Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan military involvement in civilian life across the Tamil homeland has continued this week, with the armed forces continuing to entrench themselves in events across the North-East. Pottuvil, Amparai: Military embedded in civilian and ecological spaces On 26 April 2025, the Sri Lankan Navy partnered with the Rotaract Informatics Institute of Technology to plant 1,000 mangrove plants at…

Details from skeletons exhumed last year in Kokkuthoduvai to be finally made public

More than a year after a set of skeletons presumed to be those of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters were unearthed from a mass grave in Kokkuthoduvai, their details are finally to be made public after repeated delays and accusations of a cover-up.

World Bank congratulates AKD, looks to deepen relations

The World Bank has extended its congratulations to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while reaffirming its commitment to support Sri Lanka as the country embarks on resetting its economy. In a letter signed by Martin Raiser, Vice President for the South Asia Region, and Riccardo Puliti, Vice President for Asia and the Pacific at the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank reiterated its readiness to assist as Dissanayake leads the nation forward.

Wigneswaran withdraws from running in election to 'make room' for Tamil youth

Jaffna MP C VWigneswaran has confirmed that he will withdraw from the running in the upcoming General Election, which is to be held on November 14th, stating that the opportunity should be given to Tamil youths to enter parliament instead.

In a statement released to the media, he says that he has decided not to contest so that this space could be given to the youth instead. He said he would continue to stay in Jaffna and engage in political activities in his capacity. 

Fitch Ratings affirms Sri Lanka’s 'Restricted Default' status following election

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lanka's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'RD' (Restricted Default) and its Long-Term Local-Currency IDR at 'CCC', citing concerns that the recent election of Anura Dissanayake as president, adds "uncertainty to the country’s policy direction".

New Sri Lankan foreign minister's first remarks thank Saudi Arabia for combatting UN resolutions on war crimes

Sri Lanka's newest Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath kicked off his tenure by thanking Saudia Arabia for supporting Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, where Colombo is rejecting calls for an international accountability mechanism for atrocities committed against Tamils.

Herath, a senior Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader, was speaking at Saudi Arabia’s National Day event in Colombo this week, shortly after he was appointed as foreign minister.

Tamils commemorate Thileepan's sacrifice across the North-East

 

Tamils across the North-East are marking 37 years since the death of Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE, who fasted unto death in a protest appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people.

Two days before Thileepan began his fast, he put forward five demands  to the Indian government following the signing of the Indo-Lanka accord in July 1987.  The 23 year old passed away after refusing food and water for 11 days. 

'We were taken by force and our heads were shaved' - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister criticises Sri Lanka's arrest of fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene following a spate of arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka and the punishment, including hefty fines, subsequently meted out. 

President Dissanayake's vow to end divisions based on ethnicity

In his inaugural address this week, newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to dismantle divisions rooted in race, religion, and ethnicity, despite the fact that Sri Lanka has been deeply divided along these lines for decades. Speaking in a televised address, Dissanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka’s future depends on fostering unity among all its citizens, regardless of whether they identify as Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, or Malay.

Remembering Thileepan's sacrifice 37 years on

Today marks 37 years since the death of Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE who fasted to death, in a protest appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people.

Today marks 37 years since the death of Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE who fasted to death, in a protest appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people.

Tamil families of the disappeared commemorate Thileepan in Vavuniya

Tamil families of the disappeared commemorated Lt Col Thileepan in Vavuniya to mark 37 years since he fasted unto death.

Tamil families of the disappeared commemorated Lt Col Thileepan in Vavuniya to mark 37 years since he fasted unto death.