Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Residents of Kepapilavu in Mullaitivu District launched a hunger strike on Wednesday, demanding the release of 171 acres of ancestral land that remain under the occupation of the Sri Lankan military more than 17 years after the end of the armed conflict. The protest was held outside the Sri Lanka Army's 59 Division headquarters, where demonstrators reiterated their longstanding demand for…

Sri Lankan police break up ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in Colombo

Clashes broke out between protestors and Sri Lankan security forces in Colombo earlier today as the police broke up a ‘Black Lives Matter’ demonstration.

Security forces had attempted to stop the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) organised protest, after they obtained a court order yesterday stating it could not be held due to coronavirus concerns.

Australian State MP thanks Seeman for support and calls for international recognition of Tamil Genocide

Australian State MP Hugh McDermott thanked the Tamil Nadu-based politician Seeman for his support, following calls for international recognition of Sri Lanka’s genocide of Tamils.

“I am grateful for your support and the support of approximately 100,000 people who have signed the petition in support of my comments,” said McDermott, in a letter released earlier today. “I have been humbled by the letters, emails and phone calls that I have received.”

Militant Buddhism: Sri Lankan army builds ‘Golden Fence’ around Buddha statue in Nainativu

The Sri Lankan army has unveiled a gold-plated fence that it constructed around a Buddha statue at the ‘Sri Nagadeepa Viharaya’ in Nainativu in Jaffna this week, as the military continued to construct Buddhist monuments across the Tamil homeland.

Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander of the Sri Lankan  Security Forces in Jaffna was present at the unveiling, as soldiers dressed in all-white and gave offerings to Sinhala Buddhist monks.

'Tempest has only just begun' warns Samaraweera as crises deepens in Sri Lanka

Former Sri Lankan Finance Minister, Mangala Samaraweera proposed dramatic reforms in response to the economic havoc Sri Lanka is facing, as he warned the "tempest has only just begun".

Samaraweera described how fragile Colombo's position was at present, stating that Sri Lanka was in "a sordid state" and had "lived beyond its means and did not undertake the reforms".

US ambassador meets Sri Lankan general previously rejected for training over war crimes

The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka was photographed handing over a shipment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to a Sri Lankan military general, who was previously rejected twice from participating in US training programs due to “credible allegations” over his involvement in war crimes.

Central Bank governor claims public deposits are safe and threatens legal action as crisis worsens

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor claimed that public deposits were still safe in the country, despite fears over the state of Coloma’s already fragile economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as he threatened to take legal action against those spreading “misleading information”.

Sri Lankan court order bans ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in Colombo

The Sri Lankan security forces have obtained a court order banning a protest that was due to be held in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in Colombo this week.

The protest, organised by the Frontline Socialist Party, was due to be staged near the US Embassy in Colombo. However, Sri Lanka police obtained a court order earlier this morning stating that the protest could not be held, due to coronavirus concerns.

Families of the disappeared protest with tribute to father who died searching for abducted son

Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya, held a demonstration and paid tribute to the a Tamil father, who died after spending more than a decade searching for his forcibly disappeared son.

TNPF leader pays tribute to father who died in search of abducted son

The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, visited the home of a Tamil father, who died after spending more than a decade searching for his forcibly disappeared son.

The Art of Survival: Tamils in Transit

Tamils in Germany make up a sizeable number of the Eelam Tamil diaspora as a whole. Overcoming racist refugee settlement policies which have prevented them from living in close proximity to each other and as concentrated as their counterparts in Paris, London or Toronto, German Tamils have just as successfully established communities with thriving cultural and social lives. The Kamadchi Ampal temple in Hamm attracts thousands of Tamils from all over Europe, especially for its thiruvizha – annual summer festival.

The larger communities are mostly concentrated in the North Rhine-Westphalia state, with smaller populations scattered across the country’s cities, towns and even villages. One of the smaller outposts, with only around 3000-5000 Tamils, is the country’s capital.