Today marks 37 years since the death of Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE who fasted to death, in a protest appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people.

Today marks 37 years since the death of Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE who fasted to death, in a protest appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people.

As we approach Sri Lanka’s presidential election on 21 September, Tamil Guardian takes a closer look at the leading candidates ahead of Saturday's polls.

As we approach Sri Lanka’s presidential election on 21 September, Tamil Guardian takes a closer look at the leading candidates ahead of Saturday's polls.

Ranil Wickremesinghe

A draft United Nations Human Rights Council resolution looks set to extend the mandate of a war crimes evidence gathering mechanism for a further year, as the Sri Lankan government continues to reject any prospect of international accountability for mass atrocities this week.

The British government continues to deem Sri Lanka a “human rights priority country” said Catherine West, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, as she was questioned on the need to impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on Sri Lankan officials accused of war crimes.

UN High Commissioner Volker Türk urged Sri Lanka to address the "root causes of the conflict" to advance accountability and reconciliation whilst also calling on member states to take action through their own domestic systems and through the international fora. 

The Canadian Court of Appeal for Ontario has affirmed the constitutionality of the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act (TGEWA), rejecting an appeal by Sri Lankan groups challenging the law.

(Ottawa, 11 April, 2009. Photo Credit: Ninaivukal)

The central committee of the Ilankai Arasu Tamil Katchi (ITAK) announced that it would back Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential elections, in a move that has highlighted the splits and turmoil within the already troubled Tamil political party.

A staunch supporter of Eelam Tamil aspirations and an unwavering voice for those who fought for freedom and safety for asylum seekers, Viraj Mendis was laid to rest in Germany this week.

A staunch supporter of Eelam Tamil aspirations and an unwavering voice for those who fought for freedom and safety for asylum seekers, Viraj Mendis was laid to rest in Germany this week.

Tamil Fest, an annual street festival organised by the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) to celebrate Tamil culture and identity, was marred by controversy, after protests demanded the organisation apologise for meeting with accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka last year.