Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A protest in Batticaloa earlier this year. Sri Lanka risks losing access to the European Union’s GSP+ trade concession because of slow progress on reforming the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Joint Opposition Convener Prof. G. L. Peiris has warned. Speaking at a press conference, Peiris said the tariff benefit remained crucial for Sri Lankan exporters seeking access to EU markets, particularly…

Tamils in Kilinochchi clean local LTTE cemeteries

Tamils in the Kilinochchi district gathered at the sites of cemeteries for fallen LTTE cadres to tidy the remains of the tomb stones, ahead of Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil remembrance day, on November 27.

Sri Lanka's navy constructs permanent fencing around appropriated land in Mullaithivu

Sri Lanka’s navy has installed permanent fences around 617 acres of Land in Mullaithivu.

A notice was published in a local Tamil newspaper stating that the Navy was going to acquire land under Section 38a of the Land Acquisition Act.

London shopfronts display Tamil national flag for Maaveerar week

Tamil businesses across London mark Maaveerar week by flying the Tamil national flag in their shopfronts.

Sri Lanka's human rights abuses must be held to account says Australian senator

The international community must do more to hold Sri Lanka to account for its ongoing human rights abuses, says Australian senator Lee Rhiannon.

In a speech to the Australian parliament, Greens senator Lee Rhiannon recounted how Sri Lanka’s chief of national intelligence, himself accused of perpetrating torture, evaded questions from the UN’s Committee Against Torture.

Quoting reports from Together Against Genocide, PEARL, Adayaalam, Journalists from Democracy in Sri Lanka and other organisations, the senator made the case for holding Sri Lanka more strongly to account, in particular calling for the EU to remain firm when considering restoring GSP+ to the country.

Canadian Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group holds inaugural meeting, pledges to focus on accountability for rights violations

The Canadian Tamil Parliamentary Friendship Group (CTPFG) held its inaugural meeting on Monday 22 November.

The cross-party parliamentary group was established with the aim of building a strong relationship between Canada and the worldwide Tamil diaspora, whilst continuing to “focus on issues important to Tamil-Canadians, including advocacy on human rights, and accountability for violations against Tamils”

Speaking at the inauguration, the Chair of the CTPFG, Liberal MP Mark Holland, said,

Vavuniya Citizens Committee calls for Maaveerar Naal commemoration

The Vavuniya Citizens Committee called this week for Tamils across the world to commemorate Maaveerar Naal, remembering the sacrifice of those who died for the Tamil struggle. 

"On November 27th as usual under aegis of the Citizens Committee of Vauviniya, exactly at 6.05 PM, the Vavuniya Church bell will toll three times and before a model tombstone a common lamp will be lit as a mark of respect to pay homage to the great souls who laid their lives," the committee said in a statement published earlier this week. 

Danish Tamil uni students commemorate Maaveerar Naal

Students at Aarhus University in Denmark marked Maaveerar Naal (Tamil national remembrance day) on Friday. 

North-East newspapers publish feature marking LTTE leader's birthday

 

Newspapers in the North-East on Saturday marked the 62nd birthday of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam which falls on November 26 with a special feature published on the front page. 

 

LTTE leader's birthday marked in secret at Jaffna Uni

The birthday of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran on November 26 was marked in secret at the University of Jaffna on Saturday. 

A cake decorated with '62' candles and red and yellow balloons were displayed in front of the Kailasapathy arts hall. 

"A symbol of endless hope" - young Tamil artists pay tribute to Maaveerar

In the run up to Maaveerar Naal, young Tamil artists took to Instagram to commemorate the thousands who gave their lives fighting in the Tamil struggle.