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…

Militarisation of Tamil schoolchildren continues in Jaffna

The Sri Lankan army continued its much criticised militarisation projects with Tamil schoolchildren in Jaffna earlier this year, as it organised a science and technology “innovation” exhibit, with dozens of schoolchildren in attendance.

Nilaveli residents protest inaction of Sri Lankan police over murder of Tamil man

Trincomalee residents protested on Sunday expressing anger at Sri Lankan police for failing to take action after a Tamil man was murdered in the district last week.

Tamils protest against plans to build army camp at Jaffna Fort

Tamils protested on Sunday against plans to build an army camp inside Jaffna fort. 

Sri Lanka's Archaeology Department which runs the historic building recently granted the army permission to build on its premises. 

Army commander orders troops to condemn 'acts obstructing reconciliation'

Sri Lanka's army commander, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has ordered the army to condemn what he described as events or any acts which 'obstruct reconciliation'. 

4 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan navy

Four fishermen from Mandapam, Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on Sunday near Neduntheevu for allegedly poaching. 

The men were taken to Kangesanthurai along with their boats. 

The latest arrest comes just days after the Sri Lankan navy arrested 12 fishermen last week. 

Navaly church massacre remembered 23 years on

The Church of St Peter at Navaly remembered over 140 Tamil civilians killed in its premises by Sri Lankan Air Force bombs 23 years ago during the presidency of Chandrika Kumaratunga. 

A remembrance service which included special prayers and the lighting of candles took place on Monday evening at the church. 

Behind the protest - Families of the disappeared: Mariyathas

By April 2009, Valaignarmadam had been hit by shells several times. Nestled just hundreds of metres away from Nandikadal lagoon, this small, normally serene town on the coast, was now the site of unbelievable suffering. The preceding weeks and months had seen the town’s church, a makeshift hospital, and even people queuing for handouts of food hit by Sri Lankan artillery, rockets and cluster bombs.

It was in this carnage that Mariyathas was with his mother.

Sri Lanka's CID investigates Tamil newspapers that reported on Vijayakala's speech

Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department has been questioning Tamil newspapers that reported on former state minister Vijayakala Maheswaran’s speech, in which she invoked the LTTE in a positive light.

CID officers from Colombo went to newspaper offices in Jaffna on Friday night and Saturday and questioned editors and journalists that had reported on the speech, and took statements from them.

The speech caused a backlash in the South, forcing Ms Maheswaran, a Tamil and member of the UNP, to resign from her position as state minister.

Vavuniya Families of the Disappeared take protest to Nallur ahead of 500th day

Families of the disappeared currently protesting in Vavuniya, took their struggle to Nallur today, staging a one-day hunger strike in front of the Jaffna temple.

UN resolution will stay as basis for US-Sri Lanka relationship, outgoing Ambassador tells TNA

The UN Human Rights Council resolution on accountability and transitional justice would remain a basis for the relationship between Sri Lanka and the USA, the outgoing US Ambassador told the Tamil National Alliance last week.