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…

Fishing communities in Trincomalee face ongoing tension and violence

A tense situation has erupted between the fishing communities in Manayaveli and Samudragama in Trincomalee. This incident follows multiple reports of tension between fishing villages in Trincomalee

Villagers from Manayaveli traditionally involved in fishing claim that in the past few years, they have been assaulted, their fishing equipment damaged, and catch stolen in mid-sea by unknown persons, causing them to lose their main source of income on top of bodily harm. One of the victims said:

University students participate in first TSOC Olympics

On 2nd April 2023, the inaugural inter-university Tamil society athletics competition was set up and held by Queen Mary’s Tamil society, Bart’s Tamil Society and ES sports. Universities from across the UK competed to be crowned the TSOC Olympic Champions by participating in multiple field, track and mixed events.

German Police file legal case against Tamil for holding Eelam national flag

A German court will hear a legal case against a Tamil individual for waving the Eelam national during a Tamil community event.

The trial will be held on Wednesday 19 April 2023 at the district court in Tiergarten, Berlin.

Tamil father dies without knowing fate of forcibly disappeared daughter

A Tamil father who has been searching for his forcibly disappeared daughter for over a decade passed away today. 

72 year old Kanapathy Kandiah had been a part of the families of the disappeared protest in Mullaitivu demanding justice for his daughter, Thiruva Kandiah, who was forcibly disappeared during the final phase of the armed conflict in May 2009. 

Soppana Sundari - Engine trouble

 

 

 

Note: there are some cuts made to the theatrical release of 'Soppana Sundari' in the UK to suit the family audience.

Tamil MPs hold discussion with Thiriyai residents over land grabbing attempt by Sinhala Buddhist monk

Earlier this week, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP R. Shanakiyan and Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP M. A. Sumanthiran met with residents of Thiriyai, Trincomalee, to discuss their concerns about the land that has been taken by the Girihandu Seya Viharaya, a Buddhist temple in the area.

Vedukkunaari mountain temple meets with Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

Representatives from the administrative body of the Vedukkunaari mountain temple and several Hindu organisations from Vavuniya met with the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka to discuss issues related to threats to the temple.

The administrative body of the Athi Lingeswaran Temple shared concerns about the destruction and vandalism of idols in their temple, obstacles presented by the Archaeological Department to replace and reconsecrate the idols, and ongoing Sinhala colonisation of various villages on the border of the Northern provinces with the High Commissioner. They also presented documentation detailing these issues over the past few years.

Church group forcibly enters Uthayan newspaper office

Members of a Jaffna church congregation forcibly entered the Uthayan newspaper office in Jaffna, and disrupted operations and caused chaos. The incident followed a story reported by Uthayan that implicated a pastor and his congregation in an assault. 

According to the story published in Uthayan, a pastor and his congregation entered the house of an elderly woman in Achchuveli, and assaulted her and two others in the house. The victims then made a complaint at the closest police station, who arrested three persons including the pastor and his son. 

Court orders further investigation regarding the vandalism and destruction of the Athi Lingeswaran Temple

The hearing of the case related to the vandalism and destruction of the Athi Lingeswaran temple atop the Vedukkunaari mountain was held on 10th April at the Magistrate Court in Vavuniya. 

During the hearing, the police submitted a report based on their investigations and said that further investigations are ongoing. The Police also said that no arrests have been made in regards to this case. 

The Court ordered the next hearing to be held on 24th April and requested the Police department to conclude the necessary investigations as soon as possible. 

Youths in Mullaitivu hold boat race and festivities to celebrate Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, Tamil youths in Mullaitivu organized a boat race and other festivities to celebrate the occasion.

The boat race was divided into two categories, with 25 horsepower boats and 40 horsepower boats competing.

The festivities continued into the evening of 9th April and were open to participants of all ages, from children to the elderly.