Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Hundreds march in Kilinochchi against limestone, sand mining and wind turbines
A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Jaffna Uni students launch boycott in protest against death threats

May 21, 2014
Students at the University of Jaffna announced two days of strike, protesting over the anonymous death threats issued to staff and students earlier this week.

In a posters around the premises, students said: "We the students of the University of Jaffna, hereby declare a two day (Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd) strike because of the anonymous [threats] to the University Society."

Northern Provincial Council remembers Mullivaikal massacre 5 years on

May 21, 2014
Photograph @Hamsanan


The Northern Provincial Council held a Mullivaikal memorial event this morning, during the NPC's 9th meeting in Kaithadi, lighting candles in remembrance of the tens of thousands that were slaughtered in May 2009.

Photograph @Uthayarasashalin

Wearing black shawls around their necks several NPC members including Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, Ananthy Sasitharan and M.K. Shivajilingham of the Tamil National Alliance, as well as NPC opposition leader, Thavarasa, took part in the remembrance event, the Uthayan reported.

Photograph Uthayan

Tamil Nadu parties criticise Rajapaksa's invitation to Modi's swearing-in ceremony

May 21, 2014

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have criticised the decision to invite Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the swearing in ceremony of India's Prime Minister-designate, Narendra Modi.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister 'dismayed' at Rajapaksa invite for Modi swearing-in ceremony

May 21, 2014
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, has expressed her dismay at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the swearing in ceremony of India's Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, stating that it has “deeply upset the people of Tamil Nadu”.

In a statement released on Thursday, Jayalalithaa, who heads India's third largest party, said,
“The entire country and indeed the entire world is aware of the various Resolutions passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly during the last three years, with regard to the war crimes, ethnic pogrom and genocide perpetrated against the Sri Lankan Tamil people by the Sri Lankan Army under the Rajapaksa Government in Sri Lanka during the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka.”

People in Jaffna have 'blood of the forces' – SL Military

May 21, 2014
After blocking off attempts by the local Tamil population in Jaffna to donate blood earlier this week, the Sri Lankan military dismissed any criticism of its actions, declaring that no organisation had given more blood to Jaffna than the armed forces.

Responding to questions from journalists in the North, Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya stated that the Sri Lankan troops had donated more blood than any other organisation in Jaffna, challenging anyone who had done more to come forward.

Jaffna University commemorates Mullivaikal amidst death threats

May 20, 2014

Pictures: @uthayarasashali

A remembrance event was held in the University of Jaffna the day it was reopened, after it was closed in the run up to the 5th anniversary of Mullivaikal.

Hundreds of students and faculty members packed the auditorium at the university on Wednesday morning, lighting candles in memory of those that died in the ethnic conflict.

Government must take action against those who remembered Mullivaikal massacre, says NFF

May 20, 2014
The National Freedom Front (NFF), a partner in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition, urged the government to take action against members of the Tamil National Alliance who organised events to commemorate Tamils that died in May 2009, reports ColomboPage.

The TNA's actions violated the constitution as an act that could divide the country or disrupt the ethnic harmony, said the NFF spokesperson Mohamed Muzammil.

Canadian High Commissioner summoned over Victory Day boycott

May 20, 2014
The External Affairs Ministry summoned the Canadian High Commissioner, after she announced that she would not be attended the Sri Lankan government’s annual Victory Day parade on May 18, and considered it detrimental to post-war reconciliation, reports The Island.

International Federation of Journalists condemn military's intimidation of Tamil press

May 20, 2014
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today, condemned the Sri Lankan military’s blocking of roads and access to the offices of the Uthayan and Yarl Thinakkural, in Jaffna on May 18.

Sri Lanka’s Greatest War Criminal (Gotabaya) is a US Citizen: It’s Time to Hold Him Accountable

May 20, 2014
Writing in Just Security this week, Ryan Goodman, a Professor of Law and Co-Chair of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York university School of Law, member of the Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Law and member of Council on Foreign Relations argued that the US should prosecute Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

See full opinion below.
Northern Provincial Council remembers Mullivaikal massacre 5 years on
Tamil Nadu parties criticise Rajapaksa's invitation to Modi's swearing-in ceremony
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister 'dismayed' at Rajapaksa invite for Modi swearing-in ceremony
People in Jaffna have 'blood of the forces' – SL Military
Jaffna University commemorates Mullivaikal amidst death threats
Government must take action against those who remembered Mullivaikal massacre, says NFF
Canadian High Commissioner summoned over Victory Day boycott
International Federation of Journalists condemn military's intimidation of Tamil press
Sri Lanka’s Greatest War Criminal (Gotabaya) is a US Citizen: It’s Time to Hold Him Accountable
Fear is a part of daily life for Tamils in North-East, says The Social Architects
Northern Provincial Council remembers Mullivaikal massacre 5 years on
Tamil Nadu parties criticise Rajapaksa's invitation to Modi's swearing-in ceremony
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister 'dismayed' at Rajapaksa invite for Modi swearing-in ceremony
People in Jaffna have 'blood of the forces' – SL Military
Jaffna University commemorates Mullivaikal amidst death threats
Government must take action against those who remembered Mullivaikal massacre, says NFF
Canadian High Commissioner summoned over Victory Day boycott
International Federation of Journalists condemn military's intimidation of Tamil press
Sri Lanka’s Greatest War Criminal (Gotabaya) is a US Citizen: It’s Time to Hold Him Accountable
Fear is a part of daily life for Tamils in North-East, says The Social Architects