Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
Court orders Sallay to hand over passwords in Easter Sunday probe
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered former State Intelligence Service Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay to provide the Criminal Investigation Department with the passwords to his mobile phone and computer as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The order was issued on Wednesday by Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, while Sallay…

Tamils gather in Paris to commemorate Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015

Hundreds of French Tamils in Paris commemorated Maaveerar Naal in an outdoor ceremony on Friday.

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka calls for the immediate release of detainees

Nov 27, 2015
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka called for the “immediate release” of detainees and expressed concern about the proposed rehabilitation process in a press release issued Friday. The Commission, chaired by Dr. N.D. Udagama, stated that they have written to the Attorney General of Sri Lanka, Mr. Y.J. Wijayatilake, “conveying to him its grave concern about the rights of detainees and remandees under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Regulations.”

Canada’s top court rules human smuggling law too broad in MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady cases

Nov 27, 2015
Migrants helping themselves, or other refugees or asylum-seekers flee persecution cannot be considered human smugglers and deemed inadmissible, Canada’s top court ruled on Friday.

In two separate but related cases, the Supreme Court of Canada issued decisions on charges of human smuggling against individuals including asylum-seekers from the MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady, two ships that arrived in Canada in 2009 and 2010, carrying hundreds of Tamil asylum-seekers fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka.

Tamil refugees in Indonesia mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015

Tamil refugees at a camp in Indonesia marked Maaveerar Naal by lighting candles before portraits of fallen fighters, on Friday.

Maaveerar Naal remembered in Norway

Nov 27, 2015


A commemorative event was held in Oslo, Norway on Friday to mark Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil Remembrance Day.

Families of the missing and disappeared protest in Jaffna

Nov 27, 2015

Families of Tamil the missing and those who were disappeared after being detained by the Sri Lanka military protested on Saturday in Jaffna demanding all details of their possible whereabouts to be released.

US Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015

All photos: Tamil Guardian

US Tamils gathered in New York City and San Francisco on Friday, to commemorate Maaveerar Naal.

Tamils from New York, New Jersey and surrounding states gathered at Glen Oaks school in Queens to mark the annual Tamil remembrance day.

Students at Eastern Uni mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 27, 2015
Photographs: Theechudar

Students at the Eastern University in Batticaloa marked Tamil National Remembrance Day on Friday, lighting candles in memory of those who gave their lives to the Tamil struggle.

Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Trincomalee

Nov 27, 2015

Tamils in Trincomalee gathered to commemorate their war dead on church premises on Friday.  Families of those that died at the hands of the Sri Lankan state lit the ceremonial flame as local priests bore witness. 

UK pledges £6.6 million for military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation in Sri Lanka

Nov 27, 2015

Britain announced that it will provide £6.6 million over 3 years to Sri Lanka in order to support “military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation” on the island and deliver on committments set out in a UN Human Rights Council resolution.

The announcement was made as British Prime Minister David Cameron met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta on Friday.

A press release from 10 Downing Street said the funding would “help to deliver the commitments set out in the historic UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution that was adopted in October including demilitarisation and land returns”.

“The UK is clear that credible investigations into alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war are vital,” added the press release. “We are already playing a key role in encouraging progress on this, including through the UNHRC resolution which set Sri Lanka on a new path towards reconciliation and a more prosperous and inclusive future.”

“Britain is committed to standing up for those affected by Sri Lanka’s civil war”, said Mr Cameron. “This £6.6 million funding is part of a long-term UK commitment to supporting stability and prosperity in Sri Lanka.”

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka calls for the immediate release of detainees
Canada’s top court rules human smuggling law too broad in MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady cases
Tamil refugees in Indonesia mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal remembered in Norway
Families of the missing and disappeared protest in Jaffna
US Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal
Students at Eastern Uni mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Trincomalee
UK pledges £6.6 million for military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Tamils in Denmark mark Maaveerar Naal
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka calls for the immediate release of detainees
Canada’s top court rules human smuggling law too broad in MV Sun Sea and MV Ocean Lady cases
Tamil refugees in Indonesia mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal remembered in Norway
Families of the missing and disappeared protest in Jaffna
US Tamils mark Maaveerar Naal
Students at Eastern Uni mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar Naal commemorated in Trincomalee
UK pledges £6.6 million for military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Tamils in Denmark mark Maaveerar Naal