Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
Thirteen more skeletal remains were exhumed from the Chemmani mass grave on Monday and a further seven newly identified, bringing the total identified at the site to 412, of which 390 have now been exhumed, as the excavation, the largest at any mass grave on the island, entered its 31st day. Monday, the 31st day of the third phase of the court-supervised process, saw three sets of remains…

Sri Lankan TID arrest two Tamil YouTubers for 'promoting terrorism'

The Sri Lankan Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) arrested two Tamils in Jaffna on Monday for allegedly “promoting terrorism” and promoting "terrorism-related activities" on their YouTube channel. 

The TID arrested a 36-year-old Tamil man and a 35-year old Tamil woman who managed the YouTube channel and a related website (TubeTamil).   

Police spokesman, DIG Ajit Rohana said that "those channels had promoted LTTE ideology in the cyberspace."

“The YouTube channel and the website had created disharmony among the ethnic groups of Sri Lanka,” he added. 

Protests against deportation of Tamil asylum seekers in Düsseldorf airport

Large protests at Düsseldorf airport were carried out as crowds demanded that the estimated 100 Tamil asylum seekers who were detained by German authorities be released.

Four detained Tamil asylum seekers from Baden Württemberg, South Germany were released last minute at Düsseldorf airport and sent home by train.  Despite ongoing reports of torture by Sri Lanka’s security forces, 31 Tamil asylum seekers were deported today. 

Jaffna locals successfully thwart Archaeology Department excavation efforts

 

Sri Lankan police officer caught on video stamping on Tamil man

A Sri Lankan police constable attached to the Maharagama police department has been arrested following an assault on a Tamil lorry driver in Pannipitiya, after a video of the incident was shared widely online, drawing widespread criticism.

Foreign and local forces' are misleading the public alleges Sri Lankan President

During a conference at Matara, in the southern province of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa lashed out at “foreign and local forces” which he alleged are supported by “the mafias” and are “misleading the public”.

German Tamils continue to protest planned deportations

German Tamils gathered in Berlin and Düsseldorf to protest the round-up and planned deportations of as many as 100 Tamil asylum seekers.

These protests follow the mass dentition of Tamil refugees across the country, mainly in Nordrhein-Westfalen and Baden-Württemberg.

Bringing back terror

This week the Sri Lankan government issued a gazette announcing the proscription of hundreds of Tamils and several diaspora organisations, in a move that has generated shock and outrage across the world. The announcement, which renews and broadens a previous 2014 gazette is designed to criminalise, intimidate and terrorise. It must be immediately condemned.

Australian Tamils march against detention of refugees

An estimated 100 Australian Tamils gathered in Sydney to protest Australia’s continued detention of refugees such as Rajan Navanthirasa and the issuing of temporary bridging visas such as the TPV and SHEV which have been granted to most Tamil refugees.

Kittu Park gate destroyed in suspected arson attack

The entrance to the Kittu Memorial Park in Nallur, Jaffna was set on fire in a suspected arson attack on Sunday night.

Although the blaze was reported to the Jaffna Municipal Council fire brigade, the vehicle was occupied at another location.

Tamil Canadian group demands Tamil genocide investigation following UN resolution

The National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) has cautiously welcomed the latest resolution on Sri Lanka passed at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), but called on Canada to demand the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to investigate Tamil genocide.

“NCCT cautiously welcomes the new resolution (A/HRC/46/L.1/Rev.1) adopted on March 23 rd , 2021 at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as it includes some important progressive steps and a step towards attaining an international accountability process against Sri Lanka.”