Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A New Year celebration titled the ‘Tamil-Sinhala New Year,’ organised by the Umanthava Buddhist Village and the Sri Sathagam Ashram group, was held in Neduntheevu on Monday, raising concerns over the growing Sinhala-Buddhist presence and cultural encroachment in the Tamil homeland. The event took place at Maviddapuram Roman Catholic School in Neduntheevu (Delft Island), with around 350 Tamil…

Sri Lankan court imposes travel ban on former state minister

The Mahara Magistrate’s Court has imposed an overseas travel ban on former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, alongside former Kelaniya PS member Milroy Perera and former Minister Mervyn Silva’s Parliamentary Secretary, Sarath Kumara Edirisinghe, in connection with an alleged illegal state land sale.

Sri Lanka reiterates rejection of international justice for war crimes

No police or land powers to provincial councils - NPP affirms 72 hours  before polls | Tamil Guardian

The Sri Lankan government has once again ruled out any international accountability mechanism for addressing war crimes, stating that it will rely solely on domestic institutions such as the judiciary and the police to pursue justice.

Who is Pan Yue? China’s ‘Ethnic Affairs’ Minister and his visit to Sri Lanka

China’s Minister of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Pan Yue, led a high-profile delegation to Colombo last month, where he discussed ‘ethnic harmony’ and ‘reconciliation efforts’ with Sri Lankan officials.

Wickremesinghe’s £1,000-a-day butler: Extravagant £40,000 trip to London revealed

The Sri Lankan government has revealed that former president Ranil Wickremesinghe hired a butler for a trip to the United Kingdom, paying an astonishing £1,000 per day, for which he tried to claim expenses through the High Commission in London.

The two-day trip, made in September last year, cost a staggering £40,000 in total, said Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake.

US Ambassador Chung praises Donald Trump’s vision

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding economic ties with Sri Lanka, as US Ambassador Julie Chung championed Donald Trump’s trade policies in a speech at the Rotary Club Joint Meeting on March 12. 

While touting Sri Lanka as a key partner, Chung placed heavy emphasis on Trump’s "America First" vision, which she argued does "not mean America alone" but rather signals a new phase of US-led economic expansion.

Selective justice is not justice

The true test of the NPP government’s commitment to justice will not be Batalanda. Instead, it will be whether it extends its accountability efforts beyond select cases to the full breadth of state-perpetrated crimes - particularly those committed against Tamils.

Sri Lankan navy detains 14 Indian fishermen amid ongoing tensions

The Sri Lankan Navy has detained 14 Indian fishermen for allegedly crossing into Sri Lankan waters and engaging in fishing activities, in the latest escalation of the longstanding maritime tensions across the Palk Strait.

Sri Lanka deports Indian pastors from Jaffna

Sri Lanka deports two Indian pastors and 13 others for alleged visa violations

Buddhist monks seize thousands of acres in Trincomalee as land grabs continue

TNA MP alleges Buddhist monks have taken over 3,820 acres in Trincomalee, impacting agriculture and rice production

Indian Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka in April amidst growing investment

Narendra Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Sri Lanka in April to sign several agreements and inaugurate the long-delayed Sampur solar power plant in Trincomalee, Vijitha Herath confirmed on Saturday.

"We have maintained a close relationship with our neighbour India. Our first diplomatic visit was to India, where we reached several agreements on bilateral cooperation," Herath stated.