Features

Features

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lanka’s newly released preliminary census figures from 2024 illustrated how the Tamil North-East, particularly the Vanni region, remains the worst-affected part of the island in terms of population loss and stagnation. According to the “Census of Population and Housing – 2024 Preliminary Report” by Sri Lanka’s Department of Census and Statistics, the three districts that make up the core…

What is the Batalanda Report?

Following a disastrous interview with Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hasan by former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Batalanda report and his role in facilitating torture has come into the spotlight. We take a look at the report and at Wickremesinghe’s alleged role.

Ranil Wickremesinghe blames ‘pro-LTTE’ panel as he flounders over Al Jazeera interview

Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe has attempted to shift blame onto “pro-LTTE” figures after his disastrous interview on Al Jazeera English’s Head to Head, in which he floundered over questions on war crimes, enforced disappearances, and his defence of war criminals such as Shavendra Silva.

‘Childish’ and ‘utterly insulting’ - Wickremesinghe defends war criminals in car crash Al Jazeera interview

The interview, aired earlier today, saw Wickremesinghe visibly uncomfortable as he was pressed on allegations of war crimes, government corruption, and his administration’s failure to credibly investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.  He threatened to walk out several times.

Did the Iron Age begin with Tamils? New research challenges history

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery in Tamil Nadu is set to rewrite global history, with new evidence suggesting that iron smelting in the region dates back to as early as 3,345 BCE—over a thousand years earlier than previously believed. 

The findings challenge long-held assumptions that the Iron Age began in the Hittite Empire in present-day Turkey around 1300 BCE and instead position Tamil Nadu as one of the earliest known centres of iron production.

Tamil nationalist alliance formed ahead of local government elections

A coalition of nine Tamil nationalist parties has been formed to contest the upcoming local government elections under the conch symbol, under a new political formation known as the Democratic Tamil Nationalist Front (DTNF).

ITJP report calls for accountability over Valvettithurai massacre by IPKF

A new report by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has examined the Valvettithurai (VVT) massacre of 1989, one of the worst atrocities committed by the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) against Eelam Tamils. 

UN calls on Sri Lanka to end intimidation in North-East and deliver justice


The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on the Sri Lankan government to take action against the ongoing intimidation of Tamil civil society actors, journalists, and activists in the North-East, as well as deliver justice for rights violations and holding perpetrators accountable.

Sri Lankan police torture Tamil youth in Nelliyadi, Human Rights Commission launches inquiry

A Tamil youth from Nelliyadi, Jaffna, has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) after being tortured in custody by the Sri Lankan police. 

Controversy in London as Sri Lankan singer who praised war criminal looks to perform

Activists in London have expressed their outrage, after controversial singer Yohani, who has praised Sri Lankan war criminals responsible for killing Tamils, looks to perform at a Tamil-owned venue in London on Friday.

8 years of continuous protests but still no justice for Tamil families of the disappeared

Tamil families of the disappeared marked eight years of continuous roadside protests in Kilinochchi today, as they continue to search for their relatives who were forcibly disappeared by the Sri Lanka's security forces.