Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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The number of skeletal remains identified at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna has risen to 366, as excavators uncovered further remains of children on Tuesday, at one of the largest mass graves unearthed on the island and a site long tied to the enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of Tamils by the Sri Lankan military. Six sets of skeletal remains, including those of children,…

TNPF commemorate assassinated Tamil MP

 

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) commemorated the 14th anniversary of former Tamil National Alliance MP and human rights lawyer, Nadaraja Raviraj's assassination. 

Tamil Nadu fishermen shocked by Sri Lanka’s court directive to destroy seized boats

<p>A directive from a Sri Lankan court ordered that 121 mechanised boats, seized from Indian fishermen, shall either be destroyed or sold through public auction comes as a blow to the fishermen on the island.&nbsp;</p>

Tamil politicians and locals in Jaffna protest against Sri Lankan navy land grab efforts

The Sri Lankan navy’s attempt to occupy land owned by Tamil locals in Jaffna have been temporarily thwarted by protests led by Tamil politicians and locals.

The Sri Lankan land department were set to survey the public lands in the Mandaitivu area of the Velanai Divisional Secretariat Jaffna – where a Sri Lankan naval camp has been set up – but were not allowed to do so due to the protests held in front of the land survey site, earlier today.

High court imposes injunction against Sri Lanka Archaeology Department land occupation in Trincomalee

The Trincomalee High Court issued a temporary injunction today against the occupation of the agricultural lands belonging to the Tamil people in the Thennamaravadi and Trincomalee areas, occupied by the Sri Lankan Archaeology Department in Trincomalee.

Remembering Raviraj - 14 years on and still no justice

Today marks 14 years since Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP and human rights lawyer, Nadaraja Raviraj was assassinated in Colombo. 

Mr Raviraj was shot in Colombo at close range by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike at around 8:30am on November 10 2006, as he got into his car after giving an interview. The MP died later in hospital. His bodyguard was also killed. 

Two arrested in connection to murdered Tamil village officer

Local police in Mannar have arrested two persons in relation to the murder of a Tamil village officer at Manthai West Divisional Secretariat.  

The husband of the victim’s lady colleague was among the two suspects to be arrested on Sunday by Iluppaikadavai Police.

EU slams Sri Lanka's 'unfair' import ban

The European Union has recently aired concerns about Sri Lanka’s import ban, highlighting the controversy of the “unfair” ban which prevents the outflow of foreign exchange, whilst Sri Lanka aims to become a “regional trading hub.” 

Sri Lanka faces international condemnation over forced cremation of Muslims

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has aired its “deep concerns” in a series of reports on Sri Lanka’s forced cremation of Muslim COVID-19 victims, regardless of the fact that mandating cremations runs in direct violation of traditional Islamic burial practices.

India's Adani Group to develop Sri Lanka’s port terminal

India’s Adani Group is the frontrunner to develop Sri Lanka’s East Container Terminal (ECT) in Colombo port, despite opposition from Sinhala nationalist groups and trade unions.

Bloomberg reported that Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. and a local partner recently received approval to sign a deal with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Biden-Harris Transition team and the Sri Lanka connection

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have announced a ‘transition team’, as it prepares to assume power at the White House in January 20201, which includes the former US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and former United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Cathy Russell.

The team, announced on the "Build Back Better" website, includes a "diverse advisory board, and respected leaders and staff from across sectors”.