Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Jaffna LGBTQIA+ community holds fifth annual Pride Walk
The LGBTQIA+ community in Jaffna held their fifth annual Pride Walk, under the theme  “We Exist For Each Other".  The walk, organised by the Jaffna Transgender Network, began outside the iconic Jaffna Public Library and proceeded along Hospital Road and Pannai Road before ending at Jaffna Fort.  Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, human rights activists, civil society…

Candles lit in North-East to mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014
Updated 15:30 GMT

 
Photograph: Lamps being lit at a home in Jaffna.
Tamil Guardian

Maaveerar Naal was commemorated in secret on Thursday in the North-East, despite heavy military presence all over the region.

A source at one Jaffna event held in a private location told Tamil Guardian, “this is not an advertising stunt. Just to tell the world, that still our feelings, as Tamils, are alive.”

Maaveerar remembered at Jaffna University

Nov 26, 2014
Students at the University of Jaffna marked Maaveerar Naal in secret, despite a heavy military presence around the campus.

Photograph: Uthayan

Soldiers and police were gathered around a memorial monument in the university grounds where they expected students to attempt to light a ceremonious flame.

British Tamils commemorate Maveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014

Thousands of British Tamils gathered at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London on Thursday, to commemorate the nation's day of remembrance - Maaveerar Naal.

The event began with the ceremonious lighting of a flame of remembrance, coinciding with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the struggle against Sri Lankan state oppression.

The ceremonial flame was lit by the mother of Isaipriya, a Tamil news anchor and journalist who was killed in May 2009.

See our live tweets here.
 
 
Photographs: Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC)

In London, British Tamils from across began the event with the ceremonious lighting of remembrance flames to coincide with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the fight against Sri Lankan state oppression.

Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014

Northern Provincial Council member Thurairasa Ravikaran led a Maaveerar Naal tribute in Mullaithivu. Ravikaran was joined by over fifteen citizens, including the mother of a Maaveerar.

Conscripted Tamil women raped by Sri Lankan military

Nov 25, 2014
Tamil women, who were recently conscripted into the Sri Lankan military, were taken from Mullaitheevu to a Sri Lankan military party in Mihintale and raped on Saturday, reports Tamilnet.

After being returned to their original areas, the Tamil women’s complaints to the Sri Lankan police were ignored, whilst being belittled by the Sri Lankan military Civil Security Department (CSD).

Three arrests over Maaveerar Naal posters

Nov 25, 2014

2nd lead 14:45 GMT

Poster in the North-East saluting fallen fighters (TamilNet)
 

Police in the North-East have arrested three people for activities relating to the Tamil remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, reported the Uthayan on Tuesday.

Two arrests were made in Mirusuvil and one near Puththur junction and the detained were in possession of Maaveerar Naal posters, according to sources.

SL intelligence launches investigation into Uthayan over LTTE leader 60th birthday article

Nov 25, 2014
Sri Lankan intelligence officers are to launch an investigation into the Uthayan, alleging that the newspaper had celebrated LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's birthday, reports BBC Sinhala.

The investigation was launched after the Jaffna based daily published an article which included a photograph of a billboard in India, which featured Prabhakaran's image and the words: "60th birthday of the leader of the Tamils. The auspicious day the god of our nation was incarnated.”

TNPF office surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel

Nov 25, 2014
The Tamil National People’s Front's office has been surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel since this afternoon at 4pm local time, the party said.

The military surveillance comes on the day before the Tamil national remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, and on the day of the birthday of the LTTE leader, V. Prabhakaran.

Intelligence officers have been stationed at the office door, the party said, adding that as a result local residents are afraid to leave their houses due to the overwhelming military presence.

Earlier this week, the TNPF issued a statement calling on the international community to provide protection for Jaffna University students and staff facing death threats by unidentified persons, thought to be connected to the Sri Lankan military.

Heavy military presence at Jaffna Uni ahead of Maaveerar Naal

Nov 25, 2014
Photograph Uthayan


SL Army personnel and police officers have been seen deployed around the University of Jaffna, since last night with two military vehicles stationed close by,
the day before the Tamil national remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, reports the Uthayan newspaper.

The University of Jaffna was closed suddenly today, with university administrative officials saying the university would remain closed until December 1st. Students living in hostels have been ordered to vacate the premises until then.

Australian senator remembers Tamils killed by systematic Sri Lankan state brutality

Nov 25, 2014
An Australian Greens senator for New South Wales, speaking in parliament, issued a statement remembering Tamils in Sri Lanka that had been killed by “more than 60 years of systematic Sri Lankan state orchestrated brutality towards them.”



Lee Rhiannon went on to condemn the government of Australia’s handling of Tamil asylum seekers reaching the shores of Australia, and reminded MPs of the need to consult the Tamil diaspora and multiple international human rights organisations to combat misinformation provided by Sri Lankan government propaganda.

Noting that the world had “woken up” to the crimes of the Sri Lankan government, the senator ended by warning the Australian government that Australia could be one of the last standing countries to give “cover to a President and government accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and ongoing human rights abuses."

Full transcript reproduced below.
Maaveerar remembered at Jaffna University
British Tamils commemorate Maveerar Naal
Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal
Conscripted Tamil women raped by Sri Lankan military
Three arrests over Maaveerar Naal posters
SL intelligence launches investigation into Uthayan over LTTE leader 60th birthday article
TNPF office surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel
Heavy military presence at Jaffna Uni ahead of Maaveerar Naal
Australian senator remembers Tamils killed by systematic Sri Lankan state brutality
TNPF condemns death threats against Jaffna Uni students
Maaveerar remembered at Jaffna University
British Tamils commemorate Maveerar Naal
Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal
Conscripted Tamil women raped by Sri Lankan military
Three arrests over Maaveerar Naal posters
SL intelligence launches investigation into Uthayan over LTTE leader 60th birthday article
TNPF office surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel
Heavy military presence at Jaffna Uni ahead of Maaveerar Naal
Australian senator remembers Tamils killed by systematic Sri Lankan state brutality
TNPF condemns death threats against Jaffna Uni students