Day: 29 November 2019

Maaveerar Naal observed by Tamils across Europe Maaveerar Naal was observed by thousands of Tamils across Europe, where they gathered in various cities to pay tribute to the fallen. Oberhausen, Germany Herning, Denmark Oslo, Norway Paris, France Fribourg, Switzerland29 November 2019 Mannar Tamils defy threats to mark Maaveerar Naal Maaveerar Naal was commemorated in destroyed thuyilum illams (LTTE cemeteries) in Mannar district on November 27. Despite threats and obstacles from Sri Lankan security forces, thousands showed up to the thuyilum illams where the traditional commemorations took place with flames and flowers.29 November 2019 Tamils…

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Writing in the Tamil Guardian on November 27th, the leaders of the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats both expressed their support for British Tamils and pledged to work with the community in their struggle for justice. In his piece, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks on his work with British Tamils and his party’s commitment to human rights and justice. Read more: I will never back down on Labour manifesto pledge – Jeremy Corbyn In her piece, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson speaks on genocide recognition, justice for mass atrocities and her party’s…

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Visiting Sri Lankan President Gotayaba Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today discussed wide ranging issues, including reconciliation and ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka. The talks took place as Rajapaksa undertook his first official overseas visit as Head of State after being elected President. Rajapaksa was accorded a grand welcome at Hyderabad House following which he engaged in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi. “We exchanged our views on reconciliation in Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa told me of his inclusive political point of view on ethnic harmony,” Prime Minister…

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Tamils need not fear the Rajapaksas and the new president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is weaker than one wants to believe. He does not dare yet what is political. His success rests in deep dark acts of terror and brutal solutions with the State machinery under his disposal. by Prof. Ramu ManivannanViews expressed in this essay are the author’s ownThe victory of Gotabaya Rajapaksa was much anticipated in the recently held 16th November presidential elections in Sri Lanka given the course of national politics after the evaporation of false euphoria over the…

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By Chandani Kirinde Switzerland yesterday demanded an immediate and complete investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in which a local employee of the embassy was detained against her will on the street and threatened at length by unidentified men, in order to force her to disclose embassy-related information. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Bern, in response to an email inquiry by the Daily FT, said Switzerland regards this incident as a very serious and unacceptable attack on one of its diplomatic representations and employees. “Switzerland promptly…

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FM asks embassy to follow ‘established procedure’ to allow smooth probe By Shamindra FerdinandoThe Swiss embassy in Colombo has declined to give Sri Lanka, conducting an investigation into an alleged abduction of one of its employees, access to the person concerned. Authoritative sources told The Island yesterday that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been denied an opportunity to record the alleged victim’s statement. Responding to another query, sources said that the investigations had been hampered by the failure on the part of the detectives to question the alleged victim. Susil Premjayantha,…

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Sampanthan leading elite Jaffna politics with Mavai and Sumanthiran LLRC recommendations a platform for North-South dialogue  UNP has remained a Sinhala Buddhist party dependent on Southern votes  Reading Northern Tamil politics from Colombo, the presidential election seems to have proved Tamil political leaderships of all colour are caught in a serious dilemma. Much fractured TNA had to eventually compromise to announce Tamil people should vote to the “lesser evil.” TPC led by former Supreme Court Judge and former Northern Province Chief Minister Wigneswaran asked the people to “vote wisely.” Wanting to…

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By Kumar David – Prof. Kumar David Gotabaya Rajapaksa has won an immense landslide victory among the Sinhalese (72% of Sinhala Buddhist and nearly 60% of other Sinhalese – Catholic/Christian – voted for him). Equally stunning was his total rejection by Tamils and the Muslims. Never before has polarisation been so stark in our electoral history. However, that is all water under the bridge now. How to go forward? The spirit of this column is: 1) Let’s make proposals that are legitimate and feasible; but 2) let’s keep up our guard till…

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By Dinasena Ratugamage Former Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, C. V. Vigneswaran on Tuesday said that the Tamil people had a right to celebrate the Mahaviru Day peacefully. On Mahaviru Day people of the North commemorate a number of people who had passed away and those celebrations were done in a peaceful manner, he said, that he expected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would understand the situation and refrain from disrupting the commemorations. There was no need for anyone to seek legal approval to commemorate…

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Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko and his supporters were detained by the Delhi Police on Thursday for protesting against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s visit to India. “Gun-toting soldiers are roaming in the streets inhabited by Tamil people. Tamil areas have become concentration camps controlled by the Sri Lankan army. What happened in Nazi Hitler’s time in Germany and Poland, is happening today in Sri Lanka,” Vaiko said while addressing a public meeting which had gathered in the protest. “80 million Tamils are living in India. We have got an amicable…

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