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…

Sivakumaran commemoration disrupted by Sri Lankan police

Valikamam Pradeshiya Sabha chairman, Thiyagarajah Nirosh, was blocked from commemorating Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the armed struggle for liberation. 

Nirosh was lighting a flame in memory of Sivakumaran before being disrupted by Sri Lankan police who claimed that due to a travel ban in the area, they were not allowed to pay their respects. The police stated that only 'essential' services were allowed to take place. 

Sri Lankan police forcibly quarantine and remove Muslim worshippers from prayers in Jaffna

14 people who were praying at a mosque in Jaffna on Friday, were forcibly removed by police officers and ordered to quarantine, who stated the travel ban must still be adhered to.  

Tamil youth was 'tied to a tree' and attacked before being 'beaten to death'

The recent killing of a Tamil youth by the Sri Lankan Intelligence division in custody in Batticaloa, involved him being "tied to a tree" and repeatedly beaten by officers, according to his sister and other nearby witnesses. 

How a landmark British ruling may save Tamil activists from deportation to Sri Lanka

A landmark decision from a British tribunal found that Tamils who engage in a range of political activities in the United Kingdom may continue to face “a real risk of ill-treatment or harm” if deported to Sri Lanka, in a significant ruling that clarifies and expands those who may face persecution on the island.

The ruling, which centred on the asylum appeal of two Tamil refugees in the UK, known as KK and RS, importantly expands the criteria of those who may be at risk in Sri Lanka, taking into account a range of activities from posting on social media, to attendance at commemorative events and even signing petitions that could be “perceived as being anti-government”.

Sri Lankan factories continue operations despite ongoing pandemic

Sri Lanka’s President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has ordered Governors and District Secretaries to maintain operations in factories and developments projects despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Lankan police detain and threaten two Hindu priests in Mullaitivu

Puthukudiyiruppu police detained and threatened two Hindu priests and a trustee of the Sivan temple in Moongilaru, Mullaitivu, on Thursday. 

The priests who were detained for four hours before their release, were threatened to not carry out daily prayers at the temple, despite the island's coronavirus guidance allowing worship without public attendance.

Australian High Commissioner gifts PPE to Sri Lankan accused war criminal in ‘appreciation’ of military’s COVID-19 response

Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, David Holly extended “goodwill and appreciation” towards the role of Sri Lankan armed forces against COVID-19, by gifting personal protection equipment (PPE) to accused war criminal, Shavendra Silva.

Human rights groups demand suspension of ‘inaccurate’ and ‘unreliable’ report used to assess Tamil refugee applications in Australia

File photograph

A UK court has found a key document used by Home Affairs and tribunals in Australia to reject refugee applications for Tamils from Sri Lanka as “unreliable”. Human rights advocates are calling for its retraction after the United Kingdom Home Office removed its equivalent report after receiving similar criticism.

15 arrested in Mannar with the use of drone surveillance

Up to 15 people were arrested by the Mannar police for allegedly violating COVID lockdown regulations.

On Sunday morning, the Sri Lankan Air Force and the Mannar Police used a drone camera, from the Mannar city bus stand, to monitor the movement of the public in the area. The camera captured youths playing on the sports ground and gathering on the streets, leading to the arrests of those seen allegedly violating the coronavirus rules.