Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
  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…

Easter Sunday attack ringleader's wife denied bail

The Batticaloa High Court rejected the bail petition of the wife of the alleged ringleader of the Easter Sunday attack, Zahran Hashim, on Monday. 

In 2019, a series of bomb attacks, targeted churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, killing 279 people and injuring more than 500. The attacks, staged by eight bombers who all killed themselves in the attack, were members of National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ), reportedly led by Hashim. 

Mannar farmers complain of neglect by Sri Lankan government officials

Tamil farmers in Mannar recently expressed their disgruntlement with Sri Lankan government officials whose decisions to allow cattle grazing in farmlands has adversely impacted those dependent on agriculture. 

Former UN investigator urges Police Scotland to end training of Sri Lankan officers

Former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and secretary-general of the Global Campus of Human Rights, Professor Manfred Nowark, has urged Holyrood to launch an inquiry into allegations of Sri Lankan police brutality against Tamil refugees who fled the island for Scotland.

‘Legal avenues alone will not resolve the ongoing fishermen problems’ – M.A. Sumanthiran

A discussion on the problem faced by Mullaitivu fishermen was held on Saturday in Mullaitivu between Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, lawyer and spokesperson M.A. Sumanthiran and the fishermen. The meeting was also attended by former Northern Provincial Council members Thurairasa Ravikaran and Chandralingam Sukirtan.

Sri Lanka's militarized vaccine drive for Jaffna students

Sri Lankan security forces administered the first dose of Pfizer vaccine for students aged 18 and above in Jaffna, in a move that entrenches the militarisation of the Tamil homeland.
 
Troops of the 4th Battalion Medical Corps facilitated and administered vaccines alongside Medical Officers and Public Health Inspectors in select schools in Chankani, Jaffna, Kareinagar, Karaveddy, Kopay, Muruthankerny, Nallur, Point Pedro, Sandilipay, Tellipalai, Uduvil and Velanai. 

Climate Criminal, Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa' - Tamils protest in London

Tamils joined a larger protest against climate change in London yesterday, as they called for climate justice and an end to crimes against humanity committed by Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The protest, which took place on Saturday 6 November, saw Tamils join tens of thousands of others in demanding climate action whilst the global COP26 summit is underway in Glasgow.

Planned execution of Malaysian Tamil 'unlawful' - Amnesty International

Amnesty International has called on the Singaporean government to cease the planned execution of Tamil Malaysian national, Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam who has been charged with carrying drugs in 2009. 

The execution which is scheduled to take place on 10 November has drawn criticism from numerous human rights organisations. 

Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Amnesty International’s Singapore Researcher, said:

China slams AUKUS as threat to Sri Lanka

Responding to the trilateral security pact between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, has slammed the agreement claiming that it was “opening the Pandora’s Box of the arms race, and undermining peace and stability in the Pacific and Indian Ocean”.

Sri Lanka and India seek to strengthen economic ties despite human rights concerns


Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda, met with India's Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi on Tuesday where they discussed strengthening economic cooperation.

Sri Lankan army sets new camp up in Batticaloa bird sanctuary

The Sri Lankan army has reportedly set up a new camp without any prior in Batticaloa this week, as journalists were barred from entry and from asking questions from security officials.

The camp has been set up inside the Manthivu Bird Sanctuary in the centre of the Batticaloa district. A small islet that covers an area of about 100 acres, Manthivu is also home to a leprosy hospital and several religious sites including a Saivite Murugan Temple and catholic church.

This week however, an army camp also appeared at the site.