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…

CV Wigneswaran claims Sumanthiran is the sole opponent to a common Tamil candidate

Following a collective agreement amongst Tamil political parties, leader of the Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootan(TMTK) CV Wigneswaran has accused Tamil lawmaker MA Sumanthiran of being the sole opponent of fielding a common Tamil canidate at the upcoming presidential election, which will be held on 21st   September. 

 

Australia's Attorney General pushed on failure to sanction Sri Lankan war criminal

Australia's Attorney General department was pressed during a public hearting this week on its failure to impose sanctions on Sri Lankan war criminal Jagath Jayasuriya, who entered the country in 2019 after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) failed to investigate his war crimes. 

US to conduct yet another military exercise with war crimes accused Sri Lankan Air Force

The US military will join hands with the Sri Lankan Air Force and conduct a military exercise next week, despite ongoing human rights abuses and a history of atrocities.

The Montana National Guard, US Pacific Air Forces, Sri Lanka Air Force and members of the Maldives National Defense Force, are scheduled to conduct a joint military exercise which according to the US mission in Colombo is to be better prepared and respond to "natural and man-made disasters".

Tamil Nadu to Tamil Eelam in just 75 minutes - Daily direct flights announced by Indian airlines

India's biggest budget airline IndiGo has announced that it would begin daily direct flights between Chennai and Jaffna next month, as it praised the Northern city’s “vibrant Tamil heritage”.

The move will significantly increase connectivity between Tamil Nadu and Tamil Eelam, with a flight time of just 75 minutes between the two cities. Jaffna will be the second destination in Sri Lanka after Colombo for IndiGo, the airline said in a statement.

Pressure on UK to airlift Tamil asylum seekers after 'mass suicide attempt'

There has been mounting pressure Britain’s Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to airlift more than 60 Tamil asylum seekers on Diego Garcia, to the UK after reports of a mass suicide attempt on the island.

The group, first stranded on the island in October 2021, are facing extreme challenges and are “extremely vulnerable”, according to their lawyers.

Remembering Nilakshan - a promising young Eelam Tamil journalist

Sahadevan Nilakshan, a promising young Eelam Tamil journalist who was shot and killed by suspected Sri Lankan military intelligence personnel was remembered today by fellow media workers, 17 years after his murder.

The Jaffna Press Club held a special remembrance for the budding journalist, where they lit candles, laid floral wreaths and offered their condolences. 

Nilakshan was 22 years old when he was gunned down outside his home in Jaffna, on August 1, 2007. 

Sri Lankan intelligence officer threatens protestors in Mullaitivu

An officer attached to Sri Lanka's intelligence unit threatened the families of the disappeared who were protesting at the Mullativu Bus stand yesterday, by harassing them and taking photographs of each person. He went on to chase the protestors demanding they go home. 

Tamil families of the disappeared reject death certificates for their loved ones

Tamil families of the disappeared gathered in Mullaitivu and rejected the Sri Lankan government’s offer of death certificates, as they demanded justice for the forcible abductions of their loved ones.

The protestors demanded to know why the Sri Lankan government-run Office of Missing Persons (OMP), was in haste to provide the protesting women with death certificates.

"If the death certificate is the answer to why our children are still missing, then who are the murderers?" they demanded.

Sri Lanka still without an IGP as elections loom near

Days after Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, whose appointment was tainted with controversy, has been forced to step away from performing his duties as the Inspector General of Police, following a Supreme Court decision, Sri Lanka continues to function without a sitting IGP, which according to sources poses a security concern as the country prepares to head to polls in September this year. 

Transparency International challenges Sri Lanka's VFS in courts

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has filed a case in the Supreme Court calling for action against the procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of VFS, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for the issuance of visas for tourists visiting Sri Lanka.