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…

Mannar Court orders comprehensive report on Sathosa mass grave

The Magistrate court in Mannar has ordered a comprehensive report to be submitted on the Sathosa mass grave in the Mannar district.

Fitch rating warns of risk in Sri Lanka's domestic debt restructuring plan

Fitch Ratings have warned of continued risk despite Sri Lanka's domestic debt restructuring plan, as the agency doubts external creditors' approval.

Highlighting the risks, the agency pointed out that it is still unclear whether the government’s proposal has received the support of the country’s external creditors. “If not, the risk of further domestic debt restructuring could linger, resulting in further instability for the banking sector.”

21 Tamil Nadu fishermen sentenced to 5 years in jail by Sri Lankan courts

22 Tamil Nadu fishermen, who were arrested by Sri Lanka's Navy for alleged illegal fishing, have brought before Kayts Magistrate Court.

Whilst the Magistrate Court initially sentenced 21 of the fishermen to 18 years in jail, the Court has extended this to 21 years. This was with the exemption of a fisherman aged on 16th  on bail worth 10,000 rupees and all charges against him were dropped.

Vageeshwari Nathan, mother of Tamil political prisoner, remembered - 1 year on

The first anniversary of the death of Vageeshwari Nathan, the mother of Tamil political prisoner Parthiban Vigneshwaranathan, was commemorated on 6th July at her house in Tirunelveli.

Nathan, who passed away at the age of 77 last year, had been protesting for the release of her son for the past 28 years. The commemoration ceremony was attended by her surviving relatives, as well as members of the Voice for the Voiceless organisation. 

Protestors demand release of land in Mullaitivu

Tamil villagers in Mullaitivu are demanding release of their land by the Sri Lankan military and have marched one army camp to another in Keppapilavu.

Remembering the Black Tigers

On July 5, Eelam Tamils across the world remember and mourn the sacrifices made by the LTTE's elite women and men, the Black Tigers. “Karumpuli Naal” marks the sacrifice made by the first Black Tiger, Captain Miller, or Vallipuram Vasanthan, 36 years ago.

In 1987, he attacked a Sri Lankan Army garrison in Nelliyadi in the Jaffna district, by driving a small truck with explosives into it. Forty Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in the attack.

Black Tigers commemorated in Jaffna and Mullaitivu

'Karumpuli Naal' or 'Black Tigers Day' was marked in Jaffna and Mullaitivu today.

Black Tigers Day marks the sacrifice made by the first Black Tiger, Captain Miller, or Vallipuram Vasanthan, 36 years ago.

At the University of Jaffna, students and the general public offered flowers, lit lamps and observed a moment of silence to remember the lives of the elite force that sacrificed their lives during the armed conflict. 

Keppapulavu residents protest welfare program exclusion

A group of residents from Keppapulavu, Mullaitivu protested in front of the District Secretariat Office on June 28th, demanding to be included in a government welfare program. The program provides financial assistance to people living in poverty, but the protestors argue that they have been excluded because their lands are still being occupied by the military.

Buddhist monks conduct worship at Kurunthurmalai during Mullaitivu Magistrate Court judge's field visit

File photograph

Sinhala Buddhist monks continued their worship Mullaitivu Magistrate Court Judge, Hon. T. Sravanarajah conducted a field visit to the Kurunthurmalai site, following the second court hearing regarding the ongoing illegal construction of a Buddhist temple at the site. 

Attorney General visits Kurunthumalai site amidst Buddhist takeover

The Attorney General's department conducted a field visit to the Kurunthumalai site on June 21st, along with a team of prosecutors. The visit was in response to the ongoing dispute surrounding the site, which has been targeted for land grabs by Buddhist monks with the assistance of the Sri Lankan police, military, and Department of Archaeology.