Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne has ordered Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, the former Chief Custodian and Head Prelate of the eight sacred Buddhist sites (Atamasthana) in Anuradhapura, to provide a blood sample for DNA testing in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl. The court directed the monk to appear before the…

'Sri Lanka should never accede to the Rome Statute' - Former Human Rights Commissioner

Sri Lanka’s former Human Rights Commission commissioner warns against signing the Rome Statute, arguing it would expose soldiers already under international travel bans for war crimes to further prosecution.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister defends skipping UN vote, rejects resolution

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has defended the government’s decision not to call for a vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the latest resolution concerning the island, while reiterating Colombo’s rejection of international accountability measures long demanded by Tamils.

Sinhala Buddhist monk launches hunger strike demanding security for Mahinda Rajapaksa

A Sinhala Buddhist monk has launched a hunger strike in Tangalle demanding the restoration of state security for former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, following the government’s recent decision to scale back protection for former heads of state.

Sri Lanka’s CTID summons Tamil temple organisers for questioning

The former president and secretary of the Vedukkunaari Malai Aathi Shivan Temple in Vavuniya have been summoned for questioning by Sri Lanka’s Counter-Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID), raising renewed concerns over state intimidation of Tamil religious leaders.

Memorial for Chemmani mass graves vandalised overnight in Jaffna

A memorial known as the “Unquenchable Lamp,” erected in Jaffna to demand justice for the Chemmani mass graves, was found vandalised early on Thursday, just weeks after it was first set up by protesters.

Arundhati Roy compares Gaza genocide to Sri Lanka’s slaughter of Tamils

Booker Prize–winning author Arundhati Roy has drawn parallels between the ongoing genocide in Gaza and Sri Lanka’s mass atrocities against Tamils, warning that world leaders are “watching what Netanyahu can get away with” and setting a new “bar” for state violence.

Occupation Watch - September 2025

In September 2025, the Sri Lankan military intensified its presence in the Tamil homeland. The Sri Lankan armed forces continued to embed themselves in schools, children's homes, churches, and community events across the North-East.  Packaged as "civil-military relations" and "trust-building," these initiatives work to normalise a permanent military presence and keep the state involved in Tamil spaces.

'Mirage of Justice' - Remembering Dr Manoharan and the Trincomalee students

A memorial discussion titled “Mirage of Justice” was held in Jaffna on Monday in remembrance of Dr Kasipillai Manoharan, who courageously fought for justice for the five Tamil students shot and killed by the Sri Lankan military in Trincomalee in 2006, as well as in memory of the murdered youths themselves.

Tensions flare in Mannar as Tamils drive away wind power team

Tensions flared in Mannar this week as residents of Pesalai drove away a team conducting a sand survey for a proposed wind power project along the village’s southern coast.

Sri Lanka’s debt office under fire after failing to explain USD 37 billion liability

Sri Lanka owes USD 37 billion in foreign loans and Rs. 19.6 trillion in domestic loans, officials from the State Debt Management Office told the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) this week, laying bare the scale of the island’s economic crisis.