Features

Features

Latest news from and about the homeland

Karaitivu 1985: A Forgotten Anti-Tamil pogrom in the Shadow of Sri Lanka’s Genocide
File photograph: Karaitivu Beach (Gowshan Nandakumar) It was a quiet morning on 12 April 1985 when Karaitivu, a small coastal Tamil village in the Amparai district of Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, was plunged into terror. As villagers prepared to celebrate the Tamil New Year, armed mobs - composed largely of Muslim men and backed by Sri Lankan security forces - descended upon the village and…

Tamil People’s Council calls for recognition of right to self determination

Jan 30, 2016

 

The Tamil People’s Council called for the recognition that “Tamils constitute a distinct people with the inalienable right to self-determination” in a draft set of proposals, calling for a political agreement prior to a constitutional enactment in Sri Lanka.

Remembering Colonel Kittu

Jan 15, 2016

Today marks the 23rd anniversary since the death of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, who committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993.

Thai Pongal 2016

Jan 15, 2016


As Tamils across the world marked the annual harvest festival of Thai Pongal this week, in the Tamil homeland security the Sri Lankan government deployed soldiers in Jaffna as Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the Northern Province.

Sri Lankan military blocks access to temple, harasses journalists on Thai Pongal

Jan 14, 2016

Sri Lanka soldiers prevented Tamils from accessing a temple where a special pooja was being held to celebrate Thai Pongal earlier today, whilst Tamil journalists attempting to cover the event were harassed and faced extensive security checks.


A special pooja was being held for Thai Pongal at the Rajarajeswari Amman Temple inside the Palali High Security Zone, with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, government minister Vijayakala Maheswaran and Tamil National Alliance MP Maavai Senathirajah in attendance.

Systemic torture and rape oppressing Tamils under new Sri Lanka government

Jan 4, 2016
New evidence has emerged of on-going torture and sexual violence by Sri Lanka’s security forces one year after the new government promised to end such violations.

See full 45 page report here: SILENCED: SURVIVORS OF TORTURE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN 2015

10th anniversary of 'Trinco 5' killings, still no justice

Jan 1, 2016

Photograph Tamilnet

Today marks the 10 years since the murder of five Tamil students, committed by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force, whilst they spent an afternoon on the beach in Trincomalee.

A memorial service was held in Trinco to remember the students that were killed by Sri Lanka's special forces.

Speaking at the event, the Trinco-based rights activist Jathindra called on the people to be proactive in their struggle for justice. Such memorial events should not only be for remembrance but also to unify Tamils in their actions, he said.

2015 in photographs

Dec 30, 2015
We look back at 2015 with some of the year's most significant events in images.

Remembering the tsunami

Dec 25, 2015


On December 26th, 2004, over 35,000 people perished during the catastrophic tsunami that hit the coasts of the North-East and South of the island of Sri Lanka.

The United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said five days after the disaster that almost two thirds of those killed were in the Tamil homeland of the North-East.

No justice 10 years on from Pararajasingham Xmas assasination in Sri Lanka

Dec 24, 2015

Today marks the 10th death anniversary of the late Tamil politician Joseph Pararajasingham, who was shot dead on Christmas Eve by armed government paramilitary men in 2005.

To this day no one has been held accountable for his death.

Maaveerar Naal 2015

Nov 26, 2015
Eelam Tamils across the world mark Tamil National Remembrance Day 2015. Photograph - Maaveerar Naal remembered over the site of the demolished LTTE cemetery in PTK. UPDATED 28 Nov 2015 10:15 GMT
Tamil People’s Council calls for recognition of right to self determination
Remembering Colonel Kittu
Thai Pongal 2016
Sri Lankan military blocks access to temple, harasses journalists on Thai Pongal
Systemic torture and rape oppressing Tamils under new Sri Lanka government
10th anniversary of 'Trinco 5' killings, still no justice
2015 in photographs
Remembering the tsunami
No justice 10 years on from Pararajasingham Xmas assasination in Sri Lanka
Maaveerar Naal 2015
Tamil People’s Council calls for recognition of right to self determination
Remembering Colonel Kittu
Thai Pongal 2016
Sri Lankan military blocks access to temple, harasses journalists on Thai Pongal
Systemic torture and rape oppressing Tamils under new Sri Lanka government
10th anniversary of 'Trinco 5' killings, still no justice
2015 in photographs
Remembering the tsunami
No justice 10 years on from Pararajasingham Xmas assasination in Sri Lanka
Maaveerar Naal 2015