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…

Memorial held in Jaffna to mark 42 years since Welikada prison massacre

Jul 28, 2025
A memorial event was held in Jaffna on Saturday to mark the 42nd anniversary of the massacre of key members of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) inside Welikada Prison in 1983 - a massacre widely remembered as one of the darkest chapters in Sri Lanka’s treatment of Tamil political prisoners.

Black July commemorated in Jaffna with seminar and torch-lit protest

Jul 28, 2025
A public memorial seminar was held in Jaffna to commemorate Black July, bringing together political leaders and activists under the theme “Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow”

Sri Lankan police summon Tamil human rights activist in Sinhala only

Jul 28, 2025
Sri Lankan police have summoned Tamil human rights activist S. Sivayoganathan for further inquiry, months after he lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) over the suppression of a Tamil commemorative event.

Chemmani mass grave excavation continues – 104 bodies identified

Jul 28, 2025
Five more human skeletal remains were exhumed on Sunday from Chemmani mass graves, bringing the total recovered to 95

North-East unites in call for international probe into Tamil genocide

Jul 28, 2025

Protest across north east

Widespread protests were held across the North-East this weekend as Tamil families of the disappeared, civil society organisations, and human rights defenders rallied to demand an international, independent investigative mechanism into the genocide committed against the Tamil people.

Recognising statehood

Jul 27, 2025
This week, France’s president Emmanuel Macron announced his government would move to recognise the State of Palestine. Though not the first state, nor even first European country, to do so, as a G7 nation and permanent member of the UN Security Council, the move carries significant weight.

Chemmani mass grave - 90 bodies identified, so far

Jul 25, 2025
The bodies of at least 90 people, including children, have been identified at the Chemmani mass grave to date, as excavations continue under Sri Lankan court supervision.

Explainer: Another mass grave and the 1990 Sampur Massacres 

Jul 25, 2025
Following the discovery of another set of human remains in Sampur this week, just metres from where at least 57 Tamil civilians were murdered by Sri Lankan government forces in July 1990, we re-examine the massacres.

Ponnambalam slams government’s efforts to whitewash Black July

Jul 24, 2025

NPP officials in Jaffna this week.

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader and Member of Parliament Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam delivered a scathing speech in Sri Lanka’s parliament this week, condemning the government for whitewashing the memory of the Black July pogrom and enabling continued land appropriation in the North-East.

Jaffna commemorates 42 years since Black July pogrom

Jul 24, 2025


Commemorations marking the 42nd anniversary of Black July were held in Jaffna yesterday, as Tamils across the North-East remembered the victims of the state-sponsored anti-Tamil pogrom that took place in July 1983.

Earlier on Wednesday, students at the University of Jaffna gathered at the campus and laid flowers before a portrait the read the words “Black July Genocide”.  

Memorial held in Jaffna to mark 42 years since Welikada prison massacre
Black July commemorated in Jaffna with seminar and torch-lit protest
Sri Lankan police summon Tamil human rights activist in Sinhala only
Chemmani mass grave excavation continues – 104 bodies identified
North-East unites in call for international probe into Tamil genocide
Recognising statehood
Chemmani mass grave - 90 bodies identified, so far
Explainer: Another mass grave and the 1990 Sampur Massacres 
Ponnambalam slams government’s efforts to whitewash Black July
Jaffna commemorates 42 years since Black July pogrom
Memorial held in Jaffna to mark 42 years since Welikada prison massacre
Black July commemorated in Jaffna with seminar and torch-lit protest
Sri Lankan police summon Tamil human rights activist in Sinhala only
Chemmani mass grave excavation continues – 104 bodies identified
North-East unites in call for international probe into Tamil genocide
Recognising statehood
Chemmani mass grave - 90 bodies identified, so far
Explainer: Another mass grave and the 1990 Sampur Massacres 
Ponnambalam slams government’s efforts to whitewash Black July
Jaffna commemorates 42 years since Black July pogrom