Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has submitted a dossier to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office calling for targeted sanctions against retired Sri Lankan General Kamal Gunaratne, citing his direct involvement in war crimes, torture, and systemic human rights abuses. The submission, dated 8 May 2025, outlines a detailed case for the designation of Gunaratne…

‘Government is trying to Sinhalise the country’ - TNA MP

TNA MP Suresh Premachandran stated that the Sri Lankan government was trying to 'Sinhalise' the whole island, as he condemned the government’s grabbing of traditional Tamil land in the North-East.

According to a report in the Uthayan, Premachandran compared stated that Tamil people were having their land taken against their will, with the help of the armed forces and at many times at gun point. He went on to state the government was attempting to ‘Sinhalise’ the whole island, comparing the situation to that of the Chinese in Tibet and the Jews in Palestine.

Mannar mass grave: 77 bodies unearthed

At the 28th excavation of the Mannar mass grave more remains have been unearthed, resulting in a total of 77 bodies so far.

The 29th excavation is set to take place tomorrow.

See more from the Uthayan here.

Also see our earlier post:

Congress calls for Tamils to be deported from Pondy

The Congress party in Puducherry has called for all Tamils from the island of Sri Lanka who are staying in India to be deported, in the aftermath of a decision to free those alleged to be behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

According to a report by Outlook India magazine, former Chief Minister and Leader of the opposition V Vaithilingam told reporters,

"All Sri Lankan Tamils staying in India should be deported".

DMK calls for India to table resolution at UN HRC

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has called upon the Indian government to table a resolution, supporting a United Nations-led international investigation into war crimes committed by Sri Lankan armed forcesm at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session in March 2014.

Parliamentary Party Leader T R Baalu submitted a memorandum to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stating,

Manmohan Singh blocks release of death row inmates

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned moves to release the prisoners who have been jailed and were on death row for their alleged involvement in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

India’s Supreme Court has issued a restraining order blocking Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa from releasing the prisoners, after the New Delhi government filed an appeal against the proposal.

SLMC warns of foreign exploitation of Muslim issues in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has warned Muslims on the island to be wary of supporting foreign efforts to push for an international probe into war crimes allegations, reported The Island.

SLMC Chairman Basheer Segudawood, MP for Batticaloa district, said that those who are now expressing interest in the welfare of Muslims in the light of religious tension had previously turned a blind eye, and urged the Muslim community to beware of visiting foreign dignitaries.

Rwandan Tamils celebrate heritage

The Tamil Sangam Rwanda held celebrations earlier this month, paying tribute to their Tamil heritage in an evening of cultural performances and traditional cuisine.

Taking place in Kigali, dozens of Tamils gathered to participate in traditional festivities, which included bharatanatyam dance performances and koothu-style drama re-enactments.

Sri Lanka rejects UN High Commissioner report – Daily Mirror

The Sri Lankan government has rejected the findings of an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report, which calls for an international independent investigation into rights violations on the island, reported the Daily Mirror.

Did the TNA even offer the soldiers a cup of tea?'

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) should have been banned immediately after the war, the Deputy Minister of Labour and Labour Relations, Sarath Weerasekara, said today, alleging that ‘unwarranted and false’ allegations made by the TNA had damaged the country.

Expanding on the Sri Lankan government’s ‘grievous mistake’ the minister outlined that the TNA had ‘no right’ to represent the Tamils in the North-East, stating

British High Commissioner briefed on issues in North-East

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin, has been on a two day visit to the North-East, where he was briefed on several issues by members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Northern Provincial Council, international agencies working in the area and civil society.

Speaking on his visit, Rankin said,