Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Colombo forcing refugees to return home- Rights Group
[TamilNet, Friday, 16 March 2007, 19:47 GMT]
`Sri Lankan authorities are using threats and intimidation to force civilians who fled recent fighting in Sri Lanka`s civil war to return home,` Human Rights Watch said today. `To pressure individuals to return home, government officials and military personnel have threatened to withdraw humanitarian aid, food and other essential supplies,` the Rights body further said.

Tamileelam Legislature enacts Child Protection Act
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 October 2006, 22:29 GMT]

Tamileelam Child Protection Act 2006 (Act No. 03 of 2006), enacted by Tamileelam Legislature Secretariat and which became effective on October 15, brings into law measures to protect the Rights and well-being of children from inception of life through adolescence, Head of Tamileelam Judiciary, E. Pararajasingham, told TamilNet Wednesday.

The Act, containing 83 sections, makes education compulsory upto grade 11, mandates registration of all child births, outlaws enlisting of children under 17 years in Armed Forces, makes participation of under 18-year olds in armed combat illegal, and proscribes all forms of child labour.

TE Law College releases book on `Family Law`
[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 February 2007, 02:25 GMT]
`We are very proud that even after the Tamil community has been subjected to unprecedented hardships, people have held onto their strong cultural values. In the last 12 to 13 years only 154 families have sought separation or divorce in Vanni region. It is a remarkable statistic in a society that has been struggling for social changes for many years,` K. V. Balakumaran, senior member of Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) said Wednesday.

This is not from Tamilnet though!
The link below is even better! :)

New Police division will address Women, Children welfare- Nadesan
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 September 2005, 09:30 GMT]

`We have established a new division in our Police Force to focus on the welfare of Women and children in the NorthEast. This division will play a visible role in ensuring that the rights of women and children are protected, and will augment and operate at the same level to the existing five divisions under my leadership,` said Tamileelam Chief of Police, Mr Nadesan when TamilNet talked to him on the progress of law and order enforcement in the NorthEast.

End of peace in India`s south
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 00:40 GMT]
The people of Tamil Nadu in no uncertain terms have said what they wish and have shown their indignation and resentment to what is happening in the island of Sri Lanka. The Tamil diaspora all over the world has demonstrated its solidarity with the national question of Eezham Tamils. The people of USA have firmly voted for the revision of the politics of terrorism. But the few, clinging at the helm of the outgoing administrations of New Delhi and Washington have decided to run amok, defying local and global public opinion. While Bush leaves behind a precarious world legacy to Obama, the Sonia Congress bears personal responsibility for the plight of Eezham Tamils.

TNA and UNP activists from Trinco pledge allegiance to the govt
October 19, 2009 02:19 pm
Several TNA representatives to local government institutions and UNP activists from the Trincomalee District crossed over to the government after having talks with MP Basil Rajapaksa, sources confirmed.
The Trincomalee Mayor, Pradeshiya Sabha President, an Uchchaveli PS member, a Muttur PS member from TNA and a few UNP activists thus confirmed their allegiance to the government.

TNA group to join Government?
October 18, 2009 06:29 am
A group of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are to join the government, sources from the North told Adaderana a short while ago. They have organized a function at the Northern Provincial Governor`s office to mark this cross-over, the sources said.
When inquired, the TNA leadership in Colombo said that it was only a rumor and nothing like that was happening. But our sources say the outcome can be known after 9.00 am today when the function is to be held.

Another SLA move towards Maavilarau thwarted - Elilan
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 08:21 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Wednesday morning successfully repulsed another advance made by troopers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) towards the area where Maavilaru sluice gate is located. SLA troopers withdrew to their position amid heavy artillery fire and mortar attack by the LTTE, said S.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head.

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 December 2005, 11:21 GMT]

While Colombo has been increasingly engaged in portraying Tamils` struggle for self-determination as `terrorism` in international fora taking advantage of the changed political climate following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the consequent war on terrorism, Liberation Tigers have exhibited genuine desire to adhere to the international human rights standards by closely engaging with UN agencies, said Political Head of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) , S.P. Thamilchelvan, during his keynote address on Human Rights day event organized by the North East Secretariat On Human Rights (NESOHR) in Kilinochchi Saturday.

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 14:38 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jet fighter was shot down by Liberation Tigers air-defense system when the bomber approached the airfield of the Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) in Ira`naimadu Monday around 2:30 p.m., LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. The SLAF bomber, following a loud explosion, went down into the sea, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.

Laying speculation and rumors to rest, Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka accompanies President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the opening of the Sri Lanka Army Tattoo today (October 17) at the Kettarama Stadium. The tattoo will be open to the public from October 17 to 23. The Sri Lanka Army celebrates its 60th Anniversary after the triumph of defeating terrorism in the island with the able cooperation of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Police and the Civil Defence Force.

Northern Front impregnable, say NTT panelists
[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 May 2008, 10:49 GMT]

Colombo was forced into staging Mukamaalai offensive to ensure safety to troops in Jaffna which had fallen within the range of artillery, panelists said during a Political Analysis segment of National Television of Tamileelam (NTT), participated by LTTE military spokesperson, Irasiah Ilanthiraiyan, and Chief-Editor of Viduthalaip Pulika`l, LTTE`s official organ, S. Ravi, in the programme moderated by K. Veera, this week. Panelists added that Colombo`s assertion that LTTE is moving troops between different Northern fronts is a figment of their imagination, and refuted the claim that the Sri Lanka Air Force has caused detrimental impact to LTTE`s war machinery.

The remains of an ancient settlements emerged from the Vadamarachchi East area.
According to the Department of Archaeology, evidence of three old human settlements in these areas was found. They have spread over an area covering nearly three Km and are vitally important to prove the historical background of Jaffna peninsula.
Clay pots of varied colours, mostly belonging to the Anuradhapura era were recovered from the area which would enable the archaeologists to determine the era of their usage.

Tamil Nadu MPs return from Sri Lankan Tamil camps
Chennai, Oct 14 : A 10-member team of Tamil Nadu MPs from the DMK, Congress and VCK returned here Wednesday after a five-day tour of Sri Lanka during which they visited Tamil refugee camps and met President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi received them at the Chennai airport. The MPs had gone to Sri Lanka to see and get first-hand information on the condition of internally displaced people (IDP) or Sri Lankan Tamils living in special camps.