Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
A Guinness World Record set by nearly 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers at Galle Face in Colombo has sparked controversy, after activists questioned why the official recognition was awarded to organisers and an overseas instructor rather than the thousands of performers who paid to take part. The SANGAMAM-2026 event, held on 14 June, saw 4,988 dancers successfully set a new Guinness World Record for…

More Maaveerar families honoured in North-East

Families of fallen LTTE cadres were honoured in another event in Mullaitivu and Jaffna yesterday as the Tamil nation marks Maaveerar remembrance week.  

Mallavi, Mullaitivu 

At the event in Mallavi, the mother of three fallen LTTE cadres lit the sacrificial lamp before flowers were laid to remember the tens of thousands of Tamils that gave their lives to the liberation struggle. 

Crackdown and destruction in the East ahead of Maaveerar Naal

Headstones at Vaharai Thuyilum Illam have been demolished and Tamil activists have been harrassed as Sri Lanka intensifies its crackdown on Maaveerar Naal in the Eastern province. 

Sri Lankan police harass Tamils at Uduthurai Thuyilum Illam over Maaveerar Naal preparations

Four Sri Lankan police officers collected the personal details of Tamils at Uduthurai Thuyilum Illam this morning as they were making preparations ahead of Maaveerar Naal. 

Each year on Maaveerar Naal, Tamils gather at Thuyilum Illams across the North-East to remember the tens of thousands of LTTE cadres that gave their lives to the liberation struggle. 

Jaffna magistrate orders arrest of Sri Lankan police for murder of Tamil youth

A court in Jaffna has ordered the arrest of Sri Lankan police officers over their involvement in the killing of a Tamil youth, who was tortured to death in custody last week.

25-year-old Nagarasa Alex died last week, after being arrested and tortured by Sri Lankan police. A post-mortem examination revealed “multiple injuries” that led to his death.

The Jaffna magistrate ruled it a homicide and ordered the arrest of four Sri Lankan police officers.

Muttur Magistrate Court issues prohibition order against Tamil MPs involved in Maaveerar Naal commemorations

The Muttur magistrate court issued a prohibition order to 17 individuals, including Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader and MP, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, and TNPF MP Selvarajah Kajendran, prohibiting them from conducting Maaveerar Naal commemoration events in Trincomalee.

Valaichenai police demolish Maaveerar memorial

Valaichenai police have demolished a memorial erected at Tharavai Thuyilum Illam, Batticaloa, to commemorate fallen LTTE cadres on Maaveerar Naal. 

Karthikai Vaasam'- Maaveerar honoured with tree planting drive

The Tamil National Green Organisation opened its annual 'Karthikai Vaasam' flower garden at Kittu Memorial Park in Nallur, Jaffna today and honoured fallen LTTE cadres. 

Participants were welcomed with a Karthikai flower - gloriosa superba - before a sacrificial lamp was lit by the mother of a fallen female LTTE cadre, in memory of the tens of thousands of Tamil fighters who gave their lives in the liberation struggle. 

Friends to the end? Ranil joins Rajapaksa’s birthday celebrations

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s former president and credibly accused war criminal, celebrated his birthday surrounded by friends and family last week, including current Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe.

In video footage shared widely across social media, the elder Rajapaksa is seen cutting a birthday cake adorned with sparklers.

Eastern University students pay tribute to fallen LTTE cadres

Students from the Eastern University paid their respects to fallen LTTE cadres on the second day of Maaveerar remembrance week.

The students lit lamps by a Pongu Tamil memorial on campus and called on students to mark Maaveerar Naal on November 27 to honour those who sacrificed their lives.

Sri Lanka dropped as hosts for U19 Cricket World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Sri Lanka will no longer be hosts for the Under-19 men's Cricket World Cup, which is due to be held in just a few months time, after the country was suspended due to political interference in the sport.

Though the ICC announced the suspension has now been lifted, it “confirmed Sri Lanka would be replaced as hosts” for the upcoming tournament in January 2024.