Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Thirteen more skeletal remains were exhumed from the Chemmani mass grave on Monday and a further seven newly identified, bringing the total identified at the site to 412, of which 390 have now been exhumed, as the excavation, the largest at any mass grave on the island, entered its 31st day. Monday, the 31st day of the third phase of the court-supervised process, saw three sets of remains…

British Tamil students demand justice for Jaffna shooting

The Tamil Students Initiative in the United Kingdom has called for an “impartial inquiry” into the murder of two students from Jaffna University last and echoed the call for justice and accountability for the killings.

In a statement released on Sunday, the British student organisation said the incident was “yet another reminder of the chilling effects of intense militarisation in the North-East”.

“Their deaths are yet another tragedy that will reverberate with the Tamil community - especially students - across the globe,” the statement continued. “We cannot lose more young lives to state violence.”

Two Sri Lankan police officers injured in sword attack

Two Sri Lankan police officers were injured in a sword attack in Chunnakam on Sunday.

The attack was reportedly gang-related and caused a high security presence, including special forces, around several areas of Jaffna.

The injured officers, identified as Nimal Bandara and P. S. Navaratna, were attacked while responding to reports of violent and disorderly youths attacking businesses in Chunnakam town.

Denmark Tamils remember 29th anniversary of death of fighters

An event was held in Denmark earlier this month to remember the sacrifice of Lt. Maalathy , Lt. Col. Kumarappa, Lt. Col. Pulendran and other LTTE cadres who lost their lives during the Tamil struggle.

Position of Buddhism will not change insists Sri Lankan president

Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena insisted that the position of Buddhism on the island would not be changed in any new constitution that is to be implemented. 

The Hindu reported Mr Sirisena as telling a Buddhist gathering in Trincomalee on Friday that “Buddhism’s position, coming since 1972, will not be changed”.

Negotiations around a proposed new constitution have been kept secret by both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil National Alliance, with TNA parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran telling a gathering in Jaffna this month that there were "reasons for the silence we keep".

GTF welcomes UN Special Rapporteur's statement, urges urgent 'concrete action'

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) on Saturday welcomed the statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority rights, issued this week following her visit to the island. 

"Ms Izsak-Ndiaye’s recommendation that the most pressing and emotive issues for minority communities – disappeared persons, return of occupied land, release of security-related detainees, as well as demilitarisation - must be addressed urgently, and her call that the views and aspirations of the minority communities must be taken into proper consideration in the constitutional reform process, resonate fully well with the Tamil community," the GTF said. 

Sampanthan calls for investigation into murder of Tamil students

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance R Sampanthan told Sri Lanka’s president that there must be an immediate investigation into the murder of two Tamil students from Jaffna University on Thursday night.

Mr Sampanthan, who was meeting with Maithripala Sirisena in Trincomalee,conveyed his condolences to the families of the two students, identified as 23 year old Nadarasa Kajan and 24 year old Pavunraj Sulaxan. A special police team has reportedly been dispatched in Jaffna to investigate the incident.

Jaffna University students shot dead by Sri Lankan police

Sri Lankan police are reported to have shot dead two Tamil students from Jaffna University on October 20th.

Both students have been identified as being from the university's arts faculty. One is political science student and other one a popular film maker studying media studies.

They have been identified as 23 year old Nadarasa Kajan and 24 year old Pavunraj Sulaxan.

Victims of 1987 IPKF attack on Jaffna Hospital remembered

Staff at Jaffna Hospital held a remembrance event on Friday to mark the 29th anniversary of the massacre of over 60 doctors, staff and patients by Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) in 1987.

 

Trial underway in Canada for alleged smuggling of Tamils

The trial of four men who are accused of human smuggling after the arrival of 492 Tamils on the coast of British Columbia in 2010, has commenced on Wednesday.

Lesly Emmanuel, Kunarobinson Christhurajah, Nadarajah Mahendran and Thampeernayagam Rajaratnam pled not guilty under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Crown counsel, prosecutors for the Ministry of Justice stated that "none of the 492 persons aboard the MV Sun Sea had the required travel documents” and were smuggled into the country illegally.

Tamils in Kilinochchi demand release of political prisoners

Locals in Kilinochchi added their names to a signature campaign calling for the release of Tamil political prisoners who have been detained indefinitely under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.