Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Environmentalists and civil society activists protested at Galle Face in Colombo on 17 June against proposed heavy mineral sand mining along the eastern coastline from Oluvil to Pothuvil, warning that the project threatens the land, fisheries and livelihoods of Tamil and Muslim communities across the Eastern Province. According to the People's Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), exploration…

Former OIC arrested over businessmen murder

A former Officer In Charge (OIC) with South Provincial Special CID was arrested today over the abduction and murder of two businessmen in Rathgama last month. 

Sri Lanka's notorious STF to be more heavily armed

Citing the threat of drug cartels the Sri Lankan government has authorised the use of further arms by Sri Lanka's notorious Special Task Force (STF) officers. 

Thiruketheeswaram temple entrance vandalised by Christian fundamentalists

The metal entrance way to the iconic Hindu temple in Mannar, Thiruketheeswaram, was the vandalised by a group believed to be Christian fundamentalists, the day before the festival of Maha Sivarathiri. 
 

Anger as first Buddhist congress planned for Vavuniya

Villagers in Vavuniya have reacted with anger to Sri Lankan government plans to hold the first Buddhist congress in the region, criticising the decision as "evidence of further state sponsored Buddhisation of the Tamil homeland."

Keppapulavu families commence third year of protest against military occupation

Displaced families from Keppapulavu marked the start of their third year of continuous protest on Friday, campaigning for their homes to released from military occupation. 

Sri Lanka's progress 'slower than it should be' says Australia

The Australian Foreign Office said Sri Lanka's progress was slower than it should be and also expressed alarm at the government's plans to renew the use of the death penalty, during a Senate Estimate Hearing last week. 

Further arrest over grenades found in Vavuniya

Sri Lankan police have arrested another man in relation to the finding of a bag in Vavuniya this January, which reportedly contained 4 hand grenades and a pistol. 

Almost 1 year and still no basic facilities say Iranaitivu residents

Residents of Iranaitivu who resettled themselves into their homes in a daring protest against military occupation, said that almost one year on the area still lacks basic facilities. 

"The government authorities is turning a blind eye on us," residents told the regional human rights commissioner, Mr Kanagaraj, on Thursday. 

Residents told him of how they currently have to walk 5km to fetch water. 

Kanagaraj is the commissioner for Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts. 

UN continues to fail Tamils says former Chief Minister

The United Nations is deceiving itself and continuing to fail Tamils, ten years on from the genocide, by granting Sri Lanka an extension on its UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution, the former Chief Minister of the Northern Province has said.

Speaking to journalists after attending a rally with families of the disappeared in Kilinochchi on Monday, the former Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran said the UNHRC should understand the feeling behind the mass demonstrations across the North-East denouncing the extension to the resolution.

Overhaul of Sri Lanka's counter-terrorism apparatus is necessary say Tamil activists

Sri Lanka needs to conduct “an overhaul of the counterterrorism apparatus” said Tamil activists representing the NGO 'Pasumai Thaayagam' during 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council currently underway in Geneva.