Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The dark comedy genre has been in vogue in the Tamil industry for a while now. Producer turned first time director Harish Durairaj initiates his filmography with the crime-comedy ‘Con City’ starring Arjun Das, Anna Ben, Yogi Babu and Vadivukkarasi as a motley crew family unit of scammers. The film is a family entertainer full of twists and turns which is an enjoyable experience overall. …

Funeral of slain Jaffna Uni student held in Kilinochchi

The funeral of murdered Jaffna University student Nadarasa Kajan was held in Kilinochchi on Sunday.

British Tamil students demand justice for Jaffna shooting

The Tamil Students Initiative in the United Kingdom has called for an “impartial inquiry” into the murder of two students from Jaffna University last and echoed the call for justice and accountability for the killings.

In a statement released on Sunday, the British student organisation said the incident was “yet another reminder of the chilling effects of intense militarisation in the North-East”.

“Their deaths are yet another tragedy that will reverberate with the Tamil community - especially students - across the globe,” the statement continued. “We cannot lose more young lives to state violence.”

Two Sri Lankan police officers injured in sword attack

Two Sri Lankan police officers were injured in a sword attack in Chunnakam on Sunday.

The attack was reportedly gang-related and caused a high security presence, including special forces, around several areas of Jaffna.

The injured officers, identified as Nimal Bandara and P. S. Navaratna, were attacked while responding to reports of violent and disorderly youths attacking businesses in Chunnakam town.

Denmark Tamils remember 29th anniversary of death of fighters

An event was held in Denmark earlier this month to remember the sacrifice of Lt. Maalathy , Lt. Col. Kumarappa, Lt. Col. Pulendran and other LTTE cadres who lost their lives during the Tamil struggle.

Position of Buddhism will not change insists Sri Lankan president

Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena insisted that the position of Buddhism on the island would not be changed in any new constitution that is to be implemented. 

The Hindu reported Mr Sirisena as telling a Buddhist gathering in Trincomalee on Friday that “Buddhism’s position, coming since 1972, will not be changed”.

Negotiations around a proposed new constitution have been kept secret by both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil National Alliance, with TNA parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran telling a gathering in Jaffna this month that there were "reasons for the silence we keep".

GTF welcomes UN Special Rapporteur's statement, urges urgent 'concrete action'

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) on Saturday welcomed the statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority rights, issued this week following her visit to the island. 

"Ms Izsak-Ndiaye’s recommendation that the most pressing and emotive issues for minority communities – disappeared persons, return of occupied land, release of security-related detainees, as well as demilitarisation - must be addressed urgently, and her call that the views and aspirations of the minority communities must be taken into proper consideration in the constitutional reform process, resonate fully well with the Tamil community," the GTF said. 

Sampanthan calls for investigation into murder of Tamil students

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance R Sampanthan told Sri Lanka’s president that there must be an immediate investigation into the murder of two Tamil students from Jaffna University on Thursday night.

Mr Sampanthan, who was meeting with Maithripala Sirisena in Trincomalee,conveyed his condolences to the families of the two students, identified as 23 year old Nadarasa Kajan and 24 year old Pavunraj Sulaxan. A special police team has reportedly been dispatched in Jaffna to investigate the incident.

Jaffna University students shot dead by Sri Lankan police

Sri Lankan police are reported to have shot dead two Tamil students from Jaffna University on October 20th.

Both students have been identified as being from the university's arts faculty. One is political science student and other one a popular film maker studying media studies.

They have been identified as 23 year old Nadarasa Kajan and 24 year old Pavunraj Sulaxan.

Victims of 1987 IPKF attack on Jaffna Hospital remembered

Staff at Jaffna Hospital held a remembrance event on Friday to mark the 29th anniversary of the massacre of over 60 doctors, staff and patients by Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) in 1987.