Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
'Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing' - Mannar chairman demands rapper's release
Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing". Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the…

Struggle for remembrance

May 17, 2015
Lead Story
Illustration by Keera Ratnam


May 18 is etched deep into the conscience of the Tamil nation. On this day Eelam Tamils across the world remember the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians and combatants that were killed in Sri Lanka’s armed conflict. On this day the nation stands together, mourning the lives lost and marking the end of the armed movement - the most significant chapter of the Tamil resistance struggle till then. Yet on this day, while Tamils mourn, the Sinhala south celebrates. The defeat of 'terrorism' by its armed forces who committed mass atrocities against the Tamil people, and the seeming victory of Sinhala nationalism over Tamil nationalism, is marked by jubilation. It is a day in which the divisions on the island are laid bare, even more than usual. Six years on, the evidence of mass atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan state is conclusive, with reports, including by the UN, finding these crimes occurred. This is expected to be reconfirmed by the OISL in September, when it is due to present the findings of its investigation.

Police intimidation at Batticaloa May 18 remembrance event

May 17, 2015

May 18 commemorations in Vakarai

(Photographs Tamil Guardian)

Several police officers were stationed at a May 18 memorial event in Vakarai, Batticaloa, where Tamils had gathered to remember those that died in the armed conflict, which ended 6 years ago today.

Tamil National People's Front General Secretary Kajendran Selvarajah, who was at the event said the police acted in a highly intimidating manner.

"The people who attended today wanted to mourn those that died. However due to the presence of the police, who acted in a very intimidating way, our people were not able to show their emotions freely," he told the Tamil Guardian.

Mr Selvarajah said the police officers collected personal details of those who attended the event, causing further distress.

Jaffna University remembers massacre of Tamils at end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict

May 17, 2015

Jaffna University auditorium

(Photographs Tamil Guardian)

Hundreds of students attended a memorial event held at Jaffna University on Monday, marking the sixth year anniversary of the massacre of Tamils during the final stages of Sri Lanka's armed conflict.


Holding candles in their hands, students filed into the Kailasabathi auditorium and paid their respects to those who had been killed.


Whilst Sri Lankan police officers and military personnel were not seen on campus, there was an increased presence of intelligence officers in the surrounding area reported by students.

May 2009 massacre commemorated at Mullivaikkal despite ban by Sri Lankan authorities

May 17, 2015
NPC Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran lights lamp of remembrance at Mullivaikkal. Photograph Tamil Guardian

A remembrance event marking the six anniversary of the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict took place at the epicentre of the massacre, Mullivaikal, despite a ban issued by Sri Lankan authorities prohibiting public rallies.

Photograph Mayurapriyan

Many who travelled to the event had their vehicles stopped by Sri Lankan police officers and were questioned regarding their movements.

Photograph Shalin

Photograph Mayurapriyan

Prayers held at Keerimalai temple to remember Mullivaikkal dead

May 17, 2015
Photographs Tamil Guardian


Prayers were held at the Keerimalai temple on Monday morning remembering the tens of thousands who were slaughtered at the end of the Sri Lanka's armed conflict six years on.

Northern councillor marks Mullivaikkal at Nanthi Kadal despite ban

May 17, 2015
Photographs Tamil Guardian


The Northern Provincial councillor, T Ravikaran, on Monday remembered the slaughter of Tamils at the Nanthi Kadal lagoon in Mullaitivu during the final days of Sri Lanka's armed conflict, despite police issuing an order prohibiting him from holding remembrance rallies in the district.

Forces of racism still exist in Sri Lanka says GTF president

May 17, 2015
The forces of racism, extremism and selfishness are still at work in Sri Lanka, said the president of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), Father SJ Emmanuael.

In a statement made for the commemoration of mass atrocities against Tamils that took place at the end of the armed ethnic conflict in May 2009, Mr Emmanuael called on leaders to collaborate in:

May 2009 killings remembered in Mannar amid Sri Lankan court order banning planned event

May 17, 2015
Photographs Tamil Guardian

The mass killing of tens of thousands of Tamils during the final stages of Sri Lanka's armed conflict was remembered today in Mannar, despite a district court order preventing the event from taking place at the town hall as was previously arranged. 



List of 110 disappeared placed in Sri Lanka’s military custody released by ITJP

May 17, 2015

The International Truth and Justice Project - Sri Lanka (ITJP), on Monday, released a list of the names of 110 people that were seen surrendering to Sri Lanka’s military on May 18 2009 by eyewitnesses who have fled the country.

International community needed to secure justice and political solution for Tamils - CV Wigneswaran

May 17, 2015
The international community must ensure justice for war crimes, provide a political settlement for Tamils and investigate claims of genocide against the Tamil people, said the Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran in a statement read out at Monday's remembrance event in Mullivaikkal.

"We are obliged to remember those who passed away during the war. It cannot be denied that the said sad incident laid the foundation for the International Community to become aware of our predicament and this delineated our future political course,

"Six years have passed. Proper particulars of those who passed away during the said period are still to be ascertained. A transparent and honest mechanism to inquire into and report as to the identity of the perpetrators is still to be put into place. All this has created much heartache among the Tamil people," he said.

Police intimidation at Batticaloa May 18 remembrance event
Jaffna University remembers massacre of Tamils at end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict
May 2009 massacre commemorated at Mullivaikkal despite ban by Sri Lankan authorities
Prayers held at Keerimalai temple to remember Mullivaikkal dead
Northern councillor marks Mullivaikkal at Nanthi Kadal despite ban
Forces of racism still exist in Sri Lanka says GTF president
May 2009 killings remembered in Mannar amid Sri Lankan court order banning planned event
List of 110 disappeared placed in Sri Lanka’s military custody released by ITJP
International community needed to secure justice and political solution for Tamils - CV Wigneswaran
Uthayan holds Mullivaikkal remembrance event
Police intimidation at Batticaloa May 18 remembrance event
Jaffna University remembers massacre of Tamils at end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict
May 2009 massacre commemorated at Mullivaikkal despite ban by Sri Lankan authorities
Prayers held at Keerimalai temple to remember Mullivaikkal dead
Northern councillor marks Mullivaikkal at Nanthi Kadal despite ban
Forces of racism still exist in Sri Lanka says GTF president
May 2009 killings remembered in Mannar amid Sri Lankan court order banning planned event
List of 110 disappeared placed in Sri Lanka’s military custody released by ITJP
International community needed to secure justice and political solution for Tamils - CV Wigneswaran
Uthayan holds Mullivaikkal remembrance event