Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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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…

‘Our commitment to you is unwavering,’ David Cameron tells Tamils

The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron said his party’s commitment to British Tamils was “unwavering”, as he praised the community for their “invaluable contribution to the life of our country" and pledged to “support truth, justice and accountability for all”.

“Britain's Tamil community is a huge success story,” said Cameron, in a video message released just weeks before the UK General Election.

Sri Lanka’s path to debt sustainability remains 'knife-edged' - IMF

The International Monetary Fund has approved Sri Lanka’s program review allowing the disbursement of 330 million US dollars, while cautioning that Sri Lanka’s path to debt sustainability remains ‘knife-edged.’

‘Betrayal’ scars the BJP’s southern strategy

Despite pre-election bluster and high hopes, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suffered a resounding defeat in Tamil Nadu, failing to gain a single seat. Even constituencies such as Coimbatore and Dharmapuri, where the party’s state leader, K. Annamalai was confident of a victory, was swept by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

War crimes evidence collection by UN poses 'dangerous situation' for Sri Lanka warns Sarath Weerasekara

Sarath Weerasekara, the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Natural Security has warned that the war crimes evidence gathering mechanism created by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) poses a "dangerous situation" for Sri Lankan military officers who stand accused of war crimes. 

Sri Lanka launches new inquiry into intelligence failures surrounding the Easter Sunday bombings

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a Committee of Inquiry to investigate the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) for potential lapses in acting on intelligence received from other law enforcement agencies, despite the fact that it has been five years since the Easter Sunday bombings.

Adani’s wind power project runs into storm

Two fundamental rights petitions have been filed in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court challenging the Adani Green Energy Wind power project proposed for Mannar. This is the third such petition to be filed against the project in less than a month. 

Tamil journalist attacked in Jaffna by unknown assailants

 

Tamil freelance journalist Pradeepan Thambithurai was attacked by masked assailants at his home in Achchuveli, Jaffna, earlier this week. The assailants, arriving on motorbikes, vandalised his property, including setting fire to his motorbike and damaging his three-wheeler. Leaflets were left at the scene with a message about transgender representation.

Sri Lanka’s TID summons more Tamil activists

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division has summoned at least seven Tamil political activists in the North-East for questioning in the last three months, as the state’s intimidation of activists and rights defenders continues.

Premadasa meets with ITAK and SLFP in Jaffna

Leader of the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Sajith Premadasa who is currently touring the North-East recently met with members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarian whilst in Jaffna.

Premadasa met Mavai Senathirajah and M A Sumanthiran at the ITAK office in Jaffna where they reportedly discussed the devolution of power for the North-East.

Sri Lanka's 'iconic' memorial plan sparks concerns over selective reconciliation

An expert committee appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recommended the construction of a "centrally located iconic building as a repository of artistic and cultural expressions" to commemorate those who died in the armed conflict, political unrest, or civil disturbances.