Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

  Today, Tamils around the world are commemorating 16 years since the massacres at Mullivaikkal. Though more than a decade-and-half has passed, the situation on the island for Eelam Tamils seems as precarious as ever. There has been no accountability for the atrocities that took place. The seizure of historic Tamil land has continued unabated. And an enduring political solution that will…

‘We can’t really go out to dinner’ – Sri Lankan cricket team concerned about racism in the UK

Sri Lanka’s cricket players are reportedly fearing for their security, as they prepare to tour England later this month, after far right riots flared across the UK this week.

"Most of the issues seem not to be close to where we are but everyone is still a little concerned," one player who is already in England told ESPNcricinfo. 

Sri Lankan police officer murders three people and then kills himself in Amparai

A Sri Lankan police officer shot dead three people, include a constable from the same police station, before turning his rifle on himself and committing suicide.

According to the Sri Lankan police, the 42-year-old shot dead killing a 33-year-old policeman, before going on to kill a 54-year-old woman and her 17-year-old daughter in the Eastern Province.

The police officer later returned to the station where he turned the gun on himself. He was pronounced dead upon admission to the hospital.

Investigations are reportedly ongoing.

Sri Lanka honours war criminal in Jaffna

The Sri Lankan security forces in Jaffna paid their respects to Denzil Kobbekaduwa, marking his 32nd death anniversary at the memorial in Jaffna. Jaffna District Commander Chandana Wickramasinghe and other high officials of Sri Lanka's tri-forces participated in the event. This memorial is one of several built by the Sri Lankan military across the Tamil homeland. A statue of the commander also stands in Vavuniya.

A Rajapaksa enters the fray once again

After weeks of deliberating on who the presidential candidate would be for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the party was forced to make its announcement following the withdrawal of business tycoon Dhammika Perera who voluntarily backed out. 

Ranil tells Tamils that Sinhala Buddhists hold a ‘prominent position’ in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe undertook a visit to Jaffna last week, where he told an audience of Tamils that “the majority Sinhalese and Buddhist people hold a prominent position” on the island, as he continued electioneering ahead of next month’s polls.

Sri Lankan Supreme Court sets date for Mannar wind power project case

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has set October 14 as the date to hear petitions against the Indian backed Adani wind power project case in Mannar.

Sri Lankan Navy detains more Indian fishermen as rift deepens

This week Sri Lanka’s Navy arrested 22 Indian fishermen deepening the rift between the two nations over the illegal fishing row. 

Death at Mannar hospital sparks controversy

Civil society in Mannar has called upon the Sri Lankan authorities to expedite a swift investigation into the untimely death of a 27-year-old pregnant woman who bled to death, adding that most investigations in the North-East have been swept under the carpet with no accountability and arrests. 

Thousands of Tamils families still living without land deeds in Mannar

The issues faced by the people in Mannar due to the occupation of land has left thousands feeling helpless, said Fr. S. Marcus, President of the Mannar Citizens Committee.

“For the last five years, there has been much effort by various private companies to lay claim for a stake in lands in Mannar for Ilmenite and sand mining, despite putting up stiff opposition, one company will begin its work on the 14th of this month,” Fr. Marcus told reporters.

‘India’s My Lai’ – Remembering the 1989 Valvettiturai massacre

35 years ago, up to 64 Tamil civilians were killed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Valvettithurai in a massacre that was termed “India’s My Lai”.

The massacre, which saw dozens killed, came on the background of escalating violence and rights abuses committed by Indian forces across the Tamil homeland. As Tamil militant groups continued hostilities with the IPKF, the Indian forces imposed a curfew on August 2, 1989, following an ambush attack.