Funny Boy is a courageous, groundbreaking novel by Shyam Selvadurai centering a young, Gay Tamil boy in Colombo, [Sri] Lanka/Ilankai during the 1983 massacre of Tamils. As the novel — which had unearthed oft-silenced truths about the lived experiences of Intersex, Trans, and Queer Tamil-speaking communities — makes its way to the big screen, we find ourselves once again working to break through the false narratives around our communities’ experiences.

Following the release of Deepa Mehta’s ‘Funny Boy’ trailer, the film came under fire and faced calls for a boycott over Mehta’s links to the Rajapaksa regime and the lack of Tamil representation in the film. 

As ‘Funny Boy’ was being released on Netflix last week, Tamil Guardian spoke to Sinthujan Varatharajah, a researcher essayist and political geographer based in Berlin, who brought the controversies of the film to the forefront in a series of powerful infographics posted across social media. 

The United States announced that it has withdrawn its offer of a Rs. 89 billion Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant to Sri Lanka, “due to lack of partner country engagement”.

The US statement comes after months of controversy around the grant, which has seen widespread Sinhala nationalist opposition.

A newly launched archive that hosts the works of Anton Balasingham was launched this week, marking the 14^th anniversary since the passing of the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). 

A remembrance ceremony was held in Paris this week, as French Tamils gathered to mark 14 years since the passing of Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Protests have taken place across the North-East today, as Tamils and Muslims across the region demonstrated against the Sri Lankan government’s policy of forcibly cremating Muslims, who it states have contracted the coronavirus.

The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) called on the Sri Lankan government yesterday to explain in court the fate of hundreds of Tamils and Sinhalese who are missing or forcibly disappeared, according to newly released government lists.

A fire has broken out at Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court complex in Colombo.

At least eight fire brigade units have been dispatched.

England’s cricket team confirmed it will be embarking on a tour to Sri Lanka next month, where members will be spending five days at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, amidst fears over deteriorating human rights on the island and growing calls from anti-racism campaigners for a sporting boycott. 

Amnesty International has called on the Sri Lankan government to “implement their commitments to release hundreds of detainees to ease overcrowding and improve prison conditions” amidst the growing threat of COVID-19 across prisons, and also called for an investigations into a prison fire started by Sri Lankan police officers opening fire, at the end of last month at Mahara Prison Complex.

In their statement, the human rights group stated:

Sri Lankan police removed white cloths from the Borella Kanatte crematorium gate in Colombo last night, with the military, intelligence personnel and police also interrogating and taking photographs of those visiting the site.

The cloths were tied on Saturday, as an act of solidarity with the Muslim community.

Today marks 14 years since the passing of the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Anton Balasingham. 

Balasingham, or as he was fondly known among Tamils - Bala Anna, was widely respected and adored by the nation. His charismatic addresses in venues around the world drew tens of thousands, as he provided political analysis with sharp wit. Leading LTTE delegations through numerous negotiations, Bala Anna eloquently and forcefully articulated the rights of the nation. His intellectual prowess and political acumen earned him respect from all sides of the negotiating table.