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…

‘Proper facilities are not provided’ - Vavuniya makeshift hospital struggles with COVID-19 amidst bad weather

A COVID-19 treatment centre that was set up by the Sri Lankan army at Vavuniya Economic Center, is facing severe difficulties in coping with patient demands due to extreme weather over the last couple of weeks. 

Tamil patients demanded that alternative arrangements be made for the benefit of the sick people. Elderly patients are reportedly facing many difficulties as the 200 bed makeshift hospital is lacking proper facilities.

British tribunal recognises the risk of torture for Tamil political activists in Sri Lanka

In a landmark decision, the British Upper Tribunal has recognised the risk of arrest and torture Tamil activists face in Sri Lanka in a judgement granting an appeal to two Tamil asylum seekers in the case known as KK & RS vs the Home Secretary.

UK Shadow Minister demands sanctions on Shavendra Silva

UK Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Stephen Kinnock, has called on the British government to impose sanctions on the Commander of Sri Lanka’s Army, General Shavendra Silva, for his role in war crimes and human rights violations during the end of the armed conflict as commander of the notorious 58th Division.

Tamil diaspora organisations observe Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

Tamil diaspora organisations across the world commemorated Tamil Genocide and Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day noting the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians who perished during the Sri Lankan government’s relentless shelling and bombardment of civilians during the end of the armed conflict.

In a joint statement, Tamil diaspora organisations noted that the Sri Lankan state’s “stranglehold on the Tamil people has intensified”.

Strong winds devastate Mullaitivu and Mannar

Strong gusts of wind damaged houses and destroyed the woods in multiple parts of the Tamil homeland throughout Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Mullaitivu

Kannaki Amman pongal celebrated in Mullaitivu under military surveillance

Vaikasi Pongal celebrations at Vattappalai Kannaki Amman temple in Mullaitivu took place under the strict control and surveillance of the Sri Lankan police and military on Monday. 

Sri Lankan Army install Vesak lanterns in Jaffna despite COVID-19 restrictions

Vesak lanterns were set up by the Sri Lankan military in public places in Jaffna despite warnings not to hold Vesak Day events as the corona spread in the country intensifies.

At the start of this month, it was reported that Sri Lanka had a higher infection rate than India on the basis of the country population.

Pakistan seeks to strengthen collaboration with Sri Lanka despite human rights concerns

Retired general Muhammad Saad Khattak, High Commissioner for Pakistan, met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday during a meeting in which he expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation despite ongoing concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights record.

The areas of cooperation discussed include trade, educational cooperation, and sports diplomacy, with a special focus on promoting cultural heritage and religious tourism between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

‘The International Community should question the racist repression of Sri Lanka’ – NTK Senthamizhan Seeman

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) Chief Coordinator, Senthamizhan Seeman, has called on the international community to question the “racist repression of Sri Lanka” noting that the recent failure to include Tamil on the Attorney General Library’s plaque following the passage of the Colombo Port City bill.

The plaque only includes English, Sinhala and Mandarin despite Tamil being an official language.

Tamil Nadu seeks to ban Family Man 2 for demeaning depiction of Eelam Tamils

In response to the release of “The Family Man 2” trailer, the Tamil Nadu government has written to the Indian government requesting immediate action to ban the release of the Amazon Prime Web series for its highly objectionable depiction of Eelam Tamils.

This comes following a backlash from Tamil netizens who voiced their concerns over the series on Twitter using the hashtag #FamilyMan2_against_Tamils.