Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

  To mark 16 years since the Sri Lankan military onslaught that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils, we revisit the final days leading up to the 18th of May 2009 – a date remembered around the world as ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day’.  After providing an initial death toll of 40,000, the UN found evidence suggesting that 70,000 were killed. Local census records…

Am I A Settler Too? Reflections of a Sinhalese from Sri Lanka after Gaza

Nalin Jayathunga, a Sri Lankan researcher, wrote on how “protesting the genocide currently unfolding in Gaza” made them question their own position “with reference to violence perpetrated by the Sri Lankan State against the Tamil population”.  

Sri Lanka pledges 1 billion rupees for research between Buddha's teachings and artificial intelligence

Sri Lanka's pledges 1 billion rupees for research between Buddha's teachings and artificial intelligence citing that the "rule of law is paramount" for the development and use of artificial intelligence. 

Sri Lankan police arrest four Tamils for distributing Mullivaikkal kanji in Trincomalee

Sri Lankan police arrested four Tamils this evening for distributing Mullivaikkal Kanji in Sampur, as part of commemorations of the 15th anniversary of the Tamil genocide. 

Sri Lanka to set up 50 ‘rehabilitation centres’ in North-East

Sri Lanka’s Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon announced that the controversial military-backed anti-narcotic crackdown ‘Operation Yukthiya’ would see “rehabilitation centres” opened across the island - including at least 50 in the North-East.

‘Hope and resistance’ – Preparations underway at Mullivaikkal to commemorate Tamil genocide

Preparations are currently underway at Mullivaikkal, the site of the massacres of tens of thousands of Tamils in 2009, as the homeland prepares to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Tamil genocide.

Tamil families of the disappeared distribute Mullivaikkal Kanji in Mannar

Tamil families of the disappeared served Mullivaikkal Kanji in Mannar yesterday to commemorate 15 years since the genocide at Mullivaikkal. 

Tamil man killed after Sri Lankan police officer kicks motorbike off course in Jaffna

A Tamil man has died after Sri Lankan police kicked the motorbike he was travelling on, causing him to collide with a concrete pillar and sustain fatal injuries.

The man has been identified as 41-year-old Selvanayakam Pradeepan, a resident of Koppay South. Sri Lankan police claim that Pradeepan failed to stop at a checkpoint in Jaffna. Officers further along the road were reportedly alerted, with one blocking Pradeepan’s path and kicking his motorbike.

Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week commences in the North-East

The start of Tamil Genocide Remembrance week is being marked today across the North-East, one week before May 18, when the Tamil nation will mark 15 years since the Mullivaikkal genocide. 

As part of the commemorations, Tamils in the North-East are boiling and serving kanji to honour the Tamils that were killed by Sri Lanka's armed forces in the massacre at Mullivaikkal. 

Memories from Mullivaikkal - Exhibition in London documents atrocities and global Tamil diaspora protests

Trigger warning: Distressing images depicting violence and death are featured throughout the article. 

An exhibition documenting the Mullivaikkal genocide and the global protests by the Tamil diaspora in 2009 is being held over the weekend in New Malden, London.  

Lessons from Mullivaikkal

As Eelam Tamils prepare to mark 15 years since the Mullivaikkal genocide next week, the international community seems to be grappling with a rise in violence and instability across the globe. From Sudan to Myanmar, and particularly in Gaza, conflicts are raging, and civilians are dying in massive numbers. International humanitarian law continues to be routinely, and in many cases blatantly, violated. As policymakers look at ways to tackle this wave of turmoil, they should reflect and act on the failures from Mullivaikkal.