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…

Tamils push back efforts to expand ‘Gotabaya naval base’ despite intimidation

Local Tamil protestors pushed back against efforts by the Sri Lankan military to acquire land for the Gotabaya naval base in Mullaitivu today, as the security forces intimidated and harassed demonstrators.

Sri Lanka needs US$ 5 billion over 6 months, admits prime minister

Sri Lanka’s prime minister told parliament that his cash-stricked government will need at least US$ 5 billion over the next 6 months alone, as an economic crisis has affected millions of livelihoods across the island.

Recently appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe told lawmakers that of the US$ 5 billion, US$3.3 billion alone would be needed for fuel imports, whilst US$900 million was needed for food, US$250 million for cooking gas and US$600 million more for fertiliser.

‘I can’t go’ – Gotabaya pledges to stay on and vows not to cut military spending

Sri Lanka’s embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa struck a defiant tone in his first international interview since anti-government protests started in April, vowing not to step down and pledging not to cut the state’s heavy military expenditure.

Speaking to Bloomberg at his official residence in Colombo, Rajapaksa did however state he would not stand for re-election.

“I can’t go as a failed president,” said Rajapaksa. “I have been given a mandate for five years. I will not contest again.”

Sri Lankan navy attacks Tamil fishermen in Mannar

As many as 7 Tamil fishermen were admitted into hospital last week, after Sri Lankan navy officers attacked them in Pesalai, Mannar.

The attack happened on Thursday 2 June, as the navy questioned the fishermen whilst they were preparing to head out to sea around 3PM.

Following the attack, they were admitted to Pesalai Hospital for treatment.

The assault on the Tamil fishermen comes as Sri Lanka continues to be in the midst of an economic crisis that has impacted livelihoods across the island.

 

 

‘They care about the economic crisis but not the lives of our relatives’ – Tamil families of the disappeared

Tamil families of the disappeared criticised the international community’s response to their struggle to find justice for their loved ones, noting how rapidly governments around the world mobilised to tackle Sri Lanka’s economic crisis but still continued to ignore their plight.

World Environment Day - Locals clean up Mannar beach

Locals participated  in a clean up operation of Mullaitivu beach to mark World Environment Day today. 

The clean up was organised by Karitas, a non-governmental organisation and aimed to  encourage locals and tourists  to keep the area free from polythene and other plastic debris. 

Sivakumaran’s sacrifice remembered in Jaffna


Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle, was remembered in Jaffna this morning this morning to mark 48 years since his death. 

Sivakumaran was a member of the Tamil Manavar Peravai (or Tamil Student Federation, TSF) and a leading militant in the early armed Tamil struggle. With decades of Sri Lankan state repression and deadly anti-Tamil pogroms already having taken place, Tamil militant movements began to form. 

Aid from Tamil Nadu arrives in Vavuniya as supply of essential items runs dry

Food supplies from Tamil Nadu arrived in Vavuniya yesterday as the island’s economic turmoil continues. 

The supplies will be distributed to families across Vavuniya who have been struggling due to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. Sri Lanka’s shortage of foreign reserves and soaring inflation has created a shortage of essential items including fuel, food and medicines. 

Beach clean up in Mannar ahead of World Environment Day

A coastal clean-up operation and tree sapling planting event was held this morning at Mannar Keeri beach ahead of of World Environment Day. 

The clear up was organised by Mannar Karitras Wildlife to mark World Environment Day which falls on June 5 and to raise awareness of pressing environmental issues. 

Sri Lanka plans to develop Trincomalee but international investors remain wary

On Tuesday the chairman of Sri Lanka’s Port Authority, Prasantha Jayamanna, declared that they would be issuing Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to develop Trincomalee Port however poor governance from Colombo has left investors wary.

“We will be asking not only from one party, but whoever the industrialists are who want to come and utilise the port premises,” Jayamanna told representatives of shipping companies and port workers’ unions.