Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Thirteen more skeletal remains were exhumed from the Chemmani mass grave on Monday and a further seven newly identified, bringing the total identified at the site to 412, of which 390 have now been exhumed, as the excavation, the largest at any mass grave on the island, entered its 31st day. Monday, the 31st day of the third phase of the court-supervised process, saw three sets of remains…

10 years today - Thousands of British Tamils occupy Parliament Square

This weekend marks 10 years since thousands of British Tamils began a 73 day long continuous protest at Parliament Square in London, as the Sri Lankan government ramped up a military offensive that had already massacred tens of thousands.

Sushma urged to secure release of 18 Tamil Nadu fishermen

India's External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj has been urged to secure the release of 18 fishermen who were detained by the Sri Lankan navy this month. 

Minister's bodyguard acquitted over shooting dead protestor

Sri Lanka's Minister of Petroleum, Arjuna Ranatunga's bodyguard was acquitted by Colombo Magistrate Court on Friday over the shooting dead of a protester in October last year. 

War crimes accused Silva appointed colonel of commando regiment

Sri Lanka has appointed its chief of staff of the army, Major General Shavendra Silva as the new colonel of the commando regiment, despite international calls for him to face a trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

Sri Lankan military holds Buddhist ceremony in Nainativu

The Sri Lankan navy held a series of Buddhist ceremonies in Nainativu this week, as part of elaborate celebrations where Buddhist monks invoked blessings on the military.

Nainativu, a highly militarised island of Jaffna with a large navy presence, has a Buddhist vihara which the navy helped to construct and continues to assist in maintaining.

Sri Lankan navy detains Nigerian men off Mannar

The Sri Lankan navy has arrested at least four Nigerian men and two locals from Mannar off the Talaimannar coast last Sunday. 

The men were apprehended during a Sri Lankan navy patrol allegedly aimed at curbing people smuggling across the border to India. 

All of the arrested men have since been handed over to the Sri Lankan police. 

Government's 90% land release claim 'not true' says TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has rejected the Sri Lankan government's claim this week that 90% of land occupied by the military has been released as "not true". 

Defence receives largest budget allocation

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence is set to receive the largest allocation in this year's budget, despite the armed conflict ending ten years ago. 

Sampanthan nominated to Constitutional Council

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R Sampanthan, has been nominated to Sri Lanka's Constitutional Council, following the resignation of Chamal Rajapaksa.

US officials meet with Crusaders for Democracy

Officials from the United States embassy in Colombo met with former LTTE members of the Crusaders for Democracy political party on Wednesday. 

State Department official Christina James and political officer, Sean Ruthe met with party members in Jaffna.