Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

This week, the number of skeletal remains uncovered at Chemmani reached a stark record of 387. With that figure, a patch of earth on the edge of Jaffna town became the largest mass grave ever uncovered on the island, surpassing the 376 remains recovered at Mannar. Recent days alone have seen the bodies of several children exhumed, alongside beads and bangles. These are the contents of the…

Sri Lanka's justice minister blames Tamil diaspora for UN resolution

Responding to the passage of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution 51/L1, Sri Lanka’s justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe slammed the government for what he described as a “non-existent robust foreign policy” and placed blame on the Tamil diaspora.

Kumarappa, Pulenthiran commemorated in Denmark, Britain

Twelve senior LTTE members including Lt Col Kumarappa and Lt Col Pulenthiran were remembered in Denmark and Britain on the 35th anniversary of their deaths.

The twelve were captured by the Sri Lankan navy in 1987. Lt. Colonel Pulenthiran and Lt. Colonel Kumarappa swallowed cyanide and committed suicide after being arrested by the Indian Peace Keeping Force and were in the process of being taken to Colombo for interrogation. The incident occurred within two months of the IPKF arriving on the island.

Sharing smiles with a war criminal, Indian ambassador pledges more training for Sri Lanka

India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka shared a laugh with accused Sri Lankan war criminal Shavendra Silva last week, as New Delhi reportedly pledged to continue training Sri Lanka’s military.

Gopal Baglay addressed the Indian Army Trainees Alumni Interaction, organised by the Indian High Commission, and expressed India's willingness to offer training for Sri Lanka.

Maalathy commemorated in Kilinochchi

A commemoration event has taken place at Kilinochchi, to mark thirty-five years since the death of 2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle.

Across the world, the day is being commemorated as Tamil Women’s Day, an opportunity to honour women’s involvement in the fight for Tamil rights.

Modi is the only leader who can solve the issues of ‘Eelam Tamils’, BJP claims

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s State President, K. Annamalai stirred controversy in a tweet that claimed that only India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, could solve the problems of Sri Lanka and of the Eelam Tamil people.

The tweet featured an outline of Tamil Eelam with a tiger featured over the Tamil homeland.

Remembering 2nd Lt. Maalathy

Today marks thirty-five years since the death of 2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle.

Across the world, the day is being commemorated as Tamil Women’s Day, an opportunity to honour women’s involvement in the fight for Tamil rights.

MA Sumanthiran speaks out against ‘severe attack’ on Tamil fishermen

Speaking in parliament, Tamil National Alliance MP, M.A. Sumanthiran slammed the Sri Lankan police’s response to a peaceful demonstration staged by Tamil fishermen in Mullaitivu and charged Sri Lanka’s fisheries minister with promoting illegal fishing methods.

Yet again, Sri Lanka’s PM has pledged to repeal PTA

Addressing Sri Lankan, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena pledged to repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1979 as well as to release all detained LTTE cadre, who have languished in prison for years.

UN resolution a 'step in the right direction' - PEARL

File photograph

People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) called the recently adopted resolution on Sri Lanka a "step in the right direction" but noted that the it could have been "stronger and more critical" of the Sri Lankan state. 

In a statement reacting to resolution 51/L1, the organisation said:

Rajapaksas on trial – Supreme Court orders investigation into financial mismanagement

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has given the green light to a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed against the former President and Prime minister, Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa, over their responsibility for Sri Lanka’s economic collapse.