Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
  The lawyer representing detained Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar challenged allegations that his client sought to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during proceedings before the Jaffna Magistrate's Court this week, arguing that the material cited by police contains no reference to the organisation or its leadership. Sangeethsan, better known by his stage name…

Controversial Easter Sunday Committee claims Sri Lanka’s former president did not receive prior warning

In a landmark judgement, a three-member committee, headed by retired High Court Judge Aadambaragay Nilanthi Jayaki de Alwis, claimed that information of the Easter Sunday bombings, which killed over 280 people, had not reached former Sri Lankan president Mathiripala Sirisena prior to the attack. 

Tamil asylum seekers mark 100 days of protest in Melbourne despite disruption by neo-Nazis

Tamil asylum seekers who rallied in Melbourne, Australia, earlier this week to mark 100 days of continuous protests to demand permanent visa protection were disrupted by a group of neo-Nazis. 

Tamil asylum seekers have been camped outside the Department Home Affairs since July 15, to call on the Australian government to grant them permanent visas. Many of the protesters have been on short term visas for over a decade. 

Tamil Eelam Women’s Uprising Day marked across Europe

Tamils gathered in many cities across Europe last weekend to mark Tamil Eelam Women's Uprising Day, which falls on the anniversary of the death of the first female Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighter 2nd Lieutenant Maalathy. 

Sri Lanka’s security forces continue heavy militarisation of the North

Sri Lanka’s security forces continue extending heavy militarisation of the North by extending its influence in the form of healthcare programmes, food donations and religious ceremonies. Predominantly Tamil-speaking areas in the Northern provinces are subject to the integration of the military in their lives.

Jaffna

Australia gifts spy plane to Sri Lankan air force

The Australian government has donated a Beechcraft King Air 350 surveillance aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) this week, in a move that signals increasing defence ties between Canberra and Colombo.

This donation, made on a gratis basis, is reportedly intended to bolster Sri Lanka's aerial maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The Australian Government said the gifting of the plane reinforced “their joint commitment to combat human smuggling and enhance regional stability”.

From a stolen car in England to a Sri Lankan minister’s vehicle

An illegally assembled luxury BMW in Colombo belonging to former Sri Lankan minister Johnston Fernando is suspected to have been reported stolen in England, confirmed Sri Lankan police.

Former Minister Johnston Fernando was arrested over the vehicle this week; which police believe may have been smuggled into the island illegally.

Arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen ‘on the rise’ says Stalin, as more detained by Sri Lanka

File photo

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has demanded the release of more than 100 Indian fishermen from Sri Lankan custody, after the Sri Lanka navy once again apprehended fishermen from Tamil Nadu this week.

Still no answers for Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya as they mark 2804 days of protests

Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya marked 2,804 days of continuous protest yesterday as the search for their forcibly disappeared relatives continues. 

During the protest, the families called on holding US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris and the US government to address their grievances and investigate the disappearances of their loved ones. 

Controversial Israeli centre was target of Sri Lanka 'terror plot'

A controversial Israeli community centre was a potential target of a ‘terrorist’ attack confirmed Sri Lankan police, as three suspects were being detained and ‘interrogated’ today – including one man from Jaffna.

 

Chabad Arugam Bay

A controversial Israeli community centre was a potential target of a ‘terrorist’ attack confirmed Sri Lankan police, as three suspects were being detained and ‘interrogated’ today – including one man from Jaffna.

Sri Lankan police arrest TNPF leader as he stood outside a Jaffna store

Sri Lankan police arrested the leader of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) as he stood outside a store in Jaffna earlier today, accusing him of “violating election regulations”.

Party leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam was in Nelliady, Jaffna, when Sri Lankan police arrested him. Video footage from earlier today shows a Sri Lankan police officer, speaking entirely in Sinhala, confront the party leader on the streets.