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…

TNA congratulates Biden and Harris on ‘momentous victory’

The Tamil National Alliance sent out a congratulatory tweet to US President-elect Joe Biden and US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris this week, as they reacted to their US electoral victory.

“As the premier political party representing the Tamil People in Sri Lanka, we congratulate (Biden and Harris) on a momentous victory,” said the tweet.

Sri Lanka accelerates Sinhalisation across Vavuniya

Local Tamils have expressed concern and outrage after an area previously known as Kachchal Samalankulam in Vavuniya has become ‘Sinhalised’ and has had its name changed to Sapumalgaskada and a signboard labelled ‘Sapumalgaskada Archaeological Site’ was put up in the area, last week.

The Sinhalisation adds to the expansion of colonisation across the North-East of Tamil areas, where Tamil names have been erased and converted to Sinhala names, and Tamil areas are becoming occupied by Sinhala settlers with the support of Sri Lankan military and government officials.

Another Tamil journalist attacked in Jaffna

A Jaffna-based journalist, was attacked and had his phone stolen by a group of unidentified persons, last Wednesday. 

Mukunthan posted a Facebook post the day before the attack, alleging that the organisation, Tamil Kodi (translated – Tamil Flag) hosted relief activities that did not follow social distancing measures, despite the growing threat of a second wave of coronavirus across the island. Mukunthan also urged the concerned local authorities to take the necessary action against the organisation. 

Controversy as Mavai Senathirajah appointed General Secretary of ITAK

The appointment of Mavai Senathirajah to the position of General Secretary of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), following the resignation of S. Thuraisingham, has caused friction within the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), as some members claim that he cannot serve the post whilst also serving as leader of the TNA.

Deepa Mehta's Funny Boy faces calls for a boycott as criticism mounts

Deepa Mehta's 'Funny Boy' is facing calls for a boycott as criticism mounts over the lack of Tamil representation in the film and Mehta's links to the Rajapaksa regime. 

The film, which is based on the 1994 novel written by Shyam Selvadurai, follows a queer Tamil boy in the years leading up to the 1983 anti-Tamil pogroms in Colombo, when thousands of Tamils were killed by Sinhala mobs backed by the then UNP government and state forces.

Tensions rise in Sri Lankan prison after coronavirus outbreak

Tensions reportedly rose in the overcrowded Welikada Jail in Colombo as 71 prisoners tested positive for COVID-19, with inmates claiming they will protest the conditions. 

The prison currently houses 4,500 inmates even though the prison was built to accommodate only 2,000 inmates. After mass COVID-19 testing within the overcrowded facility, 71 inmates tested positive, only 7 of which were male. 

TNPF commemorate assassinated Tamil MP

 

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) commemorated the 14th anniversary of former Tamil National Alliance MP and human rights lawyer, Nadaraja Raviraj's assassination. 

Tamil Nadu fishermen shocked by Sri Lanka’s court directive to destroy seized boats

<p>A directive from a Sri Lankan court ordered that 121 mechanised boats, seized from Indian fishermen, shall either be destroyed or sold through public auction comes as a blow to the fishermen on the island.&nbsp;</p>

Tamil politicians and locals in Jaffna protest against Sri Lankan navy land grab efforts

The Sri Lankan navy’s attempt to occupy land owned by Tamil locals in Jaffna have been temporarily thwarted by protests led by Tamil politicians and locals.

The Sri Lankan land department were set to survey the public lands in the Mandaitivu area of the Velanai Divisional Secretariat Jaffna – where a Sri Lankan naval camp has been set up – but were not allowed to do so due to the protests held in front of the land survey site, earlier today.

High court imposes injunction against Sri Lanka Archaeology Department land occupation in Trincomalee

The Trincomalee High Court issued a temporary injunction today against the occupation of the agricultural lands belonging to the Tamil people in the Thennamaravadi and Trincomalee areas, occupied by the Sri Lankan Archaeology Department in Trincomalee.