Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Headless remains and body with raincoat uncovered at Chemmani as CID falters
Skeletal remains found without skulls, and a body wearing a raincoat, are among the latest discoveries at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, where the number of sets of human remains identified has risen to 478 as the third phase of court-supervised excavations continues. The findings come as Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department told the Jaffna Magistrate's Court on Thursday that it…

UN expert slams Sri Lanka’s targeting of Tamil journalist under anti-terror probe

Aug 20, 2025
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor, has expressed concern over the interrogation of Tamil journalist and human rights defender Kanapathipillai Kumanan by Sri Lanka’s Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID).

From Gaza to Bangkok: Colombo turns foreign conflicts into job markets

Aug 19, 2025
Sri Lanka is once again seizing on foreign conflicts to export its labour force, as Thailand announced it will recruit 10,000 Sri Lankan workers to fill shortages caused by the mass return of Cambodian labourers following deadly border clashes.

Tamil diaspora groups urge UN to treat Eelam Tamils’ struggle as unfinished decolonisation

Aug 19, 2025
Tamil American organisations have called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to recognise the struggle of the Eelam Tamils as an unresolved case of decolonisation, warning that decades of inaction have entrenched impunity for genocide and denied justice to survivors.

Israeli tourist injured in Arugam Bay robbery

Aug 19, 2025
An Israeli tourist was injured in Arugam Bay after leaping from a moving tuk-tuk to escape an attempted robbery, in an incident that has again drawn attention to the presence of Israeli tourists on the island.

Expressway to nowhere: $500m yuan loan pushes Sri Lanka further into Chinese debt

Aug 19, 2025
Sri Lanka is set to borrow the equivalent of US$500 million in Chinese yuan from the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM) to resume work on the long-delayed Central Expressway (CEP 1).

Sri Lankan Navy handed powers to run controversial maritime security operations

Aug 19, 2025
The Sri Lankan government has vested fresh powers in the navy to run a maritime security operation project, reviving a role once mired in controversy and corruption under Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt).

US State Department highlights entrenched impunity, repression and rights abuses in Sri Lanka

Aug 19, 2025

The United States State Department’s 2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Sri Lanka has detailed a litany of human rights violations – from extrajudicial killings and torture to press suppression and prolonged detention – underscoring that the government has taken “minimal steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses.”

Ongoing intimidation and repression 

Convicted Sri Lankan soldier reveals more mass graves and political cover ups

Aug 19, 2025
Somaratne Rajapakse, the Sri Lankan soldier convicted in the 1996 rape and murder of Tamil schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy, has revealed further details of mass graves in Jaffna, implicating senior politicians and the army in a systematic cover-up.

Mannar environmental protection protest enters 17th day

Aug 19, 2025
Mannar protest against wind towers and sand mining enters 17th day

'Chemmani mass graves demand justice' - British Tamils petitions UK Prime Minister

Aug 19, 2025
The Movement for Self-Determination of Tamil Eelam (MSDTE) has submitted a petition to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging the United Kingdom to pass a parliamentary resolution recognising the crimes committed in Chemmani and referring Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
UN expert slams Sri Lanka’s targeting of Tamil journalist under anti-terror probe
From Gaza to Bangkok: Colombo turns foreign conflicts into job markets
Tamil diaspora groups urge UN to treat Eelam Tamils’ struggle as unfinished decolonisation
Israeli tourist injured in Arugam Bay robbery
Expressway to nowhere: $500m yuan loan pushes Sri Lanka further into Chinese debt
Sri Lankan Navy handed powers to run controversial maritime security operations
US State Department highlights entrenched impunity, repression and rights abuses in Sri Lanka
Convicted Sri Lankan soldier reveals more mass graves and political cover ups
Mannar environmental protection protest enters 17th day
'Chemmani mass graves demand justice' - British Tamils petitions UK Prime Minister
UN expert slams Sri Lanka’s targeting of Tamil journalist under anti-terror probe
From Gaza to Bangkok: Colombo turns foreign conflicts into job markets
Tamil diaspora groups urge UN to treat Eelam Tamils’ struggle as unfinished decolonisation
Israeli tourist injured in Arugam Bay robbery
Expressway to nowhere: $500m yuan loan pushes Sri Lanka further into Chinese debt
Sri Lankan Navy handed powers to run controversial maritime security operations
US State Department highlights entrenched impunity, repression and rights abuses in Sri Lanka
Convicted Sri Lankan soldier reveals more mass graves and political cover ups
Mannar environmental protection protest enters 17th day
'Chemmani mass graves demand justice' - British Tamils petitions UK Prime Minister