Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to Puthukudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu yesterday for local election campaigning saw an intense security clampdown across the district, with heavy deployment of armed forces and police. Security presence was notably heightened in key areas including Mullaitivu town, Mullivaikkal, and Puthukudiyiruppu. Members of the public attending the meeting…

More than 40 years but still no citizenship - Madras High Court directs Centre to act

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Central Government of India to consider the application submitted by an Eelam Tamil refugee who has been in the country since 1983.

Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan directed the Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs to consider in eight weeks the application submitted by the petitioner R. Maheswary of Madurai for issuance of certificate of naturalisation, as per Rule 15 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009. 

Eelam Tamil refugees from Diego Garcia resettled in the UK

After more than three years stranded in dire conditions on Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean, dozens of Eelam Tamil refugees fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka have arrived in the UK.

Sri Lankan police launch investigation after Tamil Eelam flag raised in Jaffna

Sri Lanka’s security forces have reportedly launched an investigation after the Tamil Eelam flag was raised in Jaffna on November 27th, as Tamils across the North-east paid tribute to fallen Tamil fighters on Maaveerar Naal.

A poet's fearless death - Remembering Puthuvai Ratnathurai

Today marks the 76th birthday of Puthuvai Ratnathurai, an Eelam Tamil Revoluntary Poet, who was in charge of the Tamil Eelam Arts and Cultural Guild. 

Rathnathuai was last seen in the custody of the Sri Lankan military on 18 May 2009 in Mullivaikkal and to date his fate is not known. 

He has written hundreds of poems. Here we publish just one such poem, originally written in Tamil and translated into English by the late Chelva Kanaganayakam.

Sri Lankan police question 6, including former MP, over Prabhakaran’s birthday celebration

At least six people have been interrogated by the Sri Lankan police over the celebration of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's birthday outside his childhood home last month, which took place under heavy police surveillance.

Former Northern Provincial Councillor M Shivajilingham and local residents gathered outside the ruins of the LTTE leader's home today to celebrate his birthday on November 26th.

French stamp issued in tribute to slain Tamil diaspora leader Col. Parithi

The Tamil Traditional Network-France, in collaboration with the French postal service La Poste, launched a commemorative stamp in tribute to Nadarajah Mathinthiran, also known as Colonel Parithi, the former leader of the CCTF, who was tragically assassinated in Paris on November 8, 2012. 

Tamils mark 40th year commemoration of Othiyamalai massacre as intelligence officers circle

The 40th anniversary of the tragic Othiyamalai Massacre was commemorated at the memorial in Othiyamalai village, in the Mullaitivu district on Monday, as plainclothes Sri Lankan intelligence officers monitored the event.

This commemoration honoured the 32 Tamil villagers who lost their lives in one of the darkest chapters of the region's history.

Sri Lankan militarisation continues in the Tamil homeland

The Sri Lankan army continues its militarisation of the Tamil homeland through a variety of strategies, from entering schools to building infrastructure for the military - despite a new government coming into power.

Sri Lanka continues to be one of the most militarised countries in the world, with the Tamil homeland in particular suffering from an occupation that infiltrates civilian and cultural places.

Involvement in Tamil schools and communities

The 10th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and the 7th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment hosted lunch programmes for pre-school children in Jaffna.

Mannar MP tells Sri Lankan president to release Tamil land occupied by navy

Member of Parliament from Vanni Selvam Adaikalanathan has written to Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake calling on his government to release several swathes of land in the North-East that are being occupied by Sri Lanka's Navy. 

Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division summons Tamil woman activist in Trincomalee

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division has summoned Navarathnarasa Anjalidevi, a 60-year-old Tamil female social activist residing in Narayanapuram, Palathadichchenai, for an inquiry scheduled on December 4, 2024.