Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day 2025 commemorated in the Netherlands
Marking the 16th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal massacre, Tamil organisations in the Netherlands held a memorial event at Dam Square in Amsterdam, on 18 May 2025, in remembrance of the tens of thousands of Tamil killed during the 2009 genocide. The event was jointly organised by the Netherlands Tamil Coordination Committee and Tamil Youth Organisation. A floral tribute ceremony, following…

Jaffna University students call for international airport in Northern Province

Apr 21, 2015
A group of Jaffna students called on the Indian government to build an international airport in Jaffna, reports Ceylon Today.

Speaking to a Tamil magazine, whilst on study tour in Tamil Nadu, the students said, that in international airport in Jaffna would aid the aviation industry in South India.

Adding that a new airport would reduce unemployment, the students said,

Sri Lankan government has failed to address housing issue says TNA spokesperson

Apr 20, 2015
The Sri Lankan government has failed to address the issue of housing for displaced Tamils in the North, said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian and spokesperson Suresh Premachandran.

"Simply releasing the lands is not enough,” said Mr Premachandran, commenting on the government's recent release of land in Jaffna. “The government should consider providing the people being resettled with some basic facilities to the people to enable them to pick up the threads of life once again" he said.

Earlier reports emerged that the Sri Lankan military had built army camps where houses of displaced Tamils once stood, in the recently released land in Valikaamam North. Families who have been unable to resettle there are still languishing in welfare centres in the North.

Calls for international NGOs to be permitted to help Sampur IDPs

Apr 20, 2015

Trincomalee’s Urban Council member, S Nanthakumar, has urged the government to allow international and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sampur.

Sri Lanka to streamline processes to lure more African and Asian FDI

Apr 20, 2015

The Sri Lankan government has vowed to streamline processes to obtain investment permits, in order to lure more investments from Asia and Africa, according to The Jakarta Post.

Rajapaksa support rises as 100,000 left jobless by Sri Lanka's new government, says Gotobaya

Apr 20, 2015
Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa has more support than he had in the presidential elections and should be elected as the prime minister to save the country, said the former defence secretary Gotobaya Rajapaksa, noting that 100,000 people had been rendered jobless since the new government was elected.  

Speaking in an interview with the New Indian Express, Gotobaya called on president Sirisena to call parliamentary elections and appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister to “save the country.”

Accusing the new government of stalling economic progress and development, Gotobaya said,

“All economic development projects initiated by the Rajapaksa government have been brought to a standstill. In the construction sector alone, over 100,000 workers have been rendered jobless.”

Bribery Commission drops hearing of Rajapaksa after overnight protests

Apr 20, 2015
Sri Lanka’s government assured parliament that it would not call the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in front of a bribery commission after MPs protested in parliament and Rajapaksa supporters protested outside.

MPs who protested in parliament overnight ended their protest on Tuesday, after the government it would not question Mahinda Rajapaksa over bribery allegations, reports Colombo Page.

Debate on 19A to Sri Lanka's constitution delayed

Apr 20, 2015
Sri Lanka’s parliament decided to delay the debate on implementation of the 19th Amendment after protests against summoning of Mahinda Rajakapsa to the bribery commission disrupted proceedings on Tuesday.

The 19th Amendment, which looks to curb the powers of executive presidency will be taken up for debate on the 27th of April and voted for on the 28th, reports Colombo Page.

The 19th Amendment to the constitution faced opposition from several MPs, with Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court ruling that parts of it would require a referendum in parliament to be passed.

DNA tests to be carried out on suspected killers of Tamil MP

Apr 20, 2015
The Sri Lankan police announced that blood samples collected from the suspected killers of TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj are to be sent for DNA testing, more than 8 years after the parliamentarian was gunned down in Colombo.

Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department (CID)  made the announcement, stating the the blood samples of Sri Lankan navy personnel suspected of carrying out the execution had been dispatched for testing.

It follows the arrest of three members of the navy, including two officers, for the November 2006 murder.

Sirisena to call general elections after implementation of 19A and 20A

Apr 19, 2015
The Sri Lankan President, confirmed that the next general parliamentary elections will be held after the 19th and 20th amendments to the constitution were implemented, reports Colombo Page.

Implementation of the 19th amendment to the constitution, which abolishes powers of the executive presidency has faced opposition by Sri Lankan parliament, with the supreme court recently ruling that parts of it could only be implemented after a referendum.

Old situation continues' in Sri Lanka says Communist Party of India

Apr 19, 2015
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) passed a resolution stating that the situation in Sri Lanka remains a “matter of concern”, calling for the restoration of lands seized from Tamils and the implementation of the 13th amendment.

The 21st Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday said that though the Sri Lankan government has “promised and has taken certain steps... it is a matter of concern that the old situation continues by and large”, for the Tamil people on the island.
Sri Lankan government has failed to address housing issue says TNA spokesperson
Calls for international NGOs to be permitted to help Sampur IDPs
Sri Lanka to streamline processes to lure more African and Asian FDI
Rajapaksa support rises as 100,000 left jobless by Sri Lanka's new government, says Gotobaya
Bribery Commission drops hearing of Rajapaksa after overnight protests
Debate on 19A to Sri Lanka's constitution delayed
DNA tests to be carried out on suspected killers of Tamil MP
Sirisena to call general elections after implementation of 19A and 20A
Old situation continues' in Sri Lanka says Communist Party of India
Sri Lankan prime minister defends comments on Indian fishermen
Sri Lankan government has failed to address housing issue says TNA spokesperson
Calls for international NGOs to be permitted to help Sampur IDPs
Sri Lanka to streamline processes to lure more African and Asian FDI
Rajapaksa support rises as 100,000 left jobless by Sri Lanka's new government, says Gotobaya
Bribery Commission drops hearing of Rajapaksa after overnight protests
Debate on 19A to Sri Lanka's constitution delayed
DNA tests to be carried out on suspected killers of Tamil MP
Sirisena to call general elections after implementation of 19A and 20A
Old situation continues' in Sri Lanka says Communist Party of India
Sri Lankan prime minister defends comments on Indian fishermen