Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

Jaffna Teaching Hospital demands release of Sri Lankan military-occupied land

The Acting Director of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, C. Jamunanantha, has issued a renewed appeal for the release of 1.4 acres of land under Sri Lankan military occupation in the Kottady–Meenatchipuram area, stressing the urgent need for the land to support the hospital’s expansion and development.

Sri Lankan police officer remanded for unlawful entry into Tamil woman's home in Jaffna

A Sri Lankan police officer stationed at Jaffna Police Station has been remanded after allegedly forcing his way into a young Tamil woman's home and acting in an unruly manner, in yet another troubling incident highlighting ongoing concerns over police misconduct in the Tamil North-East.

Memorial for Pope Francis in Vavuniya marred by Sri Lankan intelligence surveillance

The Association for the Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances in Vavuniya held a memorial event today in honour of Pope Francis, amidst intimidation and surveillance by Sri Lankan intelligence officers.

Karunanidhi intervened to save Prabhakaran from prison, claims senior DMK leader

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi claimed that late Tamil Nadu leader and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi, popularly known as Kalaignar, personally intervened to secure the release of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran from prison in the early 1980s.

Remembering Sivaram - 20 years since the killing of leading Tamil journalist

Today marks the 20th anniversary since the abduction and murder of Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram.

Sivaram, popularly known under his nom-de-plume Taraki, was abducted in front of Bambalipitiya police station in Colombo on April 28 and was found dead several hours later in a high security zone in Sri Lanka's capital, which at the time had a heavy police and military presence due to the ongoing conflict. His killers, highly suspected to be linked to the government of then-president Chandrika Kumaratunga, were never caught.

Ponnambalam slams JVP for racism and warns against false promises

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader and Member of Parliament, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, accused the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) of deep-rooted racism and deception during a media briefing held yesterday at the TNPF’s headquarters in Kokuvil, Jaffna.

A shaky bridge across the Palk Strait

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Sri Lanka earlier this month, New Delhi’s media was already hailing the visit as a diplomatic triumph. A raft of development projects had been announced and a significant new defence pact between the two governments signed. Images broadcast showed Modi beside a smiling Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arms raised aloft in symbolic unity. But while Indian officials may celebrate deeper ties, in Sri Lanka, discomfort continues to simmer. 

Sinhalisation continues as monks celebrate New Year in Neduntheevu 

The Sinhala-Buddhist-led Tamil-Sinhala New Year celebration in Neduntheevu raises concerns over the growing Sinhala influence in Tamil-majority areas

Sri Lanka scraps naval exercise with Pakistan off Trincomalee following Indian pressure

Plans for a joint naval exercise between the Sri Lankan and Pakistani navies in the waters off Trincomalee have been shelved following objections raised by New Delhi, according to reports in the Indian press.

A nation under watch: Sri Lankan Air Force unveils new surveillance drone

Military activities in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) marked what it described as a milestone in indigenous military technology development with the formal handover of the Vimana SII, a new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.