Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
In Pictures - Colonel Shankar memorial sports tournament 2026 held in Switzerland
  A memorial sports tournament commemorating Colonel Shankar, the Special Commander of the Tamil Eelam Air Force (Sky Tigers) who was killed in an attack carried out by Sri Lankan deep penetration forces in Ottusuddan, Mullaitivu, on 26 September 2001, was held in Switzerland on 7 June 2026. Organised by the Sports Division of the Swiss Tamil Coordinating Committee, the event took…

Sri Lanka refuses to assist international inquiry

Jun 2, 2014
The Sri Lankan government will not assist the United Nations investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict, reports the Daily FT.

A government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, speaking at a press conference over the weekend, said that the Sri Lankan government rejected the UN resolution that mandated such an investigation and would not cooperate with any proceedings related to the resolution.

ConIFA annuls Kurdistan victory, Tamil Eelam through to quarterfinal

Jun 2, 2014
Kurdistan’s 9:0 victory against Tamil Eelam has been annulled and the match awarded as a 3:0 win to Tamil Eelam, after Kurdistan included too many players in their squad, the Tamil Guardian has learned.

The Kurdish team had 26 players in their squad, although only 21 are allowed to be included by the governing body, said sources close to TEFA.

This means that Tamil Eelam finishes second in Group A and will play Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) in the quarterfinal on Wednesday at 19:00 CET.

All matches can be watched live here.

Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution of Tamils in military-run IDP camps

Jun 2, 2014
Photograph HRW
Arunachalam Camp, Menik Farm 19 Aug 2009

Next week, the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict is due to take place in London, co-hosted by the UK's Foreign Secretary, William Hague and the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.

In the run up to the ESVC summit, we revisit the mounting evidence which documents the widespread, systematic and on-going use of sexual violence by Sri Lanka's military against Tamils, that occurs with absolute impunity.

See our full feature: 'Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka'

As the armed conflict drew to an end in May 2009, an estimated 300,000 Tamils, who had faced repeated displacement, shelling and a severe lack of humanitarian aid, were forced into IDP camps run by the military and detained there for several months on end.

Reports of rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution rings run by the military soon began to emerge from the camps.

A Tamil medic, based in the UK who had been working as an aid worker in the Vanni during the armed conflict before being detained in the notorious Menik Farm camp, Damilvany Kumar, told The Observer:
"Sexual abuse is something that was a common thing, that I personally saw. In the visitor area relatives would be the other side of the fence and we would be in the camp. Girls came to wait for their relatives and military officers would come and touch them, and that's something I saw.

"The girls usually didn't talk back to them, because they knew that in the camp if they talked anything could happen to them. It was quite open, everyone could see the military officers touching the girls,"

Tamil Eelam at World Football Cup 2014

Jun 1, 2014

The Tamil Eelam Football Association will play their first match of the 2014 ConIFA World Football Cup today against Arameans Suryoye.

The players trained for the first time since their arrival from their training camp in Norway on Sunday, with all the players fit for the big match.

Sri Lankan Minister warns against Modi

Jun 1, 2014
Sri Lankan government Minister Wimal Weerawansa has warned that newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses a threat to Sri Lanka’s stability, according to the Colombo Gazette.
 
The leader of the National Freedom Front said, “it is only the Sri Lankan people who can decide on the 13th Amendment and what’s best for Sri Lanka”, with reference to the Indian Prime Minister.

His comments come after Prime Minister Modi told the Sri Lankan President that he must go “beyond” the 13th amendment, when they met in Delhi.

Police powers will not be given to provinces says Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesperson

Jun 1, 2014
Police powers will not be devolved to the provinces even if the 13th Amendment to the constitution is implemented said the Sri Lankan government today.

Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, speaking at a press conference in the southern city of Kandy, said that the government had already decided that police powers will not be distributed and remain with the central government, reports Colombo Gazette.

War remembrance, reconciliation and non-violent resistance'

Jun 1, 2014
International actors who are pushing for reconciliation must respond proactively to the Sri Lankan government's denial of the Tamil people's right to mourn their dead, said exiled Tamil journalist Nirmanusan Balasundaram in a piece published on Monday.

Writing for Journalists for Democracy Sri Lanka, Balasundaram states that the Sri Lankan government continues to wage war on the Tamil populace, through acts such as the banning of any memorial events and the isolation of the Tamil diaspora.

Despite this, the diaspora continues to build non-violent strategies to counter government moves, noted Balasundaram, adding that international actors who push for reconciliation must respond proactively to the government's actions.

Sri Lanka stalls on Indian vehicle assembly plants

Jun 1, 2014
The Sri Lankan government has refused to grant permits to Maruti Suzuki India to open a vehicle assembly plant on the island, reported the Sunday Times, dashing the Indian company's plans.

Quoting  Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, the Sunday Times reported that foreign manufacturers could not open plants on the island, unless there was “local input”.

The announcement will also affect the local agent of Land Rover Defenders, where plans had been in place to bring in British engineers to help with the production process in their own plant.

Tamil Eelam lose first match to highly rated Arameans Suryoye

Jun 1, 2014
 
Starting lineup of Tamil Eelam (Pictures: Tamil Guardian)

The Tamil Eelam football team put up an impressive display against Arameans Suryoye, despite losing their opening match at the ConIFA World Cup 2-0.

The match, taking place at the Jamkraft Arena in Ostersund, Sweden, was a lively encounter between the two teams, as they played each other for the first time.

Atchuveli residents protest after govt announces further land grab

Jun 1, 2014
Photograph Uthayan
ConIFA annuls Kurdistan victory, Tamil Eelam through to quarterfinal
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution of Tamils in military-run IDP camps
Tamil Eelam at World Football Cup 2014
Sri Lankan Minister warns against Modi
Police powers will not be given to provinces says Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesperson
War remembrance, reconciliation and non-violent resistance'
Sri Lanka stalls on Indian vehicle assembly plants
Tamil Eelam lose first match to highly rated Arameans Suryoye
Atchuveli residents protest after govt announces further land grab
Rajapaksa orders release of 29 fishermen
ConIFA annuls Kurdistan victory, Tamil Eelam through to quarterfinal
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution of Tamils in military-run IDP camps
Tamil Eelam at World Football Cup 2014
Sri Lankan Minister warns against Modi
Police powers will not be given to provinces says Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesperson
War remembrance, reconciliation and non-violent resistance'
Sri Lanka stalls on Indian vehicle assembly plants
Tamil Eelam lose first match to highly rated Arameans Suryoye
Atchuveli residents protest after govt announces further land grab
Rajapaksa orders release of 29 fishermen