Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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A Guinness World Record set by nearly 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers at Galle Face in Colombo has sparked controversy, after activists questioned why the official recognition was awarded to organisers and an overseas instructor rather than the thousands of performers who paid to take part. The SANGAMAM-2026 event, held on 14 June, saw 4,988 dancers successfully set a new Guinness World Record for…

‘Mentally ill’ Tamil man’s body recovered from a well in Vavuniya

The body of a man, who was quarantined in his home in Vavuniya, was recovered from a well last Tuesday.

Ganesan Ilankumaran, and his family were in isolation, due to the current COVID-19 measures in effect, when he went missing. His family had been searching for him until the body was discovered the next day. Police rushed to the place of the incident and are conducting investigations. 

Tributes paid for mother of slain Tamil journalist

Tributes were paid across Canada, UK and Jaffna following the death of the mother of slain Tamil journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan, last Sunday.

80-year-old, Lily Theres Mylvaganam, who fought relentlessly seeking justice for her son, passed away in Canada, last Sunday (June 13th). Known as “Mother Courage”, she received tributes from Tamils and journalists across the world.

Indian High Commissioner meets with TNA and pledges support for Tamil demands

India’s High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, met with the Tamil National Alliance and pledged support for the right to self-governance through the 13th Amendment.

On Twitter the High Commission tweeted:

Eelam Tamil refugees protest for 9th continuous day demanding their release

Eelam Tamil refugees are on their 9-consecutive day of protest against continued detention in a state-run camp situated in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

78 Eelam Tamils were present at the protest, calling upon Tamil Nadu’s recent elected Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to meet their demands.

Demonstrators were seen chanting:

"Freedom , freedom is needed!" and "Stalin sir recognise us.... and issue amnesty".

Elliot Colburn MP raises concerns over human rights in Sri Lanka

 

Speaking in parliament, MP for Carshalton and Wallington raised concerns over the deterioration of human rights in Sri Lanka.

He asked Nigel Adams, Minister for Asia at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development: 

US nominee ambassador to Sri Lanka is critical of Chinese influence

Yesterday US President, Joe Biden announced that Julie Chung as Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives alongside 8 other nominees for crucial diplomatic roles.

Chung is currently serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and has previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. She has served in a variety of roles including Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, and Iraq.

Sri Lanka claims EU resolution 'contains factual inaccuracies'

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry claimed that the resolution passed by European Union (EU) parliament "contains factual inaccuracies" and fails to take into consideration the apparent "multifaceted progress" in terms of reconciliation and development. 

Sri Lankan police release captain of fire-ravaged ship on bail

Photo credit: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images

Sri Lankan police released the captain of the MV X-Press Pearl container ship, which caught fire and caused a major environmental disaster along Sri Lanka’s coast earlier this month.