Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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…

Tamil Eelam victorious against Székely Land at CONIFA Women's World Cup

Tamil Eelam secured a historic win against Székely Land Le at the CONIFA Women's World Cup. 

Matchday two of the CONIFA Women's World Cup saw Tamil Eelam play two games at Morkvedlia Idrettspark. The first game saw Tamil Eelam against tournament hosts FA Sapmi. The first half was physical with both teams unable to break the deadlock. The second half saw goals for FA Sampi with the game ending 0-2. 

Tamil students ‘threatened and forced to pray’ at Buddhist temple in Kilinochchi

Tamil National People's Front MP Selvarajah Kajendren told Sri Lanka’s parliament that Tamil university students were threatened and forced to pray at the Buddhist temple in the faculty of Engineering in Kilinochchi.

Speaking in parliament, the lawmaker spoke on the incident and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Tamil Eelam fishermen fear the return of Indian trawlers following the lifting of ban

The Northern Province Fishermen’s Association has expressed concerns over the return of Indian trawlers and fisherfolk from Tamil Nadu, as the 61-day annual fishing ban comes to an end on June 15th and the ongoing issues over the Palk Strait remain unaddressed. 

“We are willing to engage in a conversation with the Indian fishermen,” N.M Alam, Secretary to the association told reporters in Mannar, but warned that the continued infringement was impacting on their livelihoods.

50th anniversary of Sivakumaran's sacrifice marked at Jaffna University

Students, staff and lecturers from the Jaffna University faculty paid their respects to Pon. Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle 50 years ago. 

15 years after the genocide, Sri Lanka’s reconciliation mechanism consults police and military officers

Sri Lanka’s controversial truth and reconciliation mechanism, the Interim Secretariat for the Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism (ISTRM), which has been roundly criticized by international experts and Tamil civil society, met with Sri Lankan police officers and air force officers in the Puttalam district to gather their feedback on the proposed reconciliation legislation. 

Sri Lankan police force Tamil officers to take part in Vesak at illegally constructed Buddhist temple

The Sri Lankan police reportedly forced Tamil officers who were deployed in Kankesanthurai on routine duty to take part in Vesak observances at an illegally constructed temple within the military-controlled high-security zone (HSZ) in Jaffna.  

Tamils do not have ‘capacity or background to field a common candidate’ says Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly said the Tamil people “do not have the unity, capacity and background to field a common candidate” for the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential polls, which are scheduled to be held later this year. 

Wickremesinghe met Tamil parliamentarian C.V. Wigneswaran at his home in Jaffna, where he reportedly made the remarks last month.

Remembering Pon. Sivakumaran 50 years on

Today marks 50 years since the death of Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle. 

UN Resident Coordinator visits mass grave in Mullaitivu and speaks with Families of the Disappeared

Following the 15th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, Sri Lanka’s UN Resident Coordinator, Marc-André Franche, undertook a tour of the North-East and visited the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave in Mullaitivu. He was accompanied by Mullaitivu District's Families of the Disappeared President, Mariyasures Iswari, and lawyer K. Ganeswaran.

The visit follows Franche's meeting with Mullaitivu District Secretary, A. Uma Maheswaran, where they discussed the challenges facing those in Mullaitivu. 

Family of six Eelam Tamils flee Sri Lanka for Tamil Nadu

A family of six Eelam Tamil have fled Mannar to arrive at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, where they are being held at the Police Station and having their statements recorded by the Indian police. 

It is learnt that the family undertook a journey by boat to arrive in Rameswaram on Tuesday (4). The family of six includes three children along with their parents. The family is seeking asylum in Tamil Nadu over the economic hardships that they are facing in Sri Lanka.