Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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'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…

Thousands mark May massacre at Marina beach in Tamil Nadu

May 16, 2015

Thousands of people gathered at Marina Beach in Chennai on Sunday to mark 6 years since the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan armed forces.

Sri Lankan MP's to hold 'victory day' on May 19

May 16, 2015
A group of Sri Lankan MPs will hold a ‘Victory Day’ event in Colombo on May 19 reports Ceylon Today.

Member of Parliament, Wimal Weerawansa, the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) and other MP’s, alongside their respective political parties, are expected to host the victory function.

Parliamentary ministers in Sri Lanka to leave positions to support Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign

May 16, 2015
At least 15 ministers in Sri Lanka’s parliament are expected to leave their portfolios to work with MPs that support Mahinda Rajapaksa, to bring the former president back into mainstream politics, reports Ceylon Today.

Rallies to promote Mahinda Rajapaksa as a prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming elections are expected to take place in upcoming months.

During LTTE times women were able to walk alone at night says NPC minister

May 16, 2015
The Northern Provincial Council minister for agriculture, P Aiyngaranesan, condemned the rape and murder of a school girl in Pungudutivu this week, and highlighted the fact that women walked safely even late at night when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam controlled Jaffna.

"During LTTE times women were able to walk alone even at night," Mr Aiyngaranesan was quoted by Uthayan as saying whilst addressing mourners at the school girl's memorial ceremony on Friday.

"The people have begun to yearn, asking will such a time not come again."

Sri Lankan military 'assist' in funeral of ex LTTE cadre

May 16, 2015
Sri Lankan army personnel in Kilinochchi ‘assisted’ in conducting the funeral of an ex-LTTE cadre last week.

Upon hearing about the death of the former Cadre, who died in a motorcycle accident, Sri Lankan military soldiers, put up temporary sheds to help conduct the funeral and served food at the funeral reports Ceylon Today.

Related articles:

Sri Lankan military hold prayer service during Jaffna temple festival (14 Feb 2015)

Sri Lanka military hands out chickens in Kilinochchi (14 Jan 2015)

Military recruits Tamil youths to work in army farm (14 Jan 2015)

Continuing militarisation of Tamil school children across North-East (17 Feb 2015)

Prevalence of drug use raises questions says Wigneswaran

May 16, 2015
The chief minister of the northern province and former Supreme Court justice, C V Wigneswaran said that the prevalence of drug use since the end of the armed conflict, led one to question whether it was intentionally being increased.

In a statement condemning the rape and murder of a school girl in Pungudutivu this week, Mr Wigneswaran said that the "many actions are being taken to erode people's sense that they must act within the law."

"It is necessary to question whether the use of drugs within Tamil students is being introduced intentionally," said Mr Wigneswaran.

Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre

May 16, 2015


Tamils in Denmark on Saturday commemorated the sixth year anniversary of the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009.

5 more arrested as anger continues over school girl murder

May 16, 2015
Five more men were arrested on Sunday evening in relation to the rape and murder of a school girl in Pungudutivu, amid ongoing public outcry.

The detention of the men prompted anger from locals who surrounded the Kurikadduvan police sentry point, where the men were being held, demanding that the men be handed over to them. 

The police had been attempting to the transport the men, aged between 23 and 31, to the Kayts police station, before locals came to know of the detention.



Sampur land release blocked by Supreme Court

May 15, 2015

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday suspended the release of land in Sampur, Trincomalee, as pledged by the government earlier this week.

The court suspended the gazette notification from President Maithripala Sirisena, ordering the release of land, held by the Board of Investment (BOI) which leased it to Sri Lanka Gateway Industries (SLGI).

SLGI petitioned against the release, complaining that it has incurred considerable amounts of money due to the various agreements it had entered.

Only last week the government announced it would be shifting a navy camp in Sampur and stopping Sri Lankan Board of Investment projects, in order to release land to resettle displaced villagers in the East.

We will prevent commemoration of LTTE - Sri Lanka Police

May 15, 2015

Sri Lanka's police has warned it will take action against anyone found commemorating dead members of the LTTE.

Speaking to the DailyMirror, Deputy Inspector General for the North, GK Perera, said the police have been placed on high alert "to prevent glorification of dead terrorists".

Sri Lankan MP's to hold 'victory day' on May 19
Parliamentary ministers in Sri Lanka to leave positions to support Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign
During LTTE times women were able to walk alone at night says NPC minister
Sri Lankan military 'assist' in funeral of ex LTTE cadre
Prevalence of drug use raises questions says Wigneswaran
Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre
5 more arrested as anger continues over school girl murder
Sampur land release blocked by Supreme Court
We will prevent commemoration of LTTE - Sri Lanka Police
NPC allocates Rs 40.3 million to support ex-LTTE cadres and families of detained
Sri Lankan MP's to hold 'victory day' on May 19
Parliamentary ministers in Sri Lanka to leave positions to support Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign
During LTTE times women were able to walk alone at night says NPC minister
Sri Lankan military 'assist' in funeral of ex LTTE cadre
Prevalence of drug use raises questions says Wigneswaran
Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre
5 more arrested as anger continues over school girl murder
Sampur land release blocked by Supreme Court
We will prevent commemoration of LTTE - Sri Lanka Police
NPC allocates Rs 40.3 million to support ex-LTTE cadres and families of detained