Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Namal Rajapaksa, parliamentarian and son of accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa, has called on the Sri Lankan government to summon the Canadian High Commissioner to formally protest the unveiling of a Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton, Canada, claiming it promotes a “false genocide narrative” and “distorts history.” In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Rajapaksa accused the…

Sivagnanam Shritharan pays tribute to Maaveerar after being elected as ITAK leader

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In a closely contested poll held at the Trincomalee Municipal Council Auditorium on Sunday, Member of Parliament Sivagnanam Shritharan clinched victory, securing the position of the new leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), a Tamil political party that has headed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) coalition. Immediately following the announcement, Shritharan paid his respects at Kanagapuram Maveerar Thuyilum Illam, to pay homage to Tamils who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Tamil Eelam.

"I wanted the past to be very present" - Interview with Akil Kumarasamy

“Why is it so unbearable to look in the face of human vulnerability?” asks author Akil Kumarasamy, in her latest literary offering “Meet us by the Roaring Sea” - a question apt for a society grappling with a loneliness epidemic. 

Pongal in Westminster - British Tamils celebrate Thai Pongal

British Tamils gathered in London on Monday for an evening filled with an array of performances to celebrate Thai Pongal and mark Tamil Heritage Month. 

Guests filled the iconic Church House in Westminster, which hosted the first UN Security Council in 1946, to watch dance and musical performances depicting the richness of Tamil culture and to hear from British parliamentarians who praised the Tamil community for their contributions to the UK. 

University of Nottingham wins its first Kings of Gaana dance competition

The eleventh annual ‘Kings of Gaana’ took place at Troxy on 10th December, helmed by King’s College London's Tamil Society.

Extremist Sri Lankan Buddhist monk advocates for dictatorship

Speaking with Sri Lanks’ Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles, extremist Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Asgiri Anunayake Vendaruve Upali, advocated for the establishment of a dictatorship to rebuild the country.

This is not the first time that Upali’s comments have caused outrage. On the 69th birthday of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Upali urged the war crimes accused former defence secretary to come to power, even if it means establishing military rule.

Jaffna University pays tribute to Malayaga Tamils

At a remembrance event held at Jaffna University last week, students gathered to pay tribute to members of the Malayaga Tamil community who had fought for the rights of their people.

Students laid flowers and lit candles before a portrait that showed the scarred hands of a tea plantation worker.

UK Heath Secretary full of praise for British Tamils at Number 10’s Pongal Reception

British Tamils gathered at the Prime Minister’s residence at Downing Street today to celebrate Thai Pongal, a festival marked to give thanks to the sun for the harvest.

An attempt to ward off international pressure? Clandestine meeting between Buddhist monks and Shiv Sena in Kurunthurmalai

A private meeting was held at Kurunthurmalai, involving members of the illegally constructed Buddhist vihara and alleged members of Shiv Sena, in what locals fear may be an attempt to ward off international condemnation of Sinhalisation in the Tamil homeland.

Sri Lanka to attend Non-Aligned Movement summit, even as it joins coalition against Houthis

Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to participate in the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Uganda, even as he pledged to send a navy ship to the Red Sea to join a Western coalition against Yemen’s Houthis.

Protest in Jaffna shows solidarity with Batticaloa farmers

A protest was held in Jaffna on Tuesday January 16, as demonstrators gathered to demand justice for the beleaguered farmers of Batticaloa, who have faced repeated attacks by Sinhala settlers.