Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A newly published study has identified the earliest scientifically confirmed evidence of prehistoric human settlement on Velanai Island in the Jaffna Peninsula, dating back around 3,460 years and overturning an erroneous long-held Sri Lankan assumption that the region was largely uninhabited until much later. The study, published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology and led by…

Murder investigation launched after mother and 3-year-old son found dead in London

A three-year-old boy and his mother were found dead at a flat in London on Wednesday, with reports that his father killed himself after British police forced entry into the property on Wednesday morning.

Poorna Kaameshwari Sivaraj, 36-years-old, and her son Kailash Kuha Raj, were found dead at the property. 

42-year-old Kuha Raj Sithamparanathan, father of Kailash and husband to Poorna, “fatally injured himself when officers entered the property” said a police statement. He died on the scene.

Sri Lanka cancels Japan-funded light rail project as international debt continues to mount 

A light rail project that was to be completed in Colombo with Japanese funding has been cancelled by the Sri Lankan government, as the country's international debt continues to increase. 

The total cost of the Light Railway Track System was projected to be $1.5 billion, with Sri Lanka and the Japan International Cooperation Agency signing a concessionary loan agreement of about ¥30 billion early last year.  

No tigers allowed - even in football

The Sri Lankan army intervened against a local Tamil football team in Valvettithurai this week, claiming that their team logo resembles that of the roaring tiger seen in the Tamil Eelam national flag.

The Valvai Premier League, patronised by Jaffna Paruthithurai League, kicked off yesterday at the Oorani grounds. But one team - the Delta Super Kings - caught the attention of the Sri Lankan security forces who intervened and prevented the team from hoisting or displaying their flag.

US raises concerns over Sri Lanka-China trade

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina B. Teplitz, expressed concern over Sri Lanka’s trading relationship with China emphasising the importance of “free trade and a fair investment climate”.

In her statement, she highlighted that according to a 2019 World Bank study more than 60 per cent of PRC-funded BRI projects are allocated to Chinese companies. The processes behind this are not transparent.       

Remembering Lt Col Pulenthiran and Lt Col Kumarappa

5 October marks the 33rd remembrance of 12 LTTE cadres who committed suicide after being arrested by the Indian Peace Keeping Force and were in the process of being taken to Colombo for interrogation.

Resisting the crackdown - Newsletter, 5 October 2020


Last week, Tamils across the North-East carried out a hartal, the most widespread protest to take place since Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa came into power, demonstrating against Colombo’s ongoing campaign to ban commemorations of those who gave their lives for Tamil rights. 

UK 'carefully considers engagement' with accused Sri Lankan war criminals

The British government said that it “carefully consider(s) our engagement with individuals accused of human rights violations against the operational urgency and essential nature of the discussion,” when questioned on its engagement with Sri Lanka last week.

Responding to a question from Thangam Debbonaire, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, James Heappey, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, said that “our Defence Engagement programme with Sri Lanka is to encourage the development of a modern, accountable and human rights compliant military”.

Sword attack in Jaffna leaves mother and son with serious injuries

A sword attack in Jaffna has left two people hospitalised with serious injuries. 

An unknown group of persons reportedly broke into a house close to Neerveli junction around 8pm last Wednesday (30th September), attacking a 30-year-old man, P. Siva, and his 50-year-old mother Renuka, who tried to save him. The assault was carried out using swords, rods and sharp weapons. 

Jeevanagar - The ‘town of life’ still reeling from genocide

Across the Tamil homeland, decades of armed conflict had already taken a heavy toll. Yet, more than 11 years since the massacres at Mullivaikkal, alongside the massive loss of life and the ongoing militarisation across Eelam, many continue to live in dire poverty. More than 11 years since the massacres at Mullivaikkal, we take a look at one town in Mullaitivu, which highlights how for the Tamil people the suffering has not stopped.

‘A day of mourning without our children’ - Tamil families of the disappeared on Sri Lanka’s Children’s Day

 

Families of the disappeared in Mannar conveyed their disappointment in both the Sri Lankan government and the international community’s response to their struggle to find their missing loved ones, stating that the recent Children’s day was marked as a "day of mourning” without their children.