Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

British Tamil engineer Arun Rajkumar became an unexpected face of Mercedes’ Austrian Grand Prix celebrations after stepping onto the Formula 1 podium and lifting the race-winning constructors’ trophy for the team. Rajkumar, who was born into an Eelam Tamil family, is a trackside power unit engineer for Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, the Brixworth-based division that designs,…

Former LTTE cadre called for TID inquiry after chairing Mullivaikkal event

A former LTTE cadre has been ordered by Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division to the 3rd floor at its headquarters in Colombo for questioning after he chaired a remembrance event for the Mullivaikkal genocide in Kilinochchi on May 18. 

The father of three children who has one leg amputated, K Jayakumar was released in 2010 from government custody after undering the notorious 'rehabilitation programme'. 

Mr Jayakumar, who lives in Kilinochchi with his family, runs a vegetable stall at the local market and heads a trade union in the district, as well as being a local ITAK member. 

Sri Lankan bank suspends Kilinochchi employees for commemorating Mullivaikkal massacre

Two employees of the Kilinochchi branch of Sri Lanka's Hatton National Bank (HNB) were suspended today after the bank's Colombo headquarters accused them of commemorating the LTTE. 

Staff at the Kilinochchi branch held a remembrance event on May 18 to remember the tens of thousands massacred by Sri Lankan state forces during the end of the armed conflict. 

Photographs of their remembrance event were circulated among Sinhala nationalist social media pages who accused the employees of commemorating LTTE cadres. 

 

Navy to remain on Iranaitivu, families promised resettlement

Families from Iranaitivu who led a daring protest to reclaimed their lands were promised resettlement last week by officials but told that the Sri Lankan navy would continue its presence. 

Stating that the navy was needed to ensure the security of the residents and prevent drugs smuggling, a committee comprising the Secretary of the Ministry of Resettlement, B Suresh, the Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Defence R Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's Navy Commander, Admiral SS Ranasinge and other local government officials, said the navy would retain 9 acres of land. 

Thousands in Chennai commemorate Mullivaikkal genocide

As many as 10,000 people attended a rally in Chennai last week, to mark 9 years since tens of thousands of Eelam Tamils were massacred by Sri Lankan security forces at Mullivaikkal.

Britain destroys security files on Sri Lanka

File photograph: STF troops in Jaffna. Oct 2017.

Tamil Nadu government halts data services in reaction to Thoothukudi protests

With ongoing protests in Thoothukudi, telecommunication companies have received orders from the Chief Secretary to halt data services in the Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts in Tamil Nadu.  

The protests started months ago in an attempt to have Sterlite Industries’ copper plant shut down due to pollution and health concerns.

Most recently, tensions have escalated as 13 people were killed and many others injured after Tamil Nadu police opened fire at protestors.

British MPs release messages to commemorate Mullivaikkal genocide

Several British MPs and other politicians have released messages of solidarity as the Tamil nation around the world marks Tamil Genocide Remembrance day today.

See some of their messages of support below.


 

Stephen Timms Member of Parliament for Eastham, Executive Member of APPGT

After years of suppressing memorials, SLFP holds remembrance event for Mullivaikkal

Despite years of suppressing memorial events when it was in government, the Sri Lankan Freedom Party held an event to commemorate Tamils killed during the massacres at Mullivaikkal 9 years ago.

The event, which was met with scepticism by local Tamils, was held at the party office in Jaffna on Friday. Party officials lit candles before a banner which read “Mullivaikkal Atrocity Remembrance Day”.

Sri Lankan troops in Kilinochchi hold ceremony ‘to invoke blessings upon soldiers’ on May 18

The Sri Lankan military stationed in Kilinochchi held military and religious ceremonies on May 18th “to invoke blessings upon the soldiers,” according to an official military website.

TNA marks ‘Mullivaikkal Genocide Remembrance Day’ at Jaffna office

The Tamil National Alliance commemorated the 9th anniversary since the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils, in a ceremony at its office in Jaffna on Friday.