The case in opposition to a common Tamil candidate rests upon the assumption that incremental progress is possible under the Sinhala political framework. It is not. Tamils are better off with a candidate standing as a symbol of their defiance. It stands as a stark reminder to the international community that the Tamil issue cannot be swept over.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake spoke in Jaffna yesterday, as he addressed a rally ahead of elections later this month. "We are winning, " he said. "We will win by lakhs in the South." This sounds eerily familiar, even though it may or may not mean the same thing, given who said it. But, the implication is clear. We can, and will win this election with or without you. This sounds as ominous now as it did when Gotabaya said it in 2019. Worse in a sense, because unlike last time around, most of the "progressives" are either in the National People's Power (NPP) or ‘backing this horse’. God forbid we...
Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, a veteran figure of Tamil politics has passed away aged 91. He died whilst still in office, holding the post as the Member of Parliament for Trincomalee and a record as the oldest lawmaker on the island. Though his passing has drawn tributes from the West and politicians from across the Sinhala political spectrum, the reaction from Eelam Tamils in the North-East and in the diaspora has been much more muted. It reflects his tumultuous political life and legacy that he leaves behind.
“I will make my people ungovernable!” Rajavarothiam Sampanthan exclaimed, banging on the table.
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, is a longtime supporter of the Tamil community. Under his leadership, the Liberal Democrats have called on the Conservative government to recognise the crimes committed against the Tamil people as a genocide and for those who committed these crimes to be held to account. He is clear: ‘We cannot end the search for justice.’ And I couldn't agree more. The Liberal Democrats have always battled for the rights of individuals against oppression. If elected I will be a passionate advocate for the Tamil community, both in Carshalton and in Parliament...
As a longstanding ally of the Tamil community, I am happy to represent the Tamil community and fight for our shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to justice and prosperity for all. As we approach a crucial election, it is important for the Tamil community to reflect on the significant strides we have made together and to consider the path forward. I urge you to vote Conservative, a party that has consistently demonstrated its unwavering support for Tamils both locally and internationally.
Writing on the anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, Madura Rasaratnam, Interim Executive Director of PEARL & Ambikai Akilan, Advocacy Officer of PEARL, detail the need to hold Sri Lanka accountable for the war crimes committed in 2009. These crimes continue to afflict the island and Sri Lanka provides a useful lesson for the Israel-Gaza conflict, the piece maintains. In their piece, they reflect on 2009 massacres and the similarities with current conflict in Gaza. Sri Lanka is accused of a litany of war crimes during this period which includes the deliberate targeting of “no fire...
Writing in Scroll.In, Meenakshi Ganguly, the Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that the "unaddressed legacy of war" has led to Sri Lanka's "abuse, impunity and misgovernance that still blight the country." Ganguly highlights that although 15 years have passed since the genocide at Mullivaikkal, there has been no justice or accountability for the Tamil community. "Successive governments have appointed a series of commissions ostensibly to investigate reported abuses, while in practice blocking investigations and shielding the abusers. The fate of the thousands of '...
This week marks the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, when over 700,000 Palestinians were made refugees after they were expelled from their land by armed Israeli settlers. Fifteen years ago, Sri Lanka’s genocide led to the total military occupation of the North-East and an expanding programme of Sinhala settlements. Week after week, I join millions in demanding a ceasefire in Gaza because I come from a long tradition of Eelam Tamils who oppose the occupation of Palestine. We see direct parallels with the Tamil liberation struggle in the Palestinian liberation struggle. Both are rooted in a history that resists settler colonialism, occupation, and genocide. And, we remember the Tamil genocide as we bear witness to the genocide unfolding in Gaza.
Nalin Jayathunga, a Sri Lankan researcher, wrote on how “protesting the genocide currently unfolding in Gaza” made them question their own position “with reference to violence perpetrated by the Sri Lankan State against the Tamil population”.