Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
A Guinness World Record set by nearly 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers at Galle Face in Colombo has sparked controversy, after activists questioned why the official recognition was awarded to organisers and an overseas instructor rather than the thousands of performers who paid to take part. The SANGAMAM-2026 event, held on 14 June, saw 4,988 dancers successfully set a new Guinness World Record for…

UK calls for 'inclusive response' to Easter Sunday bombings

Welcoming the UN High Commissioner's report, the United Kingdom called on Sri Lanka to ensure an "inclusive response" to the Easter Sunday bombings which included respect for religious freedoms. 

Canada calls for international investigation into Tamil genocide

Canada’s parliament unanimously passed a motion calling on the United Nations to establish an international and independent investigation into the allegations of genocide committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka.

President Sirisena calls for a repeal of the 19th amendment

<p>President Sirisena has called for the repealing the 19th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution to ensure political stability despite the amendments forming a central component of his 2015 manifesto.</p> <p>Sirisena claims that the 19th amendment was introduced because the 18th amendment had overexpanded the powers of the presidency and become monarchical. However, he has since described the amendment as the biggest mistake the government has made. He has that if Sri Lanka repealed both the 18th and 19th amendment this would be a good thing.</p> <p>On Sunday Sirisena blamed the 19th amendment for political instability stating that;</p>

Facebook limits message sharing in Sri Lanka over hate speech

The social media platform, Facebook is to limit message sharing in Sri Lanka in an effort to curb hate speech. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) will also be used to identify posts in Sinhalese which are inflammatory, Facebook said. 

Sri Lanka's army commander says working with India on intelligence

Sri Lanka's army commander confirmed they were working with Indian counterparts on intelligence following the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists supportive of Islamic State. 

Gotabhaya to be SLPP presidential candidate - Basil

The former Sri Lankan defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will be the presidential candidate for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Basil Rajapaksa told a meeting of party parliamentarians this week. 

Sirisena reopens historic Mullaitivu tank for Sinhalese settlers

A tank which formerly served Tamil agricultural villages in Manalaru was reopened by the Sri Lankan president for Sinhalese settlers earlier this month.

The historic Amaiyan Kulam tank borders the Trincomalee district and falls within the large scale Sinhalised region of Manalaru, renamed by the Sri Lankan government as Weli Oya. The original Tamil inhabitants of the region were evicted in 1984 by Sinhalese paramilitaries.

Justice Dept official says US has tools to prosecute dual citizens over torture

<p>An official with the US Department of Justice said the country had the tools to prosecute dual citizen Sri Lankan defence personnel accused of torture and other seriour crimes.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Jurisdiction Congress has given us allows to prosecute US citizens who have committed acts of torture abroad," David Rybicki, a deputy assistant attorney general, criminal division, Department of Justice told Representative Jim McGovern, during a House Tom Lantos Commission for Human Rights hearing.</p>

Sri Lanka extends state of emergency by another month

The Sri Lankan government extended the state of emergency by another month yesterday issuing an extraordinary gazette to that effect. 

Army distributes its magazine to Mullaitivu schools

The Sri Lankan army was seen distributing its magazine praising its activities in the Northern province, to schools in Mullaitivu this week.