The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) submitted an Information Note to members of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in September 2006 pointing out that democratic institutions in Sri Lanka have been stifled or destroyed by deliberate action of the government and human rights standards have deteriorated to an unacceptable and dangerous level. The second session of the new UN Council was held in Geneva from 18 September to 6 October 2006. This note has been widely used for lobby by human rights advocates.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) has drawn the attention of British State Minister for Immigration Tony McNulty to recent events in Sri Lanka. In a January 2006 letter to the Minister, the TIC urged review of the British government position relating to removal of failed asylum seekers. The TIC has received numerous appeals from Tamil asylum seekers, most of them vulnerable young men and women, whose applications for asylum have been turned down. They live in fear of deportation and in a state of uncertainty. Community meetings have observed that an increasing number are becoming destitute.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) is concerned over developments relating to the joint mechanism between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE) for the provision of relief to the people affected by the tsunami in the north-east of the island. Most people affected by the disaster in the north-east have not received sufficient assistance to begin their economic and livelihood activities. Land allocation policies have not been resolved to enable the construction of permanent housing. The entire tsunami relief and reconstruction process has been turned into an exercise in political maneuvering and tactics.
The tsunami of 26 December 2004 devastated the lives of millions of people in the Indian Ocean region. After a year, despite massive amounts of aid provided to the countries in the region, the long-term livelihood prospects of survivors remain uncertain. International agencies say that the pace of permanent housing reconstruction has been slow and is not meeting the expectations of the tsunami's survivors.
The Millennium Development Goals Country Report 2005 by the Sri Lankan National Council for Economic Development (NCED) says that those who bore the brunt of the tsunami attack were the most vulnerable in society such as coastal communities and those in the North and East region. The percentage of the coastal population affected, ranges from an estimated 35% in Kilinochchi to 80% in Mullaitivu and 78% in Amparai. Less than 20% of the coastal population in the southern districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota were affected. The tsunami affected the livelihoods of poor sectors such as coastal fishermen, workers in the informal sector, people servicing fisheries and tourist industries and small scale farmers, causing greater vulnerability to poverty.
The Indian Ocean region was gripped by panic when another massive underwater earthquake on 28 March 2005 devastated the Indonesian island of Nias. The death toll is said to be in the region of 1,000. Tsunami warnings were issued in the region, including in Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia and the people in coastal areas were quickly evacuated to safer places. On hearing the news about the earthquake over the BBC and from international agencies, members of the Tamil community living abroad and community organizations immediately contacted organizations and individuals throughout the north-east region and southern areas, to pass on the warning. The prompt action was appreciated by agencies and individuals in Sri Lanka.
The official death toll as reported by the Sri Lankan government stands at 30,957 as of 25 January 2005, with 20,554 in the north-east. More than 10,430 people died in Amparai District. Around 5,644 are reported missing and presumed dead, according to the Sri Lankan government. But the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) has reported that more than 14,400 are missing in the north-east. The final death toll is expected to be around 45,000 island-wide, and 30,000 in the north-east alone. There are over 15,190 injured nationwide, with more than 7,400 in the north-east. The government says that over 502,450 people are displaced from their homes by the Tsunami. Of these, 282,790 are displaced in the north-east (See Appendix 2).
The official death toll as reported by the Sri Lankan government stands at 30,718 as of 7 January 2005. More than 10,400 people died in Amparai District. Around 4,930 are reported missing and presumed dead, according to the Sri Lankan government. But the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) has reported that more than 14,400 are missing in the north-east. The final death toll is expected to be around 45,000 island-wide, and 30,000 in the north-east alone. There are over14,500 injured nationwide, with more than 5,000 in the north-east.
The official death toll as reported by the Sri Lankan government stands at 28,805 as of 31 December 2004. However, bodies are still being recovered and several outlying areas have not yet been reached by rescue teams, particularly in the north-east. Several thousands of people are reported missing and presumed dead. The final death figure is expected to be well over 45,000 islandwide, and in the north-east alone in excess of 30,000. There are over 25,000 injured nationwide, with 15,000 in the north-east alone. It is estimated that over a million people are displaced from their homes, around 600,000 in the north-east. Sri Lanka has suffered more infrastructure damage than other countries affected by the tsunami.
There is grave concern over the internecine killings that are striking fear in hearts of the people in the Tamil homeland. Since the ceasefire agreement of 22 February 2002, more than 150 people have been murdered. Most of the dead are members or supporters of Tamil militant groups and they accuse the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Since Col. Karuna broke away from the LTTE in March 2004, a number of LTTE members or supporters have also been killed. Most killings have been taken place in Batticaloa, but there have been assassinations in Colombo, Trincomalee, Jaffna and Mannar.
