Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

Sri Lanka increases ties with Israel in the midst of Gaza conflict

The Sri Lankan government announced it was increasing air connectivity with Israel last week, as ties between the two countries continued to grow in recent months.

TNPF leader questions why Sri Lankan Navy allowed Indian trawlers to bring narcotics into the North-East

Addressing a Jaffna District Coordination Meeting recently, leader of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam questioned why the Sri Lankan navy had allowed Indian trawlers laden with narcotics to enter the island's territorial waters. 

Sri Lankan MP warns ‘foreign nations may fund Tamil separatists’ and submits bill to dilute 13A

Sinhala extremist lawmaker Udaya Gammanpila submitted a Private Members Bill to the Sri Lankan Parliament, which seeks to remove police powers that should be granted to provinces under the 13th Amendment to the constitution, warning that “foreign nations” may end up funding “Tamil separatists” if it was enacted.

Sri Lanka is part of India,' Sri Lankan minister says in India

Despite proclamations from Sri Lankan politicians on protecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity, minister for tourism Harin Fernando speaking at a recent event said that  “Sri Lanka is a part of India.”

Tamil Canadian businessman accused of blocking fishermen once more

Tamil fishermen in Mullaitivu complained that their main source of livelihood has been choked off, after a Tamil Canadian businessman reportedly blocked them from going about getting their daily catch, claiming he owns the beach and waters stretching across the coast.

Local fishermen in the area allege that Charlesjanthan Antony, the head of private Canadian company Canbe Foods Inc, has claimed a 2.5km stretch of coast in the Thiyogunagar area, Silawathai.

No one can stop me!' says Shritharan, as court bars ITAK convention

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katch (ITAK) leader S Shritharan has vowed to press ahead with his brand of Tamil nationalist politics, as the Jaffna District Court issued an injunction order preventing the ITAK from holding its general convention on the 19th of this month. 

Sri Lanka floats plans for new American planes, 15 years after Mullivaikkal genocide

Addressing reporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka's Air Force Commander Udeni Rajapaksa said the Air Force intends to expand its fleet, as he announced it would look to acquire new aircraft more than 15 years since the military slaughtered tens of thousands in Mullivaikkal.

Sri Lanka is focussed on 'suppressing dissent and limiting international attention on human rights'

The Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that Sri Lanka is "going in reverse" on issues relating to human rights and social justice. 

Despite human rights concerns, Sri Lanka dispatches 'peacekeeping' troops to South Sudan

Despite serious concerns over the human rights record of Sri Lanka's military, Sri Lanka's army has deployed a contingent of military personnel to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The South Sudan-bound contingent comprises of 64 Army personnel, including 14 Army Officers, 01 Naval Officer, and 49 Other Ranks.

Sri Lankan Army claims halted recruitment, but Navy and Airforce pledge to continue

The Sri Lankan Army claims to have suspended general recruitment whilst the Navy and Airforce have pledged to continue, with the Airforce also seeking to expand its fleet.