Tamil diaspora groups banned

Global Tamil Forum among groups listed

By Jamila Husain

29 March 2021 06:24 am - 27 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Easwaran Rutnam

The Government has banned a number of Tamil diaspora groups, including some influential organizations based in the UK.

Some of the groups were banned in 2014 but were de-listed by the Government in 2015.

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF), British Tamil Forum (BTF), Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), Australian Tamil Congress (ATC), National Council of Canadian Tamil, Tamil Youth Organisation and the World Tamil Coordinating Committee have been proscribed by the Ministry of Defence.

The have been banned under Regulation 4(7) of the United Nations Regulations No. 1 of 2012.

The gazette notice issued to ban the organizations has been signed by Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne.

The Government has also banned a number of individuals based in the UK, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and several other countries.

Among those banned are GTF spokesman Suren Surendiran, who had been engaged in talks with then Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and the Tamil National Alliance after the former Government lifted the ban on some of the diaspora groups.

The former Government had de-listed most groups considered as being moderate in their views, in an attempt to seek their support for the reconciliation process and development of the North.

However, the current administration considers these groups as still being linked to terrorism and a threat to national security.

The latest ban had been enforced just before the UN Human Rights Council began to meet in Geneva.

The Tamil diaspora have been critical of the current administration on the human rights issue and had been lobbying for support for the resolution against Sri Lanka in Geneva.

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Comments - 27

Ramesh Monday, 29 March 2021 06:52 AM

After effects of UN vote. First Indian fisherman, now diaspora Tamil groups, what next? Local Tamil political parties?

AG Monday, 29 March 2021 06:53 AM

Superb move.. way to go..

asb Monday, 29 March 2021 06:57 AM

Let those hosts to deport all of them to home country.

Mohan Monday, 29 March 2021 06:57 AM

Tamils have serious issues that the Sinhalese Politicians have failed to address for the last 70 years. But these groups that have been banned do not represent the mainstream Hindu Tamils of Jaffna, they are primarily Tiger supporting Catholics with totally different agenda.

RoaringCreek Monday, 29 March 2021 06:58 AM

This is what the Tamil Diaspora wanted and just paying into the hands of the UNHRC.

Rohan Gamampilla Monday, 29 March 2021 07:09 AM

Very good move. Never allow Tamil Diaspora to crop up it has to be up-rooted globally.

P.K.R. Arumugam Monday, 29 March 2021 07:13 AM

Demolish Tamil diaspora..... Ban it around the world. LTTE should be demolished.

SriLankan Citizen Monday, 29 March 2021 07:14 AM

Ban all North

RoaringCreek Monday, 29 March 2021 07:17 AM

Cheap revenge tactics by Nandasena. It was Nandasena's men that messed up the UNHRC forum by poor section of key people for the foreign affairs. The state minister and ministers need to be replaced.

RoaringCreek Monday, 29 March 2021 07:22 AM

Is this a way to justify the pending banning of the that බොදුබල something something.

Siribiris Monday, 29 March 2021 07:28 AM

For how long ? I mean for how many hours before GAZETTE REVERSE ?

ding ding dong Monday, 29 March 2021 07:33 AM

we should also ban UNHRC, and all countries who voted for the revolution

Mokan Monday, 29 March 2021 08:06 AM

What a joke

Drummer Monday, 29 March 2021 08:06 AM

Newa gilunath BAN chuun!!

Peacemaker Monday, 29 March 2021 08:14 AM

This gota piece of shit, is going to cause irreparable damage to the country its people

Chris Monday, 29 March 2021 08:20 AM

Stop playing to the gallery critising past gov and share the overall plan of how Sri Lanka will convert the UNHCR resolution into a world of Opportunity. After consistently claiming country did not commit war crimes or genocide by now we must be on top of the situation.

Jude Monday, 29 March 2021 08:21 AM

Better late than NEVER!! GTF got global agencies and politicians Worldover UNDER their payroll !!

Sokrates Monday, 29 March 2021 08:21 AM

A useless act by a failed and defeated government. A senseless act of revenge for the fact that the Tamil diaspora has spoken out in favor of observing human rights in Sri Lanka. None of these organizations pursue terrorism unlike the local terrorist BBS.

xabersl Monday, 29 March 2021 11:35 AM

I can see many LTTE supporting diaspora members whining here in the comment section

samson Monday, 29 March 2021 11:50 AM

Tamil diaspora says that Tamil speaking people have problems in SL. No one to date has said what these problems are. Why can't someone put these problems on the table? so that solutions can be found.

manel Monday, 29 March 2021 12:01 PM

Hats off GOTA.More than 69 votes will be for you thistime.Where is groveling Mangala,Ranil

Nihal Weerawardane Monday, 29 March 2021 12:02 PM

THESE ARE THE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ELECTED A STRONG GOVERNMENT ALSO FOR THE SECURITY - NOW WE CAN DEVELOP THE NORTH WITH OUT ANY HINDRANCE

ruwan Monday, 29 March 2021 05:51 PM

what all those diaspora groups have done is nothing but spreading extremism. if they got together with the pure intention of uplifting tamil community in the country. this country would have been a better place already.. but unfortunately they don't need that.

Antony Jude Monday, 29 March 2021 06:21 PM

What is this government trying to do by banning tamil diaspora??? Can this government stop tamil community fighting for their rights?? It is good to start dialog with tamil community to find political solutions for thier issues rather than banning tamil organisations.

Pantha Kumaran Monday, 29 March 2021 06:57 PM

There is no future if this Government is going to behave like this. There is a problem for the past 70 years. It is the time for the current administration to sort out rather than behaving like uneducated idiots.

Sri Monday, 29 March 2021 11:01 PM

Excellent ! Terrorist supporters should not be tolerated

Siva Soma Tuesday, 30 March 2021 01:00 PM

Those who have eyes and ears which can see and hear know the problems from 1948.

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Tamil diaspora groups banned

Global Tamil Forum among groups listed

Comments - 27

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