Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Amnesty International demands immediate release of detained Tamil artist
Amnesty International has called for the release of detained Tamil rapper Sangeethan Ganeshkumar and renewed demands for the repeal of Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), warning that the legislation continues to facilitate arbitrary detention and human rights abuses. In a statement issued this week, the international rights organisation expressed concern over the continued use of…

Eastern Provincial Council members commemorate May massacre

May 26, 2014

Members of the TNA in the Eastern Provincial Council have marked the 5th anniversary of the Mullivaikal massacres in 2009, reported the Uthayan.

The TNA councillors wore black shawls during the EPC’s monthly meeting earlier today, while paying respect to those that died in the war.

Army applies for more land acquisitions in North-East

May 26, 2014

The Sri Lankan Army made 22 applications for land acquisitions in the Jaffna district, said Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran according to Uthayan.

Speaking at the Jaffna District Coordination Committee meeting, Wigneswaran said he had rejected all applications, which were in relation to land acquisitions to build army camps.

TNA MP Suresh Premachandran said that the land acquisition notices are posted as ordered by the Land Development Ministry of the Sri Lankan government.

Body of male found in Vavuniya pond

May 26, 2014

A young male was discovered dead in a Vavuniya pond this morning, reported Uthayan.

Investigations are being carried out by Vavuniya police.

Modi tells Rajapaksa to go 'beyond' 13th Amendment

May 26, 2014
Newly sworn-in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to do more to 'meet aspirations' of the Tamils and to go 'beyond' the 13th Amendment, during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh told reporters at a press conference, 
"In his meeting with the Sri Lankan  president, the Prime Minister noted that India valued its relations with the country. He requested the Sri Lankan Government to expedite the process of national reconciliation in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Tamil community for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka."
She went on to quote Prime Minister Modi telling Rajapaksa,
"Early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond would contribute to this process."

Jayalalithaa to boycott Modi's swearing-in ceremony

May 25, 2014
09:59 BST

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, is to boycott the swearing in ceremony of the Prime Minister designate, Narendra Modi, due to take place later today, in protest against the presence of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Indian newspapers report. (See NDTV, Times of India, and The Hindu).

According to the papers, she will not be sending a party representative of her party, AIADMK either.

Jayalalithaa's counterparts in Karnataka and Kerala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy respectively, will also be absent citing prior engagements, the Deccan Chronicle reported.

Moviestar Rajinikanth will not attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony - NDTV

May 25, 2014
The widely popular moviestar, Rajinikanth will not be attending Narendra Modi's swearing in ceremony, reports NDTV.

Whilst the actor said he will be on a film set in Hyderabad, his decision comes amidst increasing criticism and protests over the presence of the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the ceremony.

In the run up to the election, Mr Modi met with Rajinikanth in his home in Chennai.

Vaiko protests Rajapaksa's visit, detained

May 25, 2014
10:30 BST

Photographs @MDMKIW

The leader of the MDMK, Vaiko, was detained after holding a black flag protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, against the visit of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi, reports PTI.

Addressing fellow protesters today, Vaiko said Rajapaksa's presence would "pollute the sanctity" of the swearing-in ceremony. Vaiko was subsequently detained for 'defying prohibitory orders'.


In Memoriam - Songs from the Purananuru - Song 112

May 25, 2014
During this month of May, as Tamils remember their loved ones that were killed as the armed conflict ended in 2009, we publish selected Poems from the classical Tamil anthology, the Purananuru (the 400 Puram poems) as we have done in previous years.

Song 112 - Pari’s daughters sing (on the death of Pari)
Tinai - Potuviyal (General heroism)

That month

That month
In that white moonlight

Profiles of May 2009: Theeban

May 25, 2014

The following account is written by a second generation Tamil from London who was involved in organising the prolonged protest on Parliament Square in Westminster during April and May 2009, the bloody end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict. Theeban (not his real name), then in his early twenties, was studying at a London university. Names have been changed in order to protect the identity of individuals not already within the public domain.

I went into university that Sunday morning, April 5th 2009, for what was supposed to be the first day of revision for my finals a month or so later, and read the news. The last areas held by the LTTE that weren’t in a safe zone had been captured by the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil fighters were now trapped in the safe zone, alongside the civilians.

I knew then I wasn’t going to get any revision done. I think a lot of people at the time, including myself, were just waiting for the moment the LTTE would launch a counter-offensive. I guess, that’s when I first realised that there’s not going to be the miraculous military recovery as we had expected.

Army conducts workshop for Kilinochchi schoolchildren

May 25, 2014
The Sri Lankan Army held a workshop for schoolchildren in Kilinochchi on Saturday, to “enlighten students” on telecommunication, according to their website.

Troops from the 9 Sri Lanka Signal Corps organised the event, which was attended by senior military commanders, including Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander of the Sri Lankan Security Forces in Kilinochchi.


Schoolchildren stand as the Major General enters the venue...

... and takes his seat alongside other senior military figures at the front of the hall.

Army applies for more land acquisitions in North-East
Body of male found in Vavuniya pond
Modi tells Rajapaksa to go 'beyond' 13th Amendment
Jayalalithaa to boycott Modi's swearing-in ceremony
Moviestar Rajinikanth will not attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony - NDTV
Vaiko protests Rajapaksa's visit, detained
In Memoriam - Songs from the Purananuru - Song 112
Profiles of May 2009: Theeban
Army conducts workshop for Kilinochchi schoolchildren
Rajapaksa announces social media to come under government watch
Army applies for more land acquisitions in North-East
Body of male found in Vavuniya pond
Modi tells Rajapaksa to go 'beyond' 13th Amendment
Jayalalithaa to boycott Modi's swearing-in ceremony
Moviestar Rajinikanth will not attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony - NDTV
Vaiko protests Rajapaksa's visit, detained
In Memoriam - Songs from the Purananuru - Song 112
Profiles of May 2009: Theeban
Army conducts workshop for Kilinochchi schoolchildren
Rajapaksa announces social media to come under government watch