Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

India was assured of solution to Tamil National Question' - Sumanthiran tells Sri Lankan parliament

TNA parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran warned that the island may step “into naked majoritarianism” unless the equal status of all peoples on the island was respected, pointing out that repeated assurances had been made to India to the Tamil people that a political solution would be found to the ethnic conflict.

“President Rajapaksa’s government repeatedly assured India and the rest of the international community that the Tamil National Question would be politically resolved after the war by means of greater devolution,” Sumathiran told Sri Lanka’s parliament last week. 

TNA leader praises Gotabaya in reminder to keep promises to India

Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan has praised Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused president, calling him someone “who is prepared to speak the truth and to do the right thing” in a speech to parliament earlier this week, where he outlined the international community’s role in a military offensive that killed tens of thousands of Tamil civilians.

“The international community played a major role in the military defeat of the LTTE,” Sampanthan told parliament. “India played a major role.”

Sri Lanka’s TID summon head of families of the disappeared organisation

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) have summoned the head of Vavuniya’s families of the disappeared association and her husband for questioning this week, as activists continue to report harassment from state authorities.

Sri Lankan intelligence erases Jaffna street art after threatening Tamil artists

Sri Lankan intelligence officers have erased a mural after they threatened local Tamil artists in Jaffna this week, following a youth street art initiative included a painting of a tiger on a wall in Valvettithurai.

Street art initiatives have taken place across the island with many in the North-East using it as an opportunity to express various aspects of Tamil culture. In Jaffna, images of the famous Jaffna Library and other landmarks were painted on walls.

However, as young artists began to paint a mural in Valvettithurai, part of which included the image of a wild tiger, Sri Lankan intelligence and police officials began to threaten them.

Buddhist vihara and monks' residences under construction at Kilinochchi university campus

A large Buddhist vihara and multiple residences for Buddhist monks are currently being hurriedly constructed at the Killinochchi Ariviyal Nagar campus of Jaffna University, as Sinhalisation efforts continue across the North-East.

Sri Lanka has failed to investigate murder of Lasantha – IPI

The head of the International Press Institute (IPI) has slammed the Sri Lankan government for failing to investigate the murder of Sinhala journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and called for his killers to be brought to justice on the 11th anniversary of his death.

"It has been 11 years since Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated, yet virtually no progress has been made in securing justice", IPI Director of Advocacy Ravi R. Prasad said.

Tamil Guardian correspondent released on bail following arrest

Tamil Guardian's Batticaloa-based correspondent Selvakumar Nilanthan, who appeared in court on Wednesday after reporting on alleged corruption against a local government official, was released on bail.

S Nilanthan appeared at Eravur Circuit Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he was summoned to answer charges of reporting about protests and disclosing the opinions of local residents on Tamil-language news platforms against the divisional secretary (DS), N Vilvarathnam.

Singapore discusses improving trade with Sri Lanka despite human rights abuses

Singapore’s Law and Home Affairs Minister, Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam met with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during a three-day visit to discuss improving trading relations despite credible concerns over the government’s human rights record.

According to the Colombo Page, the Singapore Minister and Sri Lankan president discussion focused on trade and investment but also touched upon issues of counterterrorism, threats of foreign influence, cyber security and curbing extremism.

India refuses to release imprisoned Tamils due to ‘international ramifications’

India’s central government has consistently rejected the Tamil Nadu government’s proposition to release seven people who have been convicted over the killing of Rajiv Gandhi to avoid “international ramifications”, it was revealed this week.

Ranil Wickremesinghe approved my assassination’ claims Sri Lankan minister

Sri Lankan government minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told parliament he had obtained evidence that former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had conspired to assassinate him.

Aluthgamage, Sri Lanka's State Minister of Power, said that following the arrest of UNP parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake, evidence had been retrieved that contained telephone conversations between Ramanayaka and Wickremesinghe with details of an assassination plan.

He spoke about the supposed leaked phone conversation and said “Ranjan Ramanayake is clearly seeking the blessings of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to assassinate me”.