Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Environmentalists and civil society activists protested at Galle Face in Colombo on 17 June against proposed heavy mineral sand mining along the eastern coastline from Oluvil to Pothuvil, warning that the project threatens the land, fisheries and livelihoods of Tamil and Muslim communities across the Eastern Province. According to the People's Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), exploration…

Sri Lankan police threaten Annai Poopathy's family against commemoration

Sri Lankan police have threatened the family of Annai Poopathi, warning that if they commemorated her death anniversary near her grave, they would be imprisoned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). 

Annai Poopathy's elder daughter Ms Lokeshwaran Santhi, while speaking to the press in Batticaloa Press Club, said that her family was instructed by the police not to commemorate her mother in her resting place. 

‘We will restore the worship rights of Hindus at Kurunthur Malai’ – M.A. Sumanthiran

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP and media spokesperson, M.A. Sumanthiran has promised to take the necessary steps to help restore the full worship rights of Hindus in Kurunthur Malai, Mullaitivu.

Journalist arrested and assaulted by Sri Lankan Police granted bail after detention

Freelance Journalist Malika Abeykoon, who was assaulted and arrested by Sri Lankan police on April 7 has been granted bail after being held in detention.

Abeykoon was arrested while he was covering a health workers’ protest rally organised by the United Health Workers Union (UHWU) on April 7. Following his arrest, he was brutally assaulted whilst being detained inside Maradana Police station.

Vavuniya families of the disappeared mark 1,515 days of protest

Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya marked 1,515 days of protest on Wednesday, demanding support from the international community, including intervention from the United States government. They highlighted the systemic issues within Sri Lanka and continued negligence to "find even a single child" after thousands were forcibly disappeared at the end of the armed conflict.

Sri Lanka signs US $500 million loan deal with China

The Sri Lankan government signed a US $500 million loan agreement with the state-run China Development Bank (CDB) last week, less than a month after it signed a currency swap deal worth USD 1.5 billion with Beijing, amidst rising concerns of the country’s ability to meet its debt payments.

Sri Lankan Minister denies Chinese takeover

Following concerns raised by opposition parties, civil society groups, and labour unions, over Sri Lanka’s “Colombo Port City Economic Commission”, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal has denied allegations that the government is transforming Sri Lanka into a “Chinese colony”.

Legendary Tamil actor and comedian Vivek passes away

Celebrated Kollywood actor and comedian Vivek passed away in the wee hours of Saturday aged 59. He was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on Friday due to a sudden cardiac arrest and succumbed to it on Saturday. 

Tamil actors, politicians and the general public flooded to Vivek’s residence in the neighbourhood of Virugambakkam to pay their last respects where he lay in state. 

Former LTTE cadre among 5 Tamils arrested by Sri Lanka terrorism division

Five Tamils, including one former LTTE cadre, were arrested by Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) on Saturday morning.

Four people in Jaffna were arrested in the early hours on charges of forming groups aimed at reestablishing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reportedly after having a telephone conversation with individuals arrested on weapons charges in India. Out of the four arrested, two were from the Ilavalai police division, whilst the other two were from Irupalai and Palali.

Images of Resistance: An Archive of Action

(Ottawa, 11 April, 2009. Photo Credit: Ninaivukal)

The Tamil Canadian Centre for Civic Action has organised a physical and virtual exhibition showcasing interview, documents, photographs, and untold stories of the 2008-2009 Toronto Protests against the genocidal war in Sri Lanka.

STF hospitalise two Tamils in Jaffna

Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force (STF) have hospitalised two Tamils in eastern Vadamarachchi, Jaffna, as they opened fire on their vehicle.

The two people were shot and seriously injured before being admitted to Point Pedro Base Hospital.

The STF has claimed that they opened fire as the two individuals were engaged in illegal sand mining and tried to escape. The individuals were from the Thunnalai area. The police have said that they are investigating the issue.