Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

This week, the number of skeletal remains uncovered at Chemmani reached a stark record of 387. With that figure, a patch of earth on the edge of Jaffna town became the largest mass grave ever uncovered on the island, surpassing the 376 remains recovered at Mannar. Recent days alone have seen the bodies of several children exhumed, alongside beads and bangles. These are the contents of the…

Tamil People's Council to draft solution for ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

The Tamil People’s Council formed in Jaffna last month will submit a proposal to the ethnic conflict by the end of January, reports Colombo Page.

Member of the Tamil national Alliance (TNA) Suresh Premachandran who forms a part of the Council, said, the proposal will be presented to the residents of the North and East for feedback by the end of January.

Wigneswaran clarifies Tamil People's Council motives (28 Dec 2015)

Over 100k Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka remain in Tamil Nadu

Over 100,000 Tamil refugees from the North-East of Sir Lanka remain in Tamil Nadu 6 and a half years after the armed conflict between the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan government reports the Hindu.

The Treasurer of the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR) in Tamil Nadu, speaking to the Hindu, said,

“The government of India should come with a generous package to supplement the efforts of Sri Lankan government in facilitating the return of the refugees.”

New Year prayers in Jaffna for political prisoners and IDPs



Prayers were said in Jaffna for the released of political prisoners, the return of IDPs to their homes and for ongoing sufferings of the Tamil people to be alleviated on Friday as the new year dawned.

10th anniversary of 'Trinco 5' killings, still no justice

Photograph Tamilnet

Today marks the 10 years since the murder of five Tamil students, committed by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force, whilst they spent an afternoon on the beach in Trincomalee.

A memorial service was held in Trinco to remember the students that were killed by Sri Lanka's special forces.

Speaking at the event, the Trinco-based rights activist Jathindra called on the people to be proactive in their struggle for justice. Such memorial events should not only be for remembrance but also to unify Tamils in their actions, he said.

Sri Lanka's Navy pledges to 'preserve hard-won peace' in New Year

Sri Lanka’s Navy pledged to ‘preserve’ the ‘hard-won peace’ on the island, reports Colombo Page.

In a New Year address to Navy personnel, the Commander of the Navy Ravindra Wijegunaratne, called on all Navy personnel to perform their duties and extend their assistance to the development of the country.

Former Sri Lanka Navy commander admits having knowledge of underground torture cells  (22 Nov 2015)

Sri Lanka Army Commander reiterates commitment to national security on New Year's day

The commander of Sri Lanka’s Army Lieutenant General Crishante De Silva said the army’s primary commitment was to ensure national security in a New Years Message.

Speaking to the army on New Year’s day Mr De Silva said,

700 acres in Vali North returned after 25 year army occupation

Some 700 acres of land in Valikamam North, which has been under army occupation for over 25 years, was released to owners on Tuesday.


Lands from the High Security Zone were released to owners, including the remainder of army-held land in Valalai, completely freeing the village of army occupation.

Enormous task of solving 'national question' and 'reconciliation' says TNA leader

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance, R Sampanthan stressed that there was an “enormous task of achieving a meaningful solution to the national question, beneficial development and lasting peace and reconciliation."

Calling on the citizens of Sri Lanka to give their fullest support Mr Sampanthan added,

“It is through solidarity that we can build a prosperous country while acknowledging ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and other unique features of each community.

Full text reproduced below.

Sri Lanka's PM lauds 'triumph over adversity'

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka had “triumphed over adversity” in his New Year message.

Mr Wickremesinghe stressed that there was promise of developing an era "that understands and comprehends the true meaning of freedom from oppression."

See full text below.

TNA urges remaining land and political prisoners to be released in New Year

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called on the Sri Lankan government to release remaining lands held in the New Year.

Welcoming the release of 701 acres of land occupied by the military in Valikamam North and East earlier this week, the TNA recalled a promise made by the president during a visit to Jaffna two months ago to release lands that could be immediately released by the end of 2015.