Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Environmentalists and civil society activists protested at Galle Face in Colombo on 17 June against proposed heavy mineral sand mining along the eastern coastline from Oluvil to Pothuvil, warning that the project threatens the land, fisheries and livelihoods of Tamil and Muslim communities across the Eastern Province. According to the People's Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), exploration…

Tamil survivors commemorate 33rd anniversary of Puthoor massacre

Last week, Tamil commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) massacre of nine civilians in Puthoor, Vatharawathai.

The memorial comes amidst an ongoing culture of suppression of Tamil memorials. 

Former Tamil political prisoner summoned by TID

A former political prisoner from Vavuniya, Selvanayagam Ananthavarnan, has been summoned by Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) on June 7th.

Ananthavarnan, who was previously imprisoned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), has been ordered to present himself at the Vavuniya branch of the department. Although he he has been told that he needs to submit a statement for a TID investigation, he has not been told what the investigation is about. 

Marunthankerny police tells TNPF leader that he could face arrest 

The Officer in Charge (OIC) at Maruthankerny police station has informed TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam that he is “an accused person” in last week’s Maruthankerny incident and that he may need to be questioned and arrested. 

Sri Lankan police arrest TNPF organiser over Maruthankerny incident

Sri Lankan police have arrested the Tamil National People's Front's (TNPF) Vadamaradchi East Organiser Ms. Arulmathy days after an incident at Maruthankerny where a police intelligence officer pointed his gun at TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam. 

An act of ‘extreme repression’ – TNA MP condemns intimidation of TNPF leader

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Sivagnanam Sritharan, condemned the intimidation of Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, after a Sri Lankan intelligence officer pointed his gun at the TNPF leader.

Sritharan slammed the incident as an illustration of “extreme repression”. He added that it shows the harm “the military and state investigators can pose to the normal lives of ordinary Tamil people”.

The TNA MP demanded immediate action against the police officers and expressed his strong condemnation.

 

Sri Lankan police intelligence officer wields gun at TNPF leader following commotion at meeting in Maruthankerny

 

A Sri Lankan police intelligence officer pointed his gun to Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam after he was attacked during a meeting in Maruthankerny. 

Ponnambalam was at a meeting with a sports club in Maruthankerny earlier today where two unknown men were in the crowd.

Asian Development Bank approves US$350 million loan for Sri Lanka

On Monday, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US 350 million dollar loan for Sri Lanka. 

The loan comes as part of a broader financial assistance package anchored by the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for the island. 

Sri Lanka approves “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” despite scepticism

Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved proposals to establish a South African style, “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” (TRC) despite continued demands from Tamil on the island for an international investigation into war crimes.

Vavuniya families of the disappeared remember the burning of Jaffna library 42 years on

Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya remembered the 42nd anniversary of the burning of Jaffna library. 

Flowers were laid and candles lit to commemorate the burning which was orchestrated by the Sri Lankan state.