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…

Families of Disappeared slam those greeting Rajapaksa

President of the Families of the Disappeared (FOD), Yogarasa Kanakaranjini slammed those greeting Sri Lanka's President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, claiming that those who welcomed Rajapaksa with garlands were betraying Tamils.

Rights groups call on Australian government to sanction former Sri Lankan general after police failed to investigate visiting war criminal

Rights groups have called on the Australian Government to impose sanctions against retired Sri Lankan General Jagath Jayasuriya for his command role in atrocities in Sri Lanka after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) failed to investigate the former Army Commander after he was allowed to enter Australia in 2019. 

Sri Lanka abstains again as UN demands aid access for Ukraine

Sri Lankan decided once more not to back a UN General Assembly resolution demanding civilian protection and humanitarian access in Ukraine last week, in yet another vote at the global body.

During the emergency special session, the resolution entitled ‘Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine’ was passed with 140 votes in favour.

38 countries, including Sri Lanka decided to abstain. Just five countries voted against the resolution – Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea and Belarus.

‘Oppress us with one hand and plead for our money with the other’ - Tamil diaspora reacts Rajapaksa's investment offer

As Sri Lanka’s president claimed to welcome the global Tamil diaspora to invest in the cash-stricken country, many across the world remain wary - particularly as corruption, human rights abuses and repression of the Tamil people continues on the island.

"This is all just a farce," said Theepan*, a Tamil rights activist based in Switzerland. “After forcing us out of our homeland, torturing, raping and killing us, now the Sri Lankan state needs our help."

Sri Lanka seeks another loan of USD $250 million from Bangladesh as forex crisis worsens

Sri Lanka has requested a USD $250 million currency swap with the Bangladesh Bank. 

The announcement came from Bangladesh Foreign Minister  A. K. Abdul Momen. The minister said that the island nation has requested another US$ 250 million currency swap. The Foreign minister is currently in Sri Lanka to attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) which got underway in Colombo today.

A currency swap is effectively a loan that Bangladesh will give to Sri Lanka in US dollars, with an agreement that the debt will be repaid with interest in Sri Lankan rupees. 

Sri Lankan health care workers plan more strikes as government ignores their demands

The Sri Lanka Federation of health workers (SLFHP) has warned of more island-wide action if the ministry of health continues to ignore their demands.

Trade unions in the state health sector have repeatedly engaged in strikes over the last few months in response to several unresolved issues including salaries and promotions. 

Major Sri Lankan newspapers halt printing as paper shortage continues

Two major Sri Lankan newspapers, The Island and Divaina, have halted their print editions as the cash-strapped island struggles to pay for imports, including paper. 

As power cuts hit Sri Lanka, a music festival lights up Colombo and ignites local anger

In the midst of Sri Lanka’s worst financial crisis in living memory, a massive music festival with international acts, pyrotechnics and thousands of people was held in Colombo on Saturday, even as locals endured power cuts and hours-long queues for basic supplies.

‘Tamils fear prison and torture in Sri Lanka, 13 years after civil war ended’ – The Guardian

File photograph.

Tamils in the North-East say they are “still living in an open prison,” reports Hannah Ellis-Petersen for The Guardian this week, highlighting imprisonment and torture on the island 13 years after the armed conflict ended.

Indian Foreign Minister meets Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka seeks US$1.5 billion more

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo earlier today as the island’s economy witnesses an unprecedented crisis in its independent history. 

Jaishankar is in Colombo for the fifth BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit on a three-day visit.