Features

Features

Latest news from and about the homeland

File photograph: Karaitivu Beach (Gowshan Nandakumar) It was a quiet morning on 12 April 1985 when Karaitivu, a small coastal Tamil village in the Amparai district of Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, was plunged into terror. As villagers prepared to celebrate the Tamil New Year, armed mobs - composed largely of Muslim men and backed by Sri Lankan security forces - descended upon the village and…

Tamil Genocide Education Week Act stands strong - Ontario Court rejects Sri Lankan groups' appeal

The Canadian Court of Appeal for Ontario has affirmed the constitutionality of the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act (TGEWA), rejecting an appeal by Sri Lankan groups challenging the law.

(Ottawa, 11 April, 2009. Photo Credit: Ninaivukal)

ITAK plunges further into chaos as central committee backs Sajith Premadasa

The central committee of the Ilankai Arasu Tamil Katchi (ITAK) announced that it would back Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential elections, in a move that has highlighted the splits and turmoil within the already troubled Tamil political party.

Friend, colleague and supporter of Tamil Eelam struggle - Viraj Mendis is laid to rest

A staunch supporter of Eelam Tamil aspirations and an unwavering voice for those who fought for freedom and safety for asylum seekers, Viraj Mendis was laid to rest in Germany this week.

A staunch supporter of Eelam Tamil aspirations and an unwavering voice for those who fought for freedom and safety for asylum seekers, Viraj Mendis was laid to rest in Germany this week.

Protests and boycott campaign hit Canada’s Tamil Fest

Tamil Fest, an annual street festival organised by the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) to celebrate Tamil culture and identity, was marred by controversy, after protests demanded the organisation apologise for meeting with accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka last year.

Remembering the Sencholai massacre 18 years on

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the massacre of 53 school girls by the Sri Lankan Air Force. 

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the massacre of 53 school girls by the Sri Lankan Air Force. 

On August 14 2006, four Sri Lankan air force jets flew over the Vanni and dropped sixteen bombs over the Sencholai children's home for orphans, killing 53 school girls and 3 teachers. 

EXCLUSIVE - Sri Lanka attempts to halt construction of Tamil Genocide memorial in Canada

The Sri Lankan government’s representative in Toronto has formally written to the Mayor of Brampton, in a bid to try and halt the construction of a monument dedicated to the victims of the Tamil genocide.

Remembering Black July 41 years on

Today marks 41 years since the horrors of the anti-Tamil pogrom of 1983, when thousands of Tamils were killed by Sinhala mobs backed by the then UNP government and state forces.

Meet Britain’s new cabinet - On Tamils, sanctions and the need to take Sri Lanka to the ICC 

Keir Starmer has been appointed as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and has formed a new cabinet that includes many ministers who have issued statements in support of the British Tamil community and demanded the previous government take Sri Lanka before the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

We examine key figures in the new cabinet and their previous statements on the British Tamil community, justice for mass atrocities committed by Sri Lanka and the need for Tamil self-determination.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tamil self-determination and justice for genocide

As Britain’s new prime minister Keir Starmer takes up office this week, we look back on his previous statements on the British Tamil community, his calls for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court and on justice for mass atrocities committed against the Tamil people.

Earlier this year, Starmer released a message to commemorate  the “15th year Mullivaikkal Genocide Remembrance Day,” paying tribute to the tens of thousands of Tamils killed in 2009.

‘Bombs rolling in the air’ - Remembering the Navaly church massacre

On this day 29 years ago, the Sri Lankan air force dropped 13 bombs on St Peter’s Church in Navaly. More than 140 sheltering Tamils, who were encouraged by the military to seek refuge at the church, were killed on the spot.  At least 13 children were amongst the dead, with many more succumbing to injuries later as the local hospital was swamped with the wounded.