Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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‘Where is the LTTE?’ Lawyer challenges terror charges against jailed Tamil rapper
  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

Jaffna youths call for immediate action to halt increasing sexual violence

May 16, 2015
Photographs Tamil Guardian


Tamil youths demonstrated in Nallur on Sunday condemning the rape and murder of a school girl in the Pungudutivu region of Jaffna earlier this week and calling for the perpetrators to be severely punished.

Sri Lanka's promotion of accused war criminal is a 'slap in the face of victims' - HRW

May 16, 2015
The promotion of a senior Sri Lankan army general whose division was implicated in serious human rights abuses casts doubt on the new government's pledges to credibly investigating alleged war crimes said Human Rights Watch on Sunday.

Calling the promotion of Major General Jagath Dias, who led the Army’s 57th division during the last phases of the ethnic conflict, "a slap in the face for victims," the Human Rights Watch Director, Brad Adams, said,

“The government’s appointment of General Dias is further proof that Sri Lanka needs an independent justice process with a strong international component that can undertake impartial investigations and prosecutions. Six years since the end of the brutal conflict, the victims of the war still await justice.”

Tamil refugees avoid returning to Sri Lanka due to interrogation says Minister

May 16, 2015

A majority of Tamil refugees In Tamil Nadu do not wish  to return to Sri Lanka due to interrogation fears, said Sri Lanka’s minister for Resettlement, DM Swaminathan.

Thousands mark May massacre at Marina beach in Tamil Nadu

May 16, 2015

Thousands of people gathered at Marina Beach in Chennai on Sunday to mark 6 years since the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan armed forces.

Sri Lankan MP's to hold 'victory day' on May 19

May 16, 2015
A group of Sri Lankan MPs will hold a ‘Victory Day’ event in Colombo on May 19 reports Ceylon Today.

Member of Parliament, Wimal Weerawansa, the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) and other MP’s, alongside their respective political parties, are expected to host the victory function.

Parliamentary ministers in Sri Lanka to leave positions to support Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign

May 16, 2015
At least 15 ministers in Sri Lanka’s parliament are expected to leave their portfolios to work with MPs that support Mahinda Rajapaksa, to bring the former president back into mainstream politics, reports Ceylon Today.

Rallies to promote Mahinda Rajapaksa as a prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming elections are expected to take place in upcoming months.

During LTTE times women were able to walk alone at night says NPC minister

May 16, 2015
The Northern Provincial Council minister for agriculture, P Aiyngaranesan, condemned the rape and murder of a school girl in Pungudutivu this week, and highlighted the fact that women walked safely even late at night when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam controlled Jaffna.

"During LTTE times women were able to walk alone even at night," Mr Aiyngaranesan was quoted by Uthayan as saying whilst addressing mourners at the school girl's memorial ceremony on Friday.

"The people have begun to yearn, asking will such a time not come again."

Sri Lankan military 'assist' in funeral of ex LTTE cadre

May 16, 2015
Sri Lankan army personnel in Kilinochchi ‘assisted’ in conducting the funeral of an ex-LTTE cadre last week.

Upon hearing about the death of the former Cadre, who died in a motorcycle accident, Sri Lankan military soldiers, put up temporary sheds to help conduct the funeral and served food at the funeral reports Ceylon Today.

Related articles:

Sri Lankan military hold prayer service during Jaffna temple festival (14 Feb 2015)

Sri Lanka military hands out chickens in Kilinochchi (14 Jan 2015)

Military recruits Tamil youths to work in army farm (14 Jan 2015)

Continuing militarisation of Tamil school children across North-East (17 Feb 2015)

Prevalence of drug use raises questions says Wigneswaran

May 16, 2015
The chief minister of the northern province and former Supreme Court justice, C V Wigneswaran said that the prevalence of drug use since the end of the armed conflict, led one to question whether it was intentionally being increased.

In a statement condemning the rape and murder of a school girl in Pungudutivu this week, Mr Wigneswaran said that the "many actions are being taken to erode people's sense that they must act within the law."

"It is necessary to question whether the use of drugs within Tamil students is being introduced intentionally," said Mr Wigneswaran.

Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre

May 16, 2015


Tamils in Denmark on Saturday commemorated the sixth year anniversary of the killing of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009.

Sri Lanka's promotion of accused war criminal is a 'slap in the face of victims' - HRW
Tamil refugees avoid returning to Sri Lanka due to interrogation says Minister
Thousands mark May massacre at Marina beach in Tamil Nadu
Sri Lankan MP's to hold 'victory day' on May 19
Parliamentary ministers in Sri Lanka to leave positions to support Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign
During LTTE times women were able to walk alone at night says NPC minister
Sri Lankan military 'assist' in funeral of ex LTTE cadre
Prevalence of drug use raises questions says Wigneswaran
Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre
5 more arrested as anger continues over school girl murder
Sri Lanka's promotion of accused war criminal is a 'slap in the face of victims' - HRW
Tamil refugees avoid returning to Sri Lanka due to interrogation says Minister
Thousands mark May massacre at Marina beach in Tamil Nadu
Sri Lankan MP's to hold 'victory day' on May 19
Parliamentary ministers in Sri Lanka to leave positions to support Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign
During LTTE times women were able to walk alone at night says NPC minister
Sri Lankan military 'assist' in funeral of ex LTTE cadre
Prevalence of drug use raises questions says Wigneswaran
Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre
5 more arrested as anger continues over school girl murder