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…

‘Ray of Hope’ documentary screens at the Frontline Club in London

‘Ray of Hope’, a documentary detailing the journey of former Canadian MP for Scarborough- Rouge River, Rathika Sitsabaiesan, to Sri Lanka’s and the island’s troubled history with genocide and accountability, was screened for at the Frontline Club in London on Tuesday night.

EPDP MP funds Sinhalese settlers in Tamil homeland

Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) parliamentarian Kulasingam Thileeban has reportedly allocated nearly Rs 1 million in aid of development activities that will allow Sinhalese settlers to relocate to the army-sponsored Nandimithragaama in Vanni. 

No hope a Sinhalese government will ever provide a permanent solution to Tamils' - Tamil Families of the Disappeared

Marking 15 years since the end of the armed conflict, Tamil Families of the forcibly Disappeared staged a protest in Mannar demanding an international investigation to shed light on the fate of the thousands forcibly disappeared by the Sri Lankan military.

The Mannar's Association of the Relatives of the Forcibly Disappeared held a protest today in front of the Mannar District Secretariat under the leadership of Manuel Udaya Chandra, the president of the assocation.

‘Have you no shame?’ Families of the disappeared slam Tamil politicians for engaging with Sri Lanka’s President

Responding to meetings between Tamil politicians and Sri Lanka’s President, during his visit to the Northern Province last week, Tamil Families of the Disappeared have protested the action of Tamil politicians and for not raising their issues.

 

Tamil protests block Sri Lankan Navy land grab attempt in Jaffna

Tamil Protests block an attempted land grab as the Sri Lankan Navy looks to survey four acres for military camp construction.

Leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Sivagnanam Shritharan raised objections over the Sri Lankan Navy’s land grab at Ponnalai in Thiruvadi Nilai alleging that although the land acquisition was temporarily halted due to public protest, it should be stopped permanently. 

Remembering the 1958 pogrom

On 27 May 1958, the Sri Lankan state declared a state of emergency after Sinhala mobs had began attacking, raping and murdering Tamils across the island on 22 May 1958. The series of violence was to become another in a series of deadly anti-Tamil pogroms.

Estimates range from between 300 and 1,500 Tamils murdered in the days of violence which resulted in many more injured and the arson, looting and destruction of Tamil homes and businesses.

Labour Party reiterates pledges to Tamils and calls to refer Sri Lanka to ICC

Senior figures within the Labour Party addressed an event to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day at the Houses of Parliament this month, where they reiterated pledges to British Tamils and called for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

‘We are not slaves!’ - Anti-Indian sentiment flares in Sri Lanka after VFS visa scandal

A protest was held outside the Immigration and Emigration Department in Colombo last month, as anti-Indian sentiment flared in the wake of controversy over VFS Global, a private firm tasked with issuing visas at the Bandaranaike International Airport. 

US representatives affirm their commitment to advancing accountability for war crimes

Marking the 15th anniversary of the Tamil genocide, US representatives of Congress have introduced a landmark resolution urging the United States to push for an independence referendum for Eelam Tamils and members have issued a statement expressing their concerns over the crackdowns on genocide memorials.

Liberal Democrats demand accountability for genocide and ICC referral for Sri Lanka

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, reaffirmed his party’s support for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) “so at long last there can be accountability for the genocide”.

“Today the Sri Lankan government is as bad as ever,” said Davey, in a video statement released to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.