Posts Categorized: Diaspora

Rajendra Theagarajah’s Canada speech

Need access to markets, not handouts from expatriates by LankaReporter, Colombo, June 9, 2017 Rajendra Theagarajah, Vice Chairman of Cargills Bank who was the guest of honour at the Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce gala and awards ceremony with CTCC President Ajith Sabaratnam. (Picture by Gnane Gananedran)  Partner with us in Sri Lanka, not to… Read more »

Netherlands-Funded CEPA Project Wages Political ‘Counter-Insurgency’

On Diaspora, elected NPC Colombo Establishment and its global backers are trying to isolate the Northern and Eastern provincial councils by intervening through Colombo-based authorities, ministries and departments coming under the Central Government. Certain NGOs operating in Colombo also operate in the same manner. There is also a hidden agenda of diverting ‘post-war development assistance’,… Read more »

We Eelam Tamils Embrace the 150th Birthday Celebrations of Canada

By Eelaventhan Manickavasakar, June 6, 2017 Canada’s concept of unity and diversity has a special appeal to the Eelam Tamils.  Sri Lanka should learn lessons from Canada for it to survive in dignity and self honour. – Canada is also a classic example of how a multi lingual, multi national, multi religious state can preserve… Read more »

‘Demons in Paradise’

SYNOPSIS Sri Lanka 1983, Jude Ratman is five years old. On a red train, he flees the massacre of the Tamils instigated by the Pro-Sinhalese majoritarian government. Now a filmmaker, he takes the same train from South to North. As he advances, the traces of the violence of the 26-year-old war and the one which… Read more »

UN Peacekeepers: Keeping the Peace or Preventing it?

The UN peacekeepers’ capacity to commit rape with impunity undermines prospects for sustainable peace around the world. by Nimmi Gowrinathan & Kate Cronin-Furman, Al Jazeera, May 2, 2017 In 2007, more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeeping troops were sent back to their home country from Haiti in disgrace as a result of sexual abuse allegations,… Read more »

European Union, GSP+ and Sri Lanka

Promoting or Demoting Human Rights? by Kumarathasan Rasingam, May 7, 2017 The European Parliament in its session on 26th April, 2017 has voted in favour of Sri Lanka rejecting a motion tabled by 52 European Union members to deny the additional tariff concessions approximately 66% on several products including textiles and fisheries imported by European… Read more »

Sri Lanka’s Crumbling Credibility

By: Kumarathasan Rasingam, April 29, 2017 — The credibility of Sri Lanka in relation to the settlement of the 60 year old ethnic problem of Tamils can be judged from the fate of several pacts, agreements and undertakings which were made from 1956 to 2009 and the Sri Lankan Governments unwillingness to comply with the… Read more »

‘The Tamil Nadu factor’

Demanding justice for genocide in Sri Lanka by Ana Pararajasingham, ‘Open Democracy,’ April 13, 2017 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. Protests began in Tamil Nadu in January 2017 against the… Read more »

Is There a Future for the Tamils?

by M.K. Eelaventhan, April 4, 2017 Is there a future for the Tamils?  It is a difficult and problematical question to answer. This question is not a question of today. This has been haunting the Tamils for a long period. Poet Bharathi was vexed over somebody saying that Tamil will gradually die. He added by… Read more »

No Time to Spare

Tamil Community Calls for Concrete Action on Accountability, Reconciliation and End to Human Rights Abuses in Sri Lanka by British Tamil Forum, US Tamil Political Action Council, Canadian Tamil Congress, March 23, 2017 Press Release on HRC 34 Resolution on SriLanka_USTPAC_BTF_CTC_170323 A   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: No Time to Spare: Tamil Community Calls for Concrete… Read more »

Members of President’s Commission on Asian Americans Resign

by Jesse J. Holland for AP in The Washington Post, February 16, 2017 WASHINGTON — Ten members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have resigned to protest the Trump administration’s policies and positions on repealing the Affordable Care Act, building a wall between the United States and Mexico and punishing… Read more »

Sri Lanka & March 2017 UNHRC Session

Will Justice for Tamils be Delayed for Denial? by Thambu Kanagasabai, LLM, February 11, 2017 The UNHRC’S session in March 2017 is going to be crucial for the Tamils concerning the following matters:- 1. Fate of its Resolution passed on October 01, 2015 sponsored and endorsed by USA & Sri Lanka. 2. Sri Lanka’s track… Read more »

Governance On The “Advice Of The Mahasangha”

by H.L. Seveviratne, ‘Colombo Telegraph,’ January 30, 2016 Prof. H.L. Seneviratne We frequently hear politicians declaring that they will follow the steps of the ancient kings who always ruled according to the advice of the Mahasangha. This is a vague generalization that has no historical or scientific validity. When we look at our history we… Read more »

TNA’s Directionless and Docile Leadership

  The simple and stark truth is that the issues of Tamils will continue to be dragged on due to political compulsions and necessity of the ruling Government or any Government, exploiting the opposition of monks to their advantage. by M.K. Eelaventhan, February 7, 2017 Tamil National Alliance – composing EPRLF, TELO, Ilankai Thamil Arasu… Read more »

GTF Calls on the SLG to Implement Recommendations of the CTF

by Global Tamil Forum, January 11, 2017 PRESS STATEMENT 11 January 2017, London Global Tamil Forum calls on the Sri Lankan Government to faithfully implement the recommendations of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) welcomes the recommendations of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTF) released on January… Read more »

How To Enjoy Your Vacation To A Country

By Gowri Koneswaran, Split this Rock, Washington, DC, December 14, 2016 ★        While planning your journey, accept that ethics are not included in the price of your ticket; ★        Tell yourself your currency is helping the country; ★        Do not question government control of the tourism industry; ★        When researching… Read more »

Remembering and Rebuilding

by Tamil Guardian, London, November 27, 2016 Today, Tamils across the globe will collectively light candles, lay flowers and bow heads in memory of those who gave their lives resisting state oppression. Marking the legacy of these heroes has become an integral moment of solidarity for the entire nation. In the Tamil homeland, commemorations have… Read more »