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…

Seventh day of Thileepan's hunger strike marked in Jaffna

The seventh day of Lt.Col. Thileepan's hunger strike was marked at his memorial in Nallur, Jaffna. 

Lt. Col. Thileepan refused food and water in a protest calling on the Indian government to honour its pledges to the Tamil people. 

Thileepan passed away 11 days later on the 26th September 1987. 

Bust of Thiyaga Theepam Thileepan unveiled in Nallur

A bust of Lt. Col. Thileepan was unveiled in Nallur, Jaffna, this evening to honour his enduring legacy as the Tamil nation marks 38 years since his fast unto death. 

Thileepan, born Rasiah Partheepan, was a political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who undertook a hunger strike urging the Indian government to fulfil its pledges to the Tamil people. 

Sri Lankan police dismantle Thileepan memorial in Trincomalee

Local residents restore Thileepan memorial 

Sri Lankan police removed a photograph of Lt. Col. Thileepan and flags from a memorial site in Trincomalee yesterday, following four days of commemorations by local residents. 

Sixth day of Thileepan's hunger strike marked in Jaffna

The sixth day of Lt. Col. Thileepan's hunger strike was commemorated this morning Nallur, Jaffna, with local residents gathering to remember his protest. 

The LTTE's political wing leader launched his hunger strike on 15th September 1987, to call on the Indian government to honour their pledges made under the Indo-Lanka accord. 

Tamils face surveillance, harassment under NPP rule – new report

A new report by CIVICUS has warned that civic space in Sri Lanka remains “repressed” under the government of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, despite the president’s campaign promises to dismantle draconian laws and expand democratic rights.

'Little Jaffna' in London - Tamil Guardian hosts sold out screening at the Curzon

LJ

Tamil Guardian hosted a sold-out screening of the film 'Little Jaffna' last week in London, which was followed by a question-and-answer session with director Lawrence Valin and several cast members.

‘I have not done anything wrong’ - Chandrika requests more time before eviction

Former Sri Lankan president and accused war criminal Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has said she will vacate her official residence in Colombo within two months, following the enactment of the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act, which stripped ex-heads of state of housing and other privileges.

Her remarks come after former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was compelled to leave his Wijerama residence under the same law, an eviction he and his allies decried as “political terrorism.”

Former Sri Lankan Navy intelligence chief remanded over abduction

Former Director of Naval Intelligence, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Sarath Mohotti, has been remanded until September 24 after being arrested by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with a series of abductions and disappearances.

Fifth day of Thileepan's hunger strike commemorated in Jaffna

The fifth day of Lt. Col. Thileepan's hunger strike was commemorated in Nallur, Jaffna, this morning. 

Thileepan started his hunger strike on 11th September 1987, to call on the Indian government to deliver on its pledges to the Tamil people. After refusing food and water for 11 days, Thileepan passed away.  

Thileepan's sacrifice remembered in Vavuniya

Tamils in Vavuniya gathered this morning to mark the 38th years since Lt. Col. Thileepan's hunger strike that was launched to call on the Indian government to deliver on its pledges to the Tamil people. 

Tamil families of the disappeared, activists and local politicians including Vavuniya municipal council chairman S Kandeepan, lit a flame in Thileepan's memory and garlanded his portrait.