Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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‘Before we too pass away’ - Tamil families appeal to UN over Chemmani mass graves
The Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappeared in the North-East (ARED) has appealed to the United Nations to ensure an international investigation into enforced disappearances and mass graves across the Tamil homeland, including the ongoing excavations at Chemmani, where more than 380 human skeletal remains have been uncovered. In a letter dated 19 June 2026, the association called…

Eastern Uni remembers Mullivaikkal Tamil genocide

May 17, 2016


Students at the Eastern university defied military surveillance, to hold the 'Mullivaikkal Tamil genocide memorial event' on Wednesday evening local time.

Lighting candles, the students remembered the massacre that unfolded.

Mangala Samaraweera accepts legitimacy of No Fire Zone documentary evidence

May 17, 2016
Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera confirmed that video evidence of war time atrocities committed by Sri Lanka’s armed forces was true.

Lamenting the Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dismissal of the video evidence, Mr Samaraweera said,

“Instead, laughably, you gave it to forensic experts hired by the Defence Ministry in order to disprove the footage’s authenticity. In fact, according to the information we have the video footage is not only authentic but was given to Channel 4 by members of the armed forces who themselves were deeply shocked at some of the acts carried out as a result of orders from above.”

Sri Lanka’s current president Maithripala Sirisena is yet to accept the No Fire Zone documentary evidence, which was made available in SInhalese, as fact.

UK opposition leader stands with Tamils for justice and self-determination

May 17, 2016

The leader of the British opposition Jeremy Corbyn expressed his solidarity with the Tamil people and reiterated calls for justice and self determination, in a message released to mark the 7th year anniversary since the massacres at Mullivaikkal.

“I offer my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and loved ones of those that died during the final days and weeks of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict,” said Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“My thoughts today are also with the wider Tamil community who have shouldered injustice for decades and remain resolute in their determination for justice.”

“We will stand with you in your pursuit of truth, justice, accountability, reconciliation and self-determination in Sri Lanka.”

Military intelligence forcefully enters Uthayan remembrance event

May 17, 2016
Sinhalese intelligence officers forcefully entered the Uthayan newspaper offices in Jaffna on Wednesday, whilst its employees were holding a blood donation event to commemorate the Mullivaikal massacres of 2009.

When questioned by Uthayan staff, the officers said that they were from the Sri Lankan police and were present to take pictures.

The intelligence personnel forcefully entered the event in civilian clothing without providing identification to organisers. Uthayan staff who organised the event have complained to the local police department.




Obstructing remembrance precludes justice and reconciliation says Pearl

May 17, 2016
The US based rights organisation, PEARL on Wednesday warned that "repudiations of accountability hinder prospects for enduring peace and stability on the island".

"Despite the importance of allowing Tamils to publicly mourn those who died in military attacks, the government of Sri Lanka has consistently obstructed their remembrance efforts each year for the past seven years. Security personnel have photographed and followed participants in this year’s commemoration events over the past week," the group said in a statement.

UK Conservative party renews call for justice on May 18th

May 17, 2016
Marking the 7th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal massacre, the UK Conservative party renewed its call for justice for the Tamils that were killed at the end of the armed conflict in 2009.

"Today we remember the thousands of Tamils who lost their lives seven years ago in the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka," the party's vice chairman, Robert Halfon said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Mullivaikkal is a day to remember the atrocities perpetrated against Tamils, and those who lost their lives during those terrible years," he added.

TNPF lights flames in remembrance at Mullivaikkal

May 17, 2016
 

Members of the Tamil National People’s Front lit candles at Mullivaikkal earlier today, commemorating the lives lost during the massacres of 2009.

Chennai students remember Mullivaikkal massacre

May 17, 2016

Students in Tamil Nadu lit candles and laid down flowers in remembrance of those killed during the final phase of the armed conflict that ended in Mullivaikkal.

Sri Lanka's window of opportunity for lasting peace and reconciliation is shrinking warns ICG

May 17, 2016
Sri Lanka’s window for reform is shrinking said Brussels based Think Tank the International Crisis Group in a new report released today.

In an executive summary the ICG said,

“Seven years after the end of the civil war in May 2009, issues of reconciliation and accountability remain largely unaddressed. The government appears to be backtracking on transitional justice plans, particularly the role of foreign judges and experts. The enormity of the crimes, especially in the final weeks of the war, makes them impossible to ignore but hard for the military and most Sinhalese to acknowledge or accept responsibility for. Mechanisms promised to the UNHRC feed Sinhala nationalist suspicions, while attempts to reassure Sinhalese and the military encourage doubts among Tamils about government willingness to pursue justice for wartime atrocities or back constitutional changes that satisfy legitimate Tamil aspirations for meaningful autonomy.”

Monument remembers victims in Mullivaikkal

May 17, 2016


A temporary statue was erected in Mullivaikkal on Wednesday afternoon by families of the dead, in memory of their loved ones.

The statue was subsequently taken away for safe storage as the families were concerned it would be demolished by Sri Lankan security forces.
Mangala Samaraweera accepts legitimacy of No Fire Zone documentary evidence
UK opposition leader stands with Tamils for justice and self-determination
Military intelligence forcefully enters Uthayan remembrance event
Obstructing remembrance precludes justice and reconciliation says Pearl
UK Conservative party renews call for justice on May 18th
TNPF lights flames in remembrance at Mullivaikkal
Chennai students remember Mullivaikkal massacre
Sri Lanka's window of opportunity for lasting peace and reconciliation is shrinking warns ICG
Monument remembers victims in Mullivaikkal
‘An absence of transition in Sri Lanka’ – Kate Cronin-Furman
Mangala Samaraweera accepts legitimacy of No Fire Zone documentary evidence
UK opposition leader stands with Tamils for justice and self-determination
Military intelligence forcefully enters Uthayan remembrance event
Obstructing remembrance precludes justice and reconciliation says Pearl
UK Conservative party renews call for justice on May 18th
TNPF lights flames in remembrance at Mullivaikkal
Chennai students remember Mullivaikkal massacre
Sri Lanka's window of opportunity for lasting peace and reconciliation is shrinking warns ICG
Monument remembers victims in Mullivaikkal
‘An absence of transition in Sri Lanka’ – Kate Cronin-Furman