Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sinnathurai commemorating Maaveerar Naal in London, 2022. Selvachandran Sinnathurai, the father of Lieutenant Shankar, the first fighter from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to be killed in the Tamil armed struggle, passed away in London earlier this month. Lieutenant Shankar holds a significant place in Tamil history as the first cadre to sacrifice his life in the early…

Sri Lankan police arrest NPC councillor over land grabs protest

Police in Mullaitivu today arrested the Northern Provincial Councillor, Thurairasa Ravikaran over his involvement in a protest against Sri Lankan navy land grabs in Vaddavakal on February 22. 

He was later released on bail by Mullaitivu court. 

Tamils protest in Jaffna against government failure to end spiraling debt

Tamils protested in Jaffna on Tuesday against the Sri Lankan government's failure to take action against microfinance companies with high interest rates leaving families under spiraling debts.

Signature campaign calling for international accountability mechanism launched in Jaffna

A signature campaign calling for an international accountability mechanism was launched today in Jaffna by the Tamil Action Committee for International Accountability Mechanism (TACIAM), supported by the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF). 

Sinhala mob damages Muslim shops and mosque in Amparai

Several Muslim shops and a mosque were damaged during an attack by a Sinhala mob in Amparai on Monday evening. 

The police have been deployed to Amparai town following the incident, which comes just days after the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa swept the polls in the local government elections. 

During his presidency there were a series of attacks by Sinhala mobs targetting Muslim businesses, homes and mosques.

Despite being electing on a pledge to end impunity, the current unity government has failed to take action to ensure past perpetraters are held to account.

Rajapaksa visits India

The former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa flew to India today as part of a six member delegation the Daily Mirror reported. 

The flight was bound for Bangalore, the paper reported. 

Airport sources said the joint opposition MP Lohan Ratwatte was part of the delegation. 

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Myanmar ‘engaged in cultural and religious cooperation’ with Sri Lanka

Myanmar is engaged in “cultural and religious cooperation” with Sri Lanka, said the general secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation, as Myanmar’s government announced it would donate 300 tonnes on Saturday.

Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Myanmar attended a ceremony in Yagon on the weekend, alongside several Myanmar government officials. The donation of rice would be used towards helping landslide victims in the south of the island.

Sri Lankan PM faces backlash from own party

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe faces a backlash from his own party, after a minister revealed several parliamentarians were ready to put forward a no-faith motion against him, if he refuses to step down as party leader.

State Minister of Irrigation Palitha Range Bandara told reporters yesterday that a “number of MPs are ready” to back a no faith motion against the current prime minister, calling on Mr Wickremesinghe to step down from his position as head of the United National Party.

"In this situation, the UNP has no further journey,” he said. “The UNP needs to make a complete change if it wants to go forward. First of all in the leadership.”

Northern Provincial Council calls for ‘international justice mechanism’ for accountability in Sri Lanka

The Northern Provincial Council has passed a resolution calling for an “international justice mechanism” headed by the United Nations in order accountability and “permanent peace” in Sri Lanka.

The resolution, passed earlier today, notes frustration with the Sri Lankan government stating that it has “not only failed to take meaningful steps towards implementing” a UN resolution on calling for a hybrid accountability mechanism, but that senior government leaders including the president and prime minister “have clearly and categorically proclaimed that they will not fully implement the Resolution”.

Sri Lankan PM sworn in as Minister of Law and Order

Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in on Monday as the country's Law and Order Minister, following Sunday's Cabinet reshuffle. 

The reshuffle came after the local government election results where both parties within the unity government were defeated by the former president's SLPP party. 

The reshuffle has been reportedly criticised by the UNP MP, Ravi Karunanayake, who was quoted by the Daily Mirror as describing it as "a joke". 

TNA remember 'compassionate and committed' Una McCauley

The Tamil National Alliance remembered the late Una McCauley, the UN's resident coordinator in Sri Lanka, who passed away last week, in a message released on Saturday. 

"Ms Una McCauley was a compassionate and committed person, who always cared for the marginalized and underprivileged communities," the TNA leader, R Sampanthan wrote in his condolence message. 

"Her contribution and commitment towards finding soluations to the issues faced by the Tamil people will never be forgotten and it will definitely go into the history of Sri Lanka.