Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
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…

Sri Lankan police detain and threaten two Hindu priests in Mullaitivu

Puthukudiyiruppu police detained and threatened two Hindu priests and a trustee of the Sivan temple in Moongilaru, Mullaitivu, on Thursday. 

The priests who were detained for four hours before their release, were threatened to not carry out daily prayers at the temple, despite the island's coronavirus guidance allowing worship without public attendance.

Australian High Commissioner gifts PPE to Sri Lankan accused war criminal in ‘appreciation’ of military’s COVID-19 response

Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, David Holly extended “goodwill and appreciation” towards the role of Sri Lankan armed forces against COVID-19, by gifting personal protection equipment (PPE) to accused war criminal, Shavendra Silva.

Human rights groups demand suspension of ‘inaccurate’ and ‘unreliable’ report used to assess Tamil refugee applications in Australia

File photograph

A UK court has found a key document used by Home Affairs and tribunals in Australia to reject refugee applications for Tamils from Sri Lanka as “unreliable”. Human rights advocates are calling for its retraction after the United Kingdom Home Office removed its equivalent report after receiving similar criticism.

15 arrested in Mannar with the use of drone surveillance

Up to 15 people were arrested by the Mannar police for allegedly violating COVID lockdown regulations.

On Sunday morning, the Sri Lankan Air Force and the Mannar Police used a drone camera, from the Mannar city bus stand, to monitor the movement of the public in the area. The camera captured youths playing on the sports ground and gathering on the streets, leading to the arrests of those seen allegedly violating the coronavirus rules.

Germany plans further Tamil deportations despite threats of torture

Germany is reported to be planning to deport more Tamil refugees to Sri Lanka despite the credible risks of torture and human rights abuses.

This comes as Britain's Upper Tribunal has officially recognised the threat of "ill-treatment" to peaceful Tamil activists posed by the Sri Lankan state which the tribunal defines as an "authoritarian regime".

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary participates in genocide webinar

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary, Jayanath Colombage, participated in a webinar titled “International Experts Dialogue on Genocide”.

His participation in this dialogue follows the establishment of Tamil Genocide Education week in Ontario, Canada which Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry had condemned. During the webinar, Colombage claimed that;

Tamil youth beaten to death by Sri Lankan Intelligence officials

Chandran Vithusan, 22

A young Tamil man, who was arrested by the Sri Lankan Intelligence Division last night at a house in East Iruthayapuram, Batticaloa, has died in detention this morning. 

The body of Chandran Vithusan, 22, who was arrested outside his house in East Iruthayapuram by people who identified themselves as intelligence officers at 10.30pm last night, has been handed over this morning. 

Former LTTE cadre arrested in Batticaloa for 'reviving' the organisation

A former Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre was arrested under the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) yesterday for allegedly 'reorganising' the LTTE. 

Following a tip-off from the district intelligence unit, Kaluvanchikudi police arrested Nagalingam Pradeepan, at his home in Porathivu, Batticaloa.

The draconian legislation allows for unlawful detention practices where individuals can be detained for 18 months without charge, though some have been detained for decades. 

German Tamils mark 40th anniversary of Jaffna library burning

German Tamils gathered in Bebelplatz, Berlin, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the burning of the Jaffna library.