NTK leader Seeman calls for sanctions on Sri Lanka

The leader of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), a Tamil nationalist party in India, has called for economic sanctions against Sri Lanka in light of the ongoing Palk Strait disputes and brutality against Tamil fishermen. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the NTK leader, Senthamizhan Seeman, urged the Indian Government to impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka. Seeman specifically referred to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's statement that Indian fishermen crossing the border illegally would 'face firm action'.

Sri Lanka’s BRICS membership under consideration confirms Russia, denying local reports

The Russian Embassy in Colombo has addressed recent media reports suggesting that Sri Lanka’s application for BRICS membership had been rejected, clarifying that no final decision has been made. According to an official statement from the embassy, Sri Lanka’s application to join the BRICS coalition—which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—is still under consideration. The embassy emphasized that Sri Lanka’s interest was welcomed by the BRICS leadership and that its application will be evaluated “in full consultation and consensus,” alongside applications from other...

Sri Lanka deploys police as Tamils protest against sand mining

Eelam Tamil residents, alongside civil society organizations, gathered in Olaithoduvai, Mannar last week to oppose government-led soil sampling for a controversial mining project. Last Thursday, approximately 20 government officials, including representatives from the Mannar District Assistant Governor’s office and the Environmental Authority, arrived in Olaithoduvai Nagar, a region under the Mannar Divisional Secretary, to collect soil samples for chemical analysis. The soil sampling, intended to assess the area’s potential for sand mining, would involve both government and private lands...

Keppapulavu residents present petition to Sri Lankan PM demanding release of land

Tamil residents of Keppapulavu presented a petition to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, demanding the release of lands currently under military occupation. The petition was handed over during the Prime Minister’s visit to an election campaign rally held by the National People’s Power (NPP) at Puthukkudiyirippu. The Sri Lankan military continues to occupy swathes of land belonging to Tamils in the North-East. Last month, the residents had already submitted a formal appeal to both the Northern Province Governor and the Mullaitivu District Governor, urging the return of lands in...

Tamil families of the disappeared demand less talk and more action from Sri Lankan president

The Association for the Families of the Disappeared issued a reminder to Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake, urging him to take concrete actions rather than making election-time promises this week. In a media briefing held in Vavuniya, the group emphasized the urgency of releasing Tamil political prisoners and returning Tamil-owned lands, demands which say cannot wait for electoral cycles. The spokesperson for the association stressed that the families of disappeared Tamils, particularly mothers who have been searching for their loved ones for decades, are calling on Dissanayake to...

A breath of fresh air or another disappointment? Vijay’s entry into Tamil Nadu politics

Tamil actor Vijay Joseph is arguably at the peak of his cinematic career. Aged 50 years old, the superstar is one of India’s highest-paid actors, starring in multiple films that are amongst the biggest grossing of all time and raking in millions of dollars every single year. That is what makes his decision to leave Kollywood behind and enter the murky world of Indian politics even more interesting. His attempt to blend Dravidian politics and Tamil nationalism has brought fans as well as critics. But it is his bold pledge to support a referendum for Eelam Tamils and demand Tamil Nadu have a greater say on foreign policy towards Sri Lanka that has caught the most attention. After decades of lacklustre support for Eelam Tamils, the entertainer-turned-politician may be setting the stage for a much-needed revival of solidarity.

Exiled Tamil journalist’s family targeted by Sri Lankan police

Plainclothes Sri Lankan police officers arrived at the family home of exiled Tamil journalist Punniyamoorthy Sasikaran and subjected his elderly father to intense interrogation, recording his statement for more than an hour, as the harassment of Tamil media workers continued. This unsettling visit is connected to an ongoing court case involving allegations against journalists who were reporting on a protest led by farmers against former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe last year. Sasikaran, a well-known Eelam Tamil journalist, has long been a target of intimidation due to his...

Sri Lankan president preaches ‘one flag’, amidst allegations that Sinhalese crowds bussed in to Jaffna

Sri Lanka’s president Anura Kumara Dissanayake allegedly transported bus loads of Sinhalese supporters to Jaffna yesterday, as he spoke of “uniting all Sri Lankans under one flag” to crowds at a rally in the North-East.

Eelam Tamil refugees returning to homeland arrested by Sri Lankan Navy

A group of nine Eelam Tamil refugees who had previously sought refuge in India were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy near Neduntheevu Island this week. The group, comprising three men, three women, and three children from Trincomalee, Mannar, and Mullaitivu, had initially arrived in India via the Dhanushkodi coast having fled during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis between 2022 and 2023. They had been living in Tamil Nadu’s Mandapam camp where thousands of Eelam Tamil refugees remain. Officials confirmed that the refugees were intercepted on Saturday evening. Three refugees have been identified as...

Little Jaffna – A Tale of Dual Identity

Lawrence Valin’s ‘Little Jaffna,’ a feature-length debut based on his short film, delivers a compelling story about identity. Set in France, the film follows Michael, a Tamil-French police officer, assigned to infiltrate a crime syndicate funding the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). As Michael enters this world, his long-suppressed connection to it resurfaces, leading to internal conflict as he balances his mission and heritage.

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