Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Tamil mother dies following 21-year search for missing son

A Tamil mother died today after spending 21 years searching for her son who went missing in Vavuniya. 

61 year old, Thamotharampillai Perinpanayaki, from Maravankulam in Vavuniya, passed away due to an illness without knowing the whereabouts of her son, Tharumakulanathan, who has been missing since 2000. 

Pakistan PM’s speech is cancelled as Sinhala protesters demand continued cremations

Sri Lanka has cancelled a speech from Prime Minister, Imran Khan, allegedly due to concerns of antagonising India as they fear Khan could raise the issue of Kashmir.

Core Group 'should hang their heads in shame' over draft resolution says Wigneswaran

Tamil Makkal Thesai Kootani (TMTK) leader C V Wigneswaran criticised the draft United Nations Human Rights Council resolution by the Core Group on Sri Lanka as "disappointing and insufficent".

Trump donor who illegally lobbied on behalf of Sri Lankan government jailed for 12 years

Imaad Zuberi, a Pakistani-American businessman was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to charges which include the obstruction of a federal investigation into a Trump inaugural committee donation, falsifying records and a failure to disclose and pay tax on US$5.65 million received from the Sri Lankan government to lobby in Washington to improve its image.

Sri Lanka will reject any resolution presented at UNHRC says Minister

Sri Lanka has already made the decision to reject any resolution based on the UN Human Rights Chief's damning report that may be submitted at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 46th session says Sri Lanka's Co-Cabinet Spokesperson and Energy Minister Udamma Gammanpila.

British Foreign Sec sets out Sri Lanka resolution as priority on UNHRC opening day

The UK government will present a new resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), to maintain focus on reconciliation and accountability, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said today.

In his statement to the Council on its opening session, Raab said that the UK government would continue to lead action at the UNHRC on Syria, South Sudan, "and on Sri Lanka, where we will present a new resolution to maintain the focus on reconciliation and on accountability."

I'm Sri Lanka, I'm so genocide'- Black balloons flown over Sri Lankan embassy ahead of UNHRC session

Black balloons were flown over the Sri Lankan Embassy in London this morning, as the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session begins in Geneva today. 

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary claims there's 'no evidence’ of Uighur genocide

 

Tamil youth beaten by Sri Lankan intelligence officers

A Tamil youth from Vadamaradchi was severely beaten by Sri Lankan intelligence officers on Friday evening.

The youth was stopped by Sri Lankan intelligence officers near his home in Vettrilaikeni while returning from work yesterday evening. The officers asked him where he had come from and where he was going, to which the youth asked why he had to explain his presence on a public road.

Tamils and Justice can’t wait: The Need for Decisive UN Action on Sri Lanka

(Photo of  Kilinochchi protest 20 February 2021)

Writing in Just Security, Tasha Manoranjan, Executive Director of People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), highlights that a failure to address impunity in Sri Lanka has “very real consequences, even beyond the preservation of international rule of law”.