket: India's Tamil Nadu bars Sri Lanka players
[ BBC ] [ 27 Mar 2013 09:30 GMT ]

Ms Jayalalitha said people in Tamil Nadu had been angered by "barbaric acts" against Sri Lankan Tamils. [Full Story]

David Miliband says move to charity a 'new start'
[ BBC ] [ 27 Mar 2013 09:25 GMT ]

"He has contributed a great deal to British politics and we wish him well." [Full Story]

BBC suspends Sri Lanka broadcasts due to 'interference'
[ BBC ] [ 27 Mar 2013 00:25 GMT ]

The BBC is to stop providing radio news to Sri Lanka's state broadcaster because of "continued interruption and interference" in its Tamil programming. [Full Story]

US may launch Sri Lanka war crimes investigation
[ BBC ] [ 26 Mar 2013 00:55 GMT ]

The US has warned that it may be forced to investigate alleged war crimes if the Sri Lankan government does not conduct its own "independent and credible" inquiry. [Full Story]

India's ‘Rotten Diplomacy' in Sri Lanka Breeds Loathing
[ The New York Times ] [ 25 Mar 2013 02:42 GMT ]

India's foreign policy toward Sri Lanka has been the most disastrous such sustained policy it has ever run. [Full Story]

Human Rights Council Resolution on Sri Lanka Crimes
[ Salem-News ] [ 24 Mar 2013 00:12 GMT ]

More of the same nonsense causes huge protests. [Full Story]

Is international pressure failing in Sri Lanka?
[ IRIN ] [ 23 Mar 2013 00:07 GMT ]

With an increasing chance that in the next year or two the Human Rights Council will authorize an international investigation and that other international bodies will take stronger action.†[Full Story]

The Human Rights Council passes its resolution
[ Sri Lanka Campaign ] [ 22 Mar 2013 00:04 GMT ]

It is the responsibility of each State to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of its entire population. [Full Story]

Protests intensify in Tamil Nadu ahead of UN vote on Sri Lanka war crimes
[ The Times of India ] [ 21 Mar 2013 02:35 GMT ]

The protests in Tamil Nadu, seeking justice for war victims in Sri Lanka and an international trial into the genocide. [Full Story]

Peer Pressure: Will Another U.N. Resolution Change Sri Lanka?
[ TIME ] [ 20 Mar 2013 02:51 GMT ]

Sri Lankan officials have shrugged off talk of the upcoming resolution, arguing that any economic fallout could be erased by Chinese support. [Full Story]

United Nations resolution criticizing Sri Lanka threatens stability of India's government
[ Washington Post ] [ 19 Mar 2013 02:44 GMT ]

“There is a lot of evidence in this draft resolution to clearly show the imprint of Indian influence. There is a significant downgrading of the international community's concerns regarding human rights violations in Sri Lanka,†[Full Story]

MK hardens stand, warns of quitting UPA over Lanka
[ Deccan Herald ] [ 18 Mar 2013 02:02 GMT ]

Karunanidhi said India should indict Sri Lanka for the “genocide against the Tamil people thereâ€. [Full Story]

New Pope seeks to heal divisions in Latin America
[ BBC ] [ 17 Mar 2013 02:57 GMT ]

The silence of the Argentine Catholic Church over the horrific human rights abuses during those years has been contrasted with the very different attitude of its Chilean counterpart. [Full Story]

Commonwealth struggles for unity amid Sri Lanka HR concerns
[ Asian Correspondent ] [ 16 Mar 2013 00:05 GMT ]

Sri Lanka stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

DMK, AIADMK raise plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka
[ The Hindustan Times ] [ 15 Mar 2013 02:55 GMT ]

Students in Tamil Nadu are on agitation. "The state of Tamil Nadu is burning," [Full Story]

No Fire Zone: The killing fields of Sri Lanka
[ India Today ] [ 14 Mar 2013 02:32 GMT ]

This documentary on Sri Lankan war crimes by acclaimed filmmaker Callum Macrae. [Full Story]

Queen's Sri Lanka visit for Commonwealth meeting 'grotesque'
[ Channel4 ] [ 13 Mar 2013 00:22 GMT ]

Geoffrey Robertson QC, has also said the Commonwealth risked becoming "a laughing stock". He branded the organisation "leaderless and rudderless". [Full Story]

Hope and reconciliation: Healing Sri Lanka's wounds of conflict
[ Times of India ] [ 12 Mar 2013 00:15 GMT ]

The present culture of impunity must end. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Systematic Ethnic Based Human Rights Violations of Tamils Escalate
[ TGTE ] [ 11 Mar 2013 00:02 GMT ]

It argues for the crime of genocide and concludes by calling for an International Commission of Inquiry. [Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka: The ongoing violation of Human Rights of the Tamil people
[ TWG ] [ 10 Mar 2013 01:59 GMT ]

If “extermination†is what has gone on, then there is an absolute requirement for the application of the “UN Responsibility to Protect†(R2P) because people are not being protected. [Full Story PDF]

The Commonwealth: time to reconsider
[ The Guardian Editorial ] [ 09 Mar 2013 02:55 GMT ]

A row is due over the unwisdom of choosing Sri Lanka as host for the next heads of government meeting. [Full Story]

The Plight of Tamil Women in Sri Lanka
[ GTF ] [ 08 Mar 2013 11:33 GMT ]

There are up to 90,000 war widows heading up households in the North and East regions. [Full Story PDF]

DMK seeks referendum in north, east Sri Lanka
[ The Times of India ] [ 08 Mar 2013 00:42 GMT ]

A lasting solution lies in a referendum," DMK leader MK Stalin said. [Full Story]

India likely to vote against Sri Lanka at key UNHRC vote: Reports
[ First Post ] [ 07 Mar 2013 00:05 GMT ]

It remains to be seen if this latest resolution will have any impact. [Full Story]

Congress team briefs Rahul about TESO meet
[ The Hindu ] [ 06 Mar 2013 02:22 GMT ]

There is no word officially yet about our participation. [Full Story]

The Tamils in Sri Lanka: From Tigers Into Lambs
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 05 Mar 2013 02:50 GMT ]

It is vital that international teams are given access to the Tamil areas in both the east and the north to assess the extent of the suffering. [Full Story]

GTF conference reaffirms calls for investigation
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 04 Mar 2013 01:55 GMT ]

Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband also praised the British Tamil community stating they were “part of what makes Great Britainâ€. [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPOSES SRI LANKAN ATROCITIES
[ Amnesty International ] [ 03 Mar 2013 01:02 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government has so far completely failed to follow up in any credible way on domestic and international recommendations to investigate the alleged killings of thousands of civilians. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: questions from the killing fields
[ The Guardian Editorial ] [ 02 Mar 2013 00:55 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan government has been masterly in defusing criticism by promising action but then failing to deliver. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: high court blocks Tamil deportations
[ Channel4 ] [ 01 Mar 2013 01:14 GMT ]

The high court decision was described as "unprecedented and precedent-setting" by a legal source. [Full Story]

Accountability must for rights violations in Sri Lanka: India
[ Deccan Chronicle ] [ 28 Feb 2013 02:25 GMT ]

“We are totally and utterly committed to the outcome that must ensure equality, dignity, justice for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka,†[Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Rape of Tamil Detainees
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 27 Feb 2013 01:02 GMT ]

“The Sri Lankan security forces have committed untold numbers of rapes of Tamil men and women in custody,†said Brad Adams. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's atrocity against the Tamils is no longer in doubt
[ The Globe and Mail ] [ 26 Feb 2013 00:05 GMT ]

The intention was to crush Tamil nationalism. [Full Story]

Government unsympathetic to Lankan Tamils: Karunanidhi
[ India TV ] [ 25 Feb 2013 01:19 GMT ]

At a time when the world is gearing up to condemn and punish Rajapaksa as a war criminal it is not understood why the central government continues to say the relationship with Sri Lanka is progressing, Karunanidhi said. [Full Story]

Report: Sri Lankan forces raped Tamils to teach lessons
[ OneIndia News ] [ 24 Feb 2013 00:01 GMT ]

HRW, a global human rights organisation, has demanded a thorough and high level international investigation into the matter. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka row: Tamil Nadu refuses to host Asian athletics meet
[ Live Mint ] [ 23 Feb 2013 00:55 GMT ]

Tamil Nadu has refused on Thursday to host the Asian Athletics Championships because of the participation of Sri Lanka which it accuses of war crimes. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Authoritarian Turn: The Need for International Action
[ International Crisis Group ] [ 22 Feb 2013 01:35 GMT ]

Sri Lankans of all ethnicities who have struggled to preserve their democracy deserve stronger international support. [Full Story]

UN Looks, Sri Lanka Ducks
[ Independent European Daily Express ] [ 21 Feb 2013 00:02 GMT ]

The government was successful in its endeavours to keep international pressure at bay. [Full Story]

Don't Let the Rajapaksas Ruin Sri Lanka
[ Bloomberg ] [ 20 Feb 2013 01:33 GMT ]

The government has made no significant effort to account for atrocities committed during the civil war and continues to treat Tamils harshly. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's squandered opportunities
[ The Washington Post ] [ 19 Feb 2013 02:04 GMT ]

The regime has meanwhile brushed off demands by the U.N. Human Rights Council that it conduct a serious investigation into crimes that may have been committed in the final months of the war. [Full Story]

Revealed: UK sells arms to Sri Lanka's brutal regime
[ The Independent ] [ 18 Feb 2013 01:11 GMT ]

Government database shows that sales continue despite litany of rights abuses. [Full Story]

The Vatican and the Tamil Holocaust
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 17 Feb 2013 02:35 GMT ]

The Vatican's attitude towards the suffering of the Tamils of Sri Lanka especially since 2009 has been of great concern to Tamil Catholics.
[Full Story PDF]

Sri Lanka: Skeletons in the Cupboard
[ Channel4 ] [ 16 Feb 2013 00:11 GMT ]

The ghosts of Sri Lanka's violent past are proving hard to exorcise. [Full Story]

Pope Benedicts resignation - See you later
[ The Economist ] [ 15 Feb 2013 00:01 GMT ]

He asked the faithful to pray for their new shepherd “that I may not flee for fear of the wolvesâ€. His fans feel the wolves won. [Full Story]

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
[ UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ] [ 14 Feb 2013 00:09 GMT ]

Achieving reconciliation following decades of violence and mistrust is challenging in any context, but is only possible through a genuine, consultative and inclusive process that addresses the grievances of all those affected by the conflict. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka fails to keep war probe promises: UN
[ The Times Of India ] [ 13 Feb 2013 01:25 GMT ]

Up to 40,000 civilians were killed by security forces in the last months of fighting. [Full Story]

UNHRC resolution on SL: Why India should finally stand up
[ First Post ] [ 12 Feb 2013 02:45 GMT ]

There is considerable political protest brewing in Tamil Nadu. [Full Story]

India should move UN for economic sanctions against Lanka: Jayalalithaa
[ PTI ] [ 11 Feb 2013 01:03 GMT ]

Recalling a resolution adopted in the Assembly in 2011, Jayalalithaa said, it had called for economic sanctions till minority Tamils were ensured equal status at par with the Sinhalese. [Full Story]

Rajapaksa trying to erase Tamil in Sri Lanka: Karunanidhi
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 10 Feb 2013 01:03 GMT ]

Tamils in Sri Lanka would have attained their goal of Tamil Eelam long back had they made their demand in one voice with unity. [Full Story]

New houses to be built for Tamil women soldiers
[ Emirates 24|7 ] [ 09 Feb 2013 00:22 GMT ]

It was the first time a mass-scale recruitment of Tamil girls of this magnitude took place as a gesture of goodwill and reconciliation...??
[Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Move Commonwealth Summit
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 08 Feb 2013 01:14 GMT ]

A summit in Sri Lanka will cast serious doubt on the Commonwealth's commitment to supporting human rights. [Full Story]

The Sri Lankan Tamil plot thickens
[ Russia & India Report ] [ 07 Feb 2013 00:07 GMT ]

The Sri Lanka government has reiterated that it won't cave in to the US pressure. [Full Story]

‘It is imperative to keep the focus on their right to self-determination'
[ The Weekend Leader ] [ 06 Feb 2013 01:20 GMT ]

The demand for a separate Tamil nation is strengthened by the continued oppression of the Tamils in modern Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Rajapaksa rules out Tamil autonomy
[ The Hindu ] [ 05 Feb 2013 02:07 GMT ]

Canada, Great Britain and U.S. lead the international group for devolving power to the Tamil minority as a way to achieve reconciliation. [Full Story]

Tamil nationalism, then and now
[ Frontline ] [ 04 Feb 2013 01:22 GMT ]

Tamil culture was distinct from Sanskrit culture and demanded its independent recognition. [Full Story]

Avenues for action: the UNHRC and beyond
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03 Feb 2013 00:45 GMT ]

Without decisive international action, Sri Lanka's crisis will deepen and intensify. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: World Report 2013
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 02 Feb 2013 02:49 GMT ]

The government continued to ignore the 2011 report of the panel of experts appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Human Rights Failings Detailed
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 01 Feb 2013 01:30 GMT ]

“When a government fails to protect the rights of its citizens, the need for international action increases,†Adams said. [Full Story]

U.S. sure India will go with it again in new Sri Lanka resolution
[ The Hindu ] [ 31 Jan 2013 02:35 GMT ]

It will build on the 2012 resolution which called on Sri Lanka to do more to promote reconciliation and accountability. [Full Story]

US senators press for Sri Lanka probe
[ AFP ] [ 30 Jan 2013 02:22 GMT ]

Two US senators on Tuesday renewed calls for an international investigation into potential war crimes in Sri Lanka, accusing Colombo of failing to address legitimate concerns. [Full Story]

U.S. to criticize Sri Lanka at U.N. rights council
[ Reuters ] [ 29 Jan 2013 02:31 GMT ]

"The U.S. has decided to sponsor a procedural resolution (against Sri Lanka) at the March 2013 sessions of the UNHRC," [Full Story]

No serendipity for Sri Lanka
[ FirstPost ] [ 28 Jan 2013 02:31 GMT ]

It must use all its influence with Sri Lanka to ensure justice for past violations and an end to the many present ones so that the people of Sri Lanka can enjoy the future that they deserve. [Full Story]

US officials hold talks in Sri Lanka
[ FirstPost ] [ 27 Jan 2013 01:26 GMT ]

The delegation met a key Tamil minority political party and discussed issues concerning Tamils in the north and east of the country. [Full Story]

Save the Commonwealth Brand: Tell Sri Lanka 'Enough'
[ Huntington News ] [ 26 Jan 2013 00:54 GMT ]

If Commonwealth Heads of Government turn-up in Sri Lanka, they would be sending an unacceptable signal to the world community that governments that violate human rights and the rule of law can do so without fear of censure. [Full Story]

India must change its Colombo policy, pleads Sri Lankan MP
[ IANS ] [ 25 Jan 2013 01:17 GMT ]

"The harsh reality is the Sri Lankan government is not sincere about talking to the Tamil representatives. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's systematic cleansing of ethnic Tamils at the worst
[ Truth Dive ] [ 24 Jan 2013 02:12 GMT ]

367 Hindu temples have been demolished and 89 Tamil villages have been renamed with Sinhala names in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

TGTE appoints two more Senators to its Upper House
[ TGTE ] [ 23 Jan 2013 01:51 GMT ]

We thank them and appreciate their willingness to work with us in achieving our goal. [Full Story PDF]

Bangladesh cleric sentenced to death for war crimes
[ BBC ] [ 22 Jan 2013 00:12 GMT ]

A court in Bangladesh has sentenced a well-known Muslim cleric to death for crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

A Spark of Unity for Sri Lanka?
[ Salem News ] [ 21 Jan 2013 02:44 GMT ]

"Tamils have felt oppressed by a majoritarian political dispensation that they felt hijacked. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka destroying Tamil culture: Karunanidhi
[ IANS ] [ 20 Jan 2013 02:25 GMT ]

Sri Lankan is carrying out an intensive and systematic programme of erasing the Tamil language, culture, religion and diluting the concentration of Tamils in areas where they had historically been predominant. [Full Story]

Row in Lanka as govt turns Tamil killing fields into tourist hot spot
[ The Times of India ] [ 19 Jan 2013 01:35 GMT ]

The cries of woes and agony of the babies and children, the women and the elderly fill the air polluted by poisonous and unhealthy gases. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka the Wrong Choice to Top BA's Holiday Destination List
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 18 Jan 2013 02:42 GMT ]

It is not only irresponsible but unethical of BA to be promoting a country with an appalling human rights record. [Full Story]

Tamils of Sri Lanka: The quest for human dignity
[ TIC ] [ 17 Jan 2013 01:50 GMT ]

Insufficient attention has been paid to the development needs of the Tamil speaking people in the north-east. [Full Story PDF]

Weak, weak, weak
[ Progress Online ] [ 16 Jan 2013 00:28 GMT ]

International community was still failing in its duties. [Full Story]

Tamil nationalism, then and now
[ Frontline ] [ 15 Jan 2013 01:02 GMT ]

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.†[Full Story]

The fumbling soft state: Despite its size and economy, India looks like a pitiable giant in neighbourhood
[ India Today ] [ 14 Jan 2013 00:07 GMT ]

Colombo keeps New Delhi at an arm's length and ignores the politically sensitive Indian concern over the rehabilitation of its Tamil minority. [Full Story]

Protesters claim Sri Lankan spy tactics
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] [ 13 Jan 2013 00:02 GMT ]

''They say they have done this before, using the photographs and film for identification, in order to harass relatives back in Sri Lanka,'' [Full Story]

SRI LANKA: Thousands still waiting to return home
[ IRIN ] [ 12 Jan 2013 02:44 GMT ]

Thousands of northern Sri Lankans are unable to return to their homes as the land they are on is still occupied by the army. [Full Story]

Canada Must Hold Sri Lankan Government Accountable
[ Liberal Party of Canada ] [ 11 Jan 2013 01:22 GMT ]

Sri Lanka has a duty to uphold democracy and the rule of law. As they have failed to do so, Canada has has an obligation to hold its government to account at the highest level.†[Full Story]

British MPs call for CHOGM boycott at Parliament debate on Sri Lanka
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 10 Jan 2013 00:15 GMT ]

British Members of Parliament have called on the government to boycott this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

Student remembrance triggers Tamil rebirth
[ Open Democracy ] [ 09 Jan 2013 01:07 GMT ]

The Tamil diaspora is pressing for Sri Lanka's massacre of their relatives three years ago to be recognised as a genocide. [Full Story]

Minister Kenney Voices Concern for Human Rights in Sri Lanka
[ Government of Canada ] [ 08 Jan 2013 00:34 GMT ]

Canada continues to be concerned about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The Face of Suffering
[ The Indian Express ] [ 07 Jan 2013 00:02 GMT ]

The untold suffering of the “Sri Lanka optionâ€: the systematic extermination of a political insurgency by deliberately keeping the rest of the world out. [Full Story]

Nepal's Colonel Kumar Lama charged in UK with torture
[ BBC ] [ 06 Jan 2013 00:25 GMT ]

Detectives with specialist experience of war crimes arrested the officer under Section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act, a law that defines torture as a "universal jurisdiction" crime. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka criticised over 'war tourism'
[ The Telegraph UK ] [ 05 Jan 2013 02:31 GMT ]

A campaign group for human rights has criticised "tasteless" holiday accommodation built on the site of Sri Lanka's "killing fields". [Full Story]

Michelle Obama Asked to Help Tamil Women in Northeastern Sri Lanka
[ PRWeb ] [ 04 Jan 2013 00:12 GMT ]

“The Sri Lankan government has been running a structural genocide of the Tamils ever since the British left in 1948,†[Full Story]

A horror story on Sri Lanka's war
[ IANS ] [ 03 Jan 2013 02:44 GMT ]

"Tens of thousands of civilians were slaughtered by the Sri Lankan government," a UN aid worker tells Frances. [Full Story]

Diplomats paint one-sided picture of Sri Lanka
[ The Age ] [ 02 Jan 2013 01:04 GMT ]

The Commonwealth must take a stand over rampant abuses. [Full Story]

Oppression and resistance; Sri Lanka's unchanging reality
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 01 Jan 2013 00:01 GMT ]

The state will continue its violent pursuit of Sinhala Buddhist order across the Tamil homeland but it has not and will not succeed in securing Tamil submission. [Full Story]

More than 40,000 died in end stages of Sri Lanka war: Book
[ IANS ] [ 31 Dec 2012 00:45 GMT ]

China, Russia, Pakistan, India and Iran were among the staunchest supporters of Colombo when the war raged. “Today, the same countries protect Sri Lanka from war-crimes investigation.†[Full Story]

Bishop of Mannar may disappear and it is for the Pope and the world to take note of
[ The Weekend Leader ] [ 30 Dec 2012 00:03 GMT ]

This is a crucially important Submission which deals with what the people in the North and East are going through. [Full Story]

India and Sri Lanka's Civil War
[ The Diplomat ] [ 29 Dec 2012 02:41 GMT ]

The new report raises real questions about the international community's response during and after the conflict. [Full Story]

Tamils urge Sri Lanka Test boycott
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] [ 28 Dec 2012 01:02 GMT ]

The United Nations report after the war in 2009 said the Rajapaksa regime needed to be investigated for war crimes and crimes against humanity. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields Tourism
[ The Huffington Post UK ] [ 27 Dec 2012 02:48 GMT ]

Nearly four years on they have shown no desire to address the root causes of decades of ethnic violence and discrimination. [Full Story]

The ‘Tamil Nadu Factor in China's Naval Basing Ambitions in Sri Lanka
[ Foreign Policy Research Institute ] [ 26 Dec 2012 01:05 GMT ]

The majority of the state's residents are ethnic Tamil Hindus, compatriots of the suppressed Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The UN Report reverberations
[ TWG Editorial ] [ 25 Dec 2012 00:05 GMT ]

The powers behind the UN could consider removing the culprits amongst their ranks lock stock and barrel if they have brought the once respected institution into disrepute. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Free or Charge Detained Students
[ Human Rights Watch ] [ 24 Dec 2012 01:35 GMT ]

“The Sri Lankan authorities should realize that such actions generate legitimate grievances, not reconciliation.†[Full Story]

Militarisation: a state of terror
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 23 Dec 2012 00:10 GMT ]

The Sri Lankan state has relentlessly continued to consolidate its militarisation of the North-East. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka must face international probe: Amnesty
[ IANS ] [ 22 Dec 2012 02:41 GMT ]

India had been mostly silent on the Sri Lanka situation. [Full Story]

Australian Tamil rights advocate decries deportation from Singapore
[ Radio Australia ] [ 21 Dec 2012 01:33 GMT ]

Dr Brian Senewiratne is a Sri Lankan-born Australian who has been a long-time critic of the Sri Lankan Government over its treatment of Tamils. [Full Story]

“Killings at end stage of Lanka civil war unprecedented''
[ The Hindu ] [ 20 Dec 2012 00:55 GMT ]

The sheer intensity, scale and speed of the killings in the last stage of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009 were unprecedented in recent times. [Full Story]

IFJ Launches Situation Reports on Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
[ International Federation of Journalists ] [ 19 Dec 2012 01:11 GMT ]

IFJ partners in Sri Lanka have been campaigning for media freedom to be recognised as an essential part of the process of national reconciliation. [Full Story]

One Hundred Thousand Tamils Missing After Sri Lanka War
[ The Huffington Post ] [ 18 Dec 2012 00:02 GMT ]

World Bank population data from Sri Lanka indicates up to a hundred thousand Tamils are unaccounted for after the final war. [Full Story]

Pressing the Case for Reconciliation in Sri Lanka
[ Foreign Policy in Focus ] [ 17 Dec 2012 01:22 GMT ]

It remains unclear what exactly drove the U.S. resolution, but the Sri Lankan government does not appear to have complied with it. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka cannot be involved in investigation - TNA
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 16 Dec 2012 00:26 GMT ]

"We would like to see reparations, restitution and justice for the people who suffered," [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: Further information: Crackdown on students spreads further
[ Amnesty International ] [ 15 Dec 2012 02:04 GMT ]

They expressed opposition to the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act against non-violent political activities and opinion. [Full Story]

Statement by Liberal Leader Bob Rae on the Situation in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
[ Liberal ] [ 14 Dec 2012 01:33 GMT ]

Canada's vigilance in defence of free speech and an open society must continue. The government of Sri Lanka must be held accountable for these violations of human rights.' [Full Story]

Sri Lanka: War is Over but Tensions Run High
[ The Diplomat ] [ 13 Dec 2012 02:58 GMT ]

The excluded Tamil population protested and demanded a government based on federalism where the Tamils in the east and north of the country would enjoy greater autonomy. [Full Story]

Why does the world ignore Sri Lanka's crimes?
[ National Post ] [ 12 Dec 2012 00:45 GMT ]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's threat to boycott next year's Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka is a start, but it's essential that the rest of the world open its eyes to the country's bloody deeds as well. [Full Story]

Briefing: Sri Lanka's ethnic problem
[ IRIN ] [ 11 Dec 2012 01:25 GMT ]

The Sinhala-dominated government does not recognize Tamil demands for self-determination. [Full Story]

A British journalist & the Tamil poet
[ The Hindu ] [ 10 Dec 2012 02:29 GMT ]

He was one of the finest late Victorian war correspondents, Henry Woodd Nevinson (1856-1941) whose work had been commended by writers such as Lawrence of Arabia. [Full Story]

Opposition seeks Commonwealth probe of Sri Lanka
[ AFP ] [ 09 Dec 2012 02:33 GMT ]

Sri Lanka's main opposition party asked the Commonwealth Sunday to investigate the impeachment of the country's chief justice. [Full Story]

Sri Lanka chief judge Bandaranayake found guilty by MPs
[ BBC ] [ 08 Dec 2012 02:12 GMT ]

Human rights activists remain concerned about conditions in the Tamil heartland of northern Sri Lanka. [Full Story]

The Sri Lankan Silk Road
[ Harvard Review ] [ 07 Dec 2012 01:10 GMT ]

Colombo successfully thwarted Ban Ki-moon’s initiative with Indian backing and Chinese support in May 2009. [Full Story]

Tamils protest in Sri Lanka amid post-war tension
[ AFP ] [ 06 Dec 2012 00:07 GMT ]

This is the first big protest against the government since fighting ended in 2009. [Full Story]

EU raises concerns over Sri Lanka
[ CG ] [ 05 Dec 2012 01:09 GMT ]

The European Union Delegation in Colombo is concerned by a number of recent developments in Sri Lanka surrounding the rule of law and individual freedoms. [Full Story]

Response to the ICG Report on Tamil Politics
[ Sangam ] [ 04 Dec 2012 01:25 GMT ]

Despite the unfortunate timing of the release, which coincided with the impeachment saga, the report will eagerly be read by Sri Lanka watchers. [Full Story]

Ex-Sri Lankan president says inequality breeds 'terrorism'
[ AFP ] [ 03 Dec 2012 02:31 GMT ]

"Poverty, socio-political injustices cause frustration and anger among the marginalised groups," [Full Story]

Canada accused of treating Tamil asylum seekers like prisoners
[ The Guardian ] [ 02 Dec 2012 00:14 GMT ]

The Canadian government detained the men, women and children of the Sun Sea in a provincial prison for months - some for over a year. [Full Story]

Sri Lankan Army deserter gives 'rare' insider account of government forces torturing civilians
[ AFP ] [ 01 Dec 2012 01:19 GMT ]

'I hope it gets discussed publicly because then we get closer to what really happened in the last stages of the armed conflict' [Full Story]

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