Sri Lanka's second poorest district where most of the residents are from the Tamil Community whose wounds are yet to heal from the Civil War, and the present economic crisis acts as a second blow for this community.

WION Fineprint| Economic crisis worsens conditions of war-shattered Tamils

A new book featuring the research of scholars from US, Europe, India, among others, have traced the presence of Tamil community in Singapore and other regions of Southeast Asia back to 2,000 years.

Co-published by Indian Heritage Centre and Singaporean-baed think tank Institute of Policy Studies, the book, titled 'Sojourners To Settlers - Tamils In South-east Asia And Singapore' explores the lesser-known aspects of the community's history and heritage, as well as examines the evidence of Tamil connections with the region, The Straits Times points out in a report.

These include the inscriptions on the Singapore Stone, which some experts date back to the 10th century. It was located at the mouth of the Singapore River before the British destroyed it in 1843.

"Our early Tamil pioneers helped to shape the Singapore identity and laid the foundations of contemporary Tamil culture and practice," Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran said at the launch of the book on Saturday at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

The phrase "kesariva", identified in the inscriptions on the Singapore Stone suggest it could part of the word "Parakesarivarman" - a title used by several Chola dynasty kings. This suggests a Tamil presence in the Singapore Strait dating back 1,000 years.

Over its two volumes, the book discusses topics such as ports and maritime routes connecting Indian kingdoms with South-east Asia and the literary similarities between Malay and Tamil.

"Colonial Singapore was a microcosm of India's diverse cultural background and landscape - it's vast, a seemingly endless range of sub-ethnicities and linguistic groups," Iswaran said in his address during the launch.

"Tamil Singaporeans, who constitute a majority of the Indian population in our nation, are a vibrant and diverse community, who continue to play an important role in shaping Singapore's future," he added.

A new book featuring the research of scholars from US, Europe, India, among others, have traced the presence of Tamil community in Singapore and other regions of Southeast Asia back to 2,000 years.

A new book featuring the research of scholars from US, Europe, India, among others, have traced the presence of Tamil community in Singapore and other regions of Southeast Asia back to 2,000 years. Co-published by Indian Heritage Centre and Singaporean-baed think tank Institute of Policy Studies, the book, titled 'Sojourners To Settlers - Tamils In South-east Asia And Singapore' explores the lesser-known aspects of the community's history and heritage, as well as examines the evidence of Tamil connections with the region, The Straits Times points out in a report. These include the inscriptions on the Singapore Stone, which some experts date back to the 10th century. It was located at the mouth of the Singapore River before the British destroyed it in 1843. "Our early Tamil pioneers helped to shape the Singapore identity and laid the foundations of contemporary Tamil culture and practice," Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran said at the launch of the book on Saturday at the Asian Civilisations Museum. The phrase "kesariva", identified in the inscriptions on the Singapore Stone suggest it could part of the word "Parakesarivarman" - a title used by several Chola dynasty kings. This suggests a Tamil presence in the Singapore Strait dating back 1,000 years. Over its two volumes, the book discusses topics such as ports and maritime routes connecting Indian kingdoms with South-east Asia and the literary similarities between Malay and Tamil. "Colonial Singapore was a microcosm of India's diverse cultural background and landscape - it's vast, a seemingly endless range of sub-ethnicities and linguistic groups," Iswaran said in his address during the launch. "Tamil Singaporeans, who constitute a majority of the Indian population in our nation, are a vibrant and diverse community, who continue to play an important role in shaping Singapore's future," he added.

New book traces Tamil community's presence in Southeast Asia 2000 years back

The Sri Lankan government has released about 90 per cent of the military-acquired land belonging to the minority Tamil community held during the brutal civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said as he seeks re-election.

At the end of the military conflict 10 years ago, some 84,675 acres of Tamil civilian land was under the military control and by the end of March 2019, some 71,178 acres of land have been released, Sirisena's office said in a statement on Thursday.

Accordingly, 13,497 acres of land is in the custody of the security forces, of which 11,039 acres of land are state-owned, it said.

Another 475 acres of land will be released in the near future, his office said, adding that the de-mining process to clear the land of mines was accelerated after President Sirisena assumed office in January 2015.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had launched a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the country for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

During the war, the military acquired thousands of acres of land owned by the Tamils near key security establishments coming under increasing threats by the LTTE's suicide squads.

For long, the Tamils and rights groups had been demanding the early release of the military-acquired land.

Sirisena, who became President in 2015 by defeating former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, had promised to achieve national reconciliation with the Tamils who had supported him in the election.

A task force was established in August last year by the President to expedite the development of the north and the east that suffered most during the conflict.

The UN Human Rights Council last month reminded Sri Lanka to make progress on the 2015 resolution co-sponsored by Colombo.

Sirisena, who is seeking re-election, has made his intentions clear to win the Northern and Eastern provinces by the perceived swift action on releasing the land.

The elections must be held before early January next year.

The Tamils have expressed concern over the delay in implementing other measures needed for reconciliation.

The UN Human Rights Council has called for an international probe into the alleged war crimes during the military conflict with the LTTE.

According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the 30-year-long separatist war which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

The Sri Lankan government has released about 90 per cent of the military-acquired land belonging to the minority Tamil community held during the brutal civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said as he seeks re-election.

The Sri Lankan government has released about 90 per cent of the military-acquired land belonging to the minority Tamil community held during the brutal civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said as he seeks re-election. At the end of the military conflict 10 years ago, some 84,675 acres of Tamil civilian land was under the military control and by the end of March 2019, some 71,178 acres of land have been released, Sirisena's office said in a statement on Thursday. Accordingly, 13,497 acres of land is in the custody of the security forces, of which 11,039 acres of land are state-owned, it said. Another 475 acres of land will be released in the near future, his office said, adding that the de-mining process to clear the land of mines was accelerated after President Sirisena assumed office in January 2015. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had launched a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the country for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. During the war, the military acquired thousands of acres of land owned by the Tamils near key security establishments coming under increasing threats by the LTTE's suicide squads. For long, the Tamils and rights groups had been demanding the early release of the military-acquired land. Sirisena, who became President in 2015 by defeating former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, had promised to achieve national reconciliation with the Tamils who had supported him in the election. A task force was established in August last year by the President to expedite the development of the north and the east that suffered most during the conflict. The UN Human Rights Council last month reminded Sri Lanka to make progress on the 2015 resolution co-sponsored by Colombo. Sirisena, who is seeking re-election, has made his intentions clear to win the Northern and Eastern provinces by the perceived swift action on releasing the land. The elections must be held before early January next year. The Tamils have expressed concern over the delay in implementing other measures needed for reconciliation. The UN Human Rights Council has called for an international probe into the alleged war crimes during the military conflict with the LTTE. According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the 30-year-long separatist war which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

Sri Lanka says 90% of military-acquired land of Tamils released

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WION Fineprint| Economic crisis worsens conditions of war-shattered Tamils

New book traces Tamil community's presence in Southeast Asia 2000 years back

Sri Lanka says 90% of military-acquired land of Tamils released