Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Remembering the Black Tigers
21 Black Tiger elite commandos who took part in the raid on a Sri Lankan airbase in Anuradhapura, 2007 On July 5, Eelam Tamils across the world remember and mourn the sacrifices made by the LTTE's elite women and men, the Black Tigers. “Karumpuli Naal” marks the sacrifice made by the first Black Tiger, Captain Miller, or Vallipuram Vasanthan, 39 years ago. In 1987, he attacked a Sri Lankan…

Stop EU trade benefits if SL does not cooperate with UN inquiry says UK Foreign Affairs Committee

Nov 26, 2014
The British Foreign Affairs Committee report said that the UK should negotiate with the EU to remove trade benefits granted to Sri Lanka, if the government not allow UN investigators into Sri Lanka or stop activists engaging with the UN.

Highlighting further concerns over witness intimidation following David Cameron’s visit to Jaffna, the Committee urged the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to report on how individuals at risk in Sri Lanka had been monitored, in a report published today.

Commemorating 'Heroes Day' is a terrorist act warns SL military spokesperson

Nov 26, 2014
Sri Lanka will not allow anyone to celebrate the birthday of the Liberation of Tamil Tigers leader or “Heroes Day,” said the Military Media spokesperson, Ruwan Wanigasooriya.

The brigadier stressed that security had been strengthened in the North by deploying additional special forces, and warned that anyone commemorating these events would be considered as committing a terrorist act, reports Colombo Page.

Topography of terror and exile

Nov 26, 2014
Sinthujan Varatharajah

Jaffna Municipal Council hackers leave message celebrating LTTE leader's birthday

Nov 26, 2014
The website of the Jaffna Municipal Council was hacked on Wednesday, displaying a message celebrating the 60th birthday of LTTE leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran.

The image, posted on Wednesday, featured Prabhakaran's photograph and the words “Happy Birthday Karikaalan,” a reference to the name he was also known as.

No bells must toll today warns army, as North-East under military siege on Maaveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014
Updated 10:38 GMT

Photograph @Tharu1985


The Sri Lankan army have warned Tamils across the North-East that no temple or church bells must toll today, as the Tamil nation marks its remembrance day - Maaveerar Naal, the local newspaper, Uthayan, reported.

Photograph Uthayan


Sri Lankan military personnel and police officers have been deployed across the Tamil homeland. The main town of Jaffna has been particularly affected, with Jaffna University, Nalloor temple and the main teaching hospital, under effective siege.

"The army is stationed at every street and lane, so much so that the place is looking like war zone, and everyone who goes past is subjected to an interrogation," the Uthayan noted.

Uthayan remembers fallen heroes

Nov 26, 2014
Marking the Tamil national remembrance day today amid military warnings against any act of remembrance, the Jaffna based newspaper, Uthayan, published a full page remembrance message on the second page of its print edition.

"We bow our heads in memory of our heroes who gave their lives to protect the rights of the people," the message read, depicting two hands holding a lit lamp. The message was also published online on the Uthayan's website.

Uthayan print edition 27 Nov 2014, page 2

Tamils will remember their dead in the face of SL state oppression - Ananthi Sasitharan

Nov 26, 2014
The memories of Tamils who dedicated their lives towards the Tamil people’s liberation will not be erased despite the Sri Lankan state’s relentless efforts to do so, said Ananthy Sasitharan.



Candles lit in North-East to mark Maaveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014
Updated 15:30 GMT

 
Photograph: Lamps being lit at a home in Jaffna.
Tamil Guardian

Maaveerar Naal was commemorated in secret on Thursday in the North-East, despite heavy military presence all over the region.

A source at one Jaffna event held in a private location told Tamil Guardian, “this is not an advertising stunt. Just to tell the world, that still our feelings, as Tamils, are alive.”

Maaveerar remembered at Jaffna University

Nov 26, 2014
Students at the University of Jaffna marked Maaveerar Naal in secret, despite a heavy military presence around the campus.

Photograph: Uthayan

Soldiers and police were gathered around a memorial monument in the university grounds where they expected students to attempt to light a ceremonious flame.

British Tamils commemorate Maveerar Naal

Nov 26, 2014

Thousands of British Tamils gathered at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London on Thursday, to commemorate the nation's day of remembrance - Maaveerar Naal.

The event began with the ceremonious lighting of a flame of remembrance, coinciding with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the struggle against Sri Lankan state oppression.

The ceremonial flame was lit by the mother of Isaipriya, a Tamil news anchor and journalist who was killed in May 2009.

See our live tweets here.
 
 
Photographs: Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC)

In London, British Tamils from across began the event with the ceremonious lighting of remembrance flames to coincide with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the fight against Sri Lankan state oppression.
Commemorating 'Heroes Day' is a terrorist act warns SL military spokesperson
Topography of terror and exile
Jaffna Municipal Council hackers leave message celebrating LTTE leader's birthday
No bells must toll today warns army, as North-East under military siege on Maaveerar Naal
Uthayan remembers fallen heroes
Tamils will remember their dead in the face of SL state oppression - Ananthi Sasitharan
Candles lit in North-East to mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar remembered at Jaffna University
British Tamils commemorate Maveerar Naal
Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal
Commemorating 'Heroes Day' is a terrorist act warns SL military spokesperson
Topography of terror and exile
Jaffna Municipal Council hackers leave message celebrating LTTE leader's birthday
No bells must toll today warns army, as North-East under military siege on Maaveerar Naal
Uthayan remembers fallen heroes
Tamils will remember their dead in the face of SL state oppression - Ananthi Sasitharan
Candles lit in North-East to mark Maaveerar Naal
Maaveerar remembered at Jaffna University
British Tamils commemorate Maveerar Naal
Mullaitivu councillor marks Maaveerar Naal