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…

Sri Lanka breaches prison capacity by more than double as minister considers house arrests

Sri Lanka is spending Rs. 4 Billion per year to jail more than 30,000 individuals, despite the maximum capacity of its prison being only 12,000, State Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs Anuradha Jayaratne admitted to reporters in Colombo last month, stating his government was now looking into enacting house arrests instead. 

McDonald's closes branches in Sri Lanka over poor hygiene

International fast food chain McDonalds announced that it will close all branches with its franchise partner in Sri Lanka, following reports of a failure to adhere to international hygiene standards.

Sri Lanka open to hiring hangwomen, as minister stands awaiting order to execute

A Sri Lankan minister said his government would consider hiring hangwomen for executioner posts for the first time in its history, if the order to execute was given by the president.

Eelam Tamil family seek refugee in Tamil Nadu amidst economic crisis

A family of four Eelam Tamils including two children from the same family reached Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu after undertaking a journey by boat from Mannar to seek refuge in Tamil Nadu. 

Muruganandan, was accompanied by his wife Rita Mary, and their two children from Thiruketheeswaram Mannar District, the four of them had undertaken a journey by boat until they were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard from Mandapam, in Ramanathapuram.

Sri Lanka's Teachers' Association condemns investigation into Tamil national flower decoration at school sports competition

The Sri Lankan Teachers' Association vice president Theepan Thileesan has condemned the investigation and surveillance by Sri Lanka's security forces over a decoration that replicated the Tamil national flower at a school sports competition. 

Tamil livestock farmers mark 200 days of protest against Sinhalese settler violence in Batticaloa

Tamil livestock farmers in Mayilathamadu and Madhavanai, Batticaloa, marked 200 days of continuous protest today, against state-sponsored Sinhalese settler violence.

Sri Lankan police investigate Tamil national flower decoration at school sports competition

Sri Lankan police have initiated investigations into a decorative battle tank and a karthigai poo - the Tamil national flower - that were put on display at Thellipalai Union College's sports competition. 

30 years of Mega Maalai - Imperial College London’s Tamil Society celebrates flagship event

Imperial College London’s Tamil Society celebrated the 30th anniversary of Mega Maalai, Europes's largest annual Tamil student-led cultural showcase.

The showcase was held earlier this month at the ExCel London, their largest venue to date, and with over 300 performers, the event has reached unprecedented heights, delivering a spectacle of dance, music and fashion.

China to 'assist Sri Lanka's debt restructuring' as Gunawardena visits Beijing

Sri Lanka and China have signed nine agreements following the prime minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s recent visit to China this week. Gunawardena stated that China has offered to “assist Sri Lanka debt restructuring” while “extending assistance to develop Katunayake International Airport, Hambantota Sea Port, and the Port City in Colombo.”

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka given until 2028 to pay creditors

Sri Lanka's national security advisor Sagala Ratnayaka has stated that Sri Lanka will begin repaying its debt from 2028 following negotiations with it's creditors as the island continues to suffer from its worst financial crisis.