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's inflation hits 12 year high as food prices soar

Sri Lanka's inflation hits 12-year high at 9.9% in November, as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) issued a high alert warning for the country as food prices soar.

I support the rights of Tamils to mourn their deceased'- Australian MP marks Maaveerar Naal

Marking Maaveerar Naal, Australian MP, Hugh McDermott, expressed his solidarity with the Tamil community as those in the North East faced a brutal crackdown on memorialisation events.

Another Rajapaksa visits Delhi as Indo-Lanka tensions grow and crisis deepens

Sri Lanka’s finance minister and another brother of the Rajapaksa regime, Basil Rajapaksa, is in Delhi this week, as his government looks to India for crucial financial support amidst a deepening economic crisis and growing tensions between the neighbours.

Rajapaksa arrived in Delhi on Tuesday, with a range of meetings scheduled. He is expected to meet with Indian prime minister Narendra Modia, as well as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and others.

In Pictures - Thousands commemorate Maaveerar Naal across Australia

Thousands of Tamils across Australia commemorated Maaveerar Naal at events across the country, as they gathered to pay tribute to the fallen fighters of the Tamil liberation struggle this weekend.

Events took place across the country, with speeches, performances and commemorations. Australian politicians joined many of the events that took place.

See photos from across Australia below.

Italian Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal

Tamils in Naples, Italy marked Maaveerar Naal - Great Heroes Day - to commemorate the tens of thousands of cadres who laid down their lives in the struggle for Tamil liberation. 

Sri Lanka misses deadline to submit report to the UN Committee against Torture

The Committee against Torture noted that Sri Lanka was amongst the nations that failed to submit their report to the Committee within the allocated deadline, during a discussion held on Tuesday.

Tamils in France commemorate Maaveerar Naal

French Tamils commemorated Maaveerar Naal on November 27th by lighting candles and observing a moment of silence for fallen cadres who sacrificed their lives for Tamil liberation. 

Flowers were laid at the gravestones of Captain Gajan, Lt. Colonel Nathan and Colonel Parithi. 

Sri Lanka refuses to repeal draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L.Peiris said that the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will not be rescinded in a meeting with the Sri Lankan Collective for Consensus (SLCC), a civil society organisation. 

Peiris heads the Ministerial Subcommittee on amending the PTA and said that the law will not be repealed due to “security issues.” 

The act was introduced in 1978 by then-President J.R. Jayawardena and has been disproportionately used to target Tamils in the island. 

Maaveerar Naal: Kilinochchi, Mannar and Vavuniya

Private commemorations to mark Maaveerar Naal were held across the North-East on November 27th, amidst a Sri Lankan military crackdown and fears of intimidation, harassment and arrest.

In Kilinochchi, there were reports that the Sri Lankan military had blocked access to destroyed LTTE cemeteries, where locals had gathered in previous years to pay tribute to those that gave their lives in the Tamil liberation struggle.

Instead, private commemorations were held in temples and homes.

Tamils block another Sri Lankan land grab attempt as soldiers face off protestors

Local Tamils managed to block off another land grab attempt by the Sri Lankan military this week, as armed troops from the navy squared off against demonstrators in Jaffna.

Residents state that Sri Lanka’s land survey department was attempting to acquire at least 1 acre of private land for the navy in Mathagal, Jaffna.