Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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  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…

Sri Lankan police obstruct Tamil election boycott campaign

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) has submitted a written complaint to Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Council, detailing how Sri Lankan police obstructed their presidential election boycott campaign in Amparai last week.

Footage from Amparai shows police stopping a member of the TNPF, claiming that leaflets calling for a  boycott “can't be distributed”.

“It's prohibited,” says the officer. “Demonstrations are prohibited."

Stalin writes to Centre over 'alarming' arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin informed the Centre that eight more fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy and expressed concern over the "alarming recurrence" of such arrests. This is the second such incident within a week, with the Sri Lankan Navy having apprehended 11 Indian fishermen on August 23 for alleged maritime boundary violations.

Sri Lanka convenes diplomats in Colombo to rally support ahead of UN session

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, along with Central Bank Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, held a briefing in Colombo this week to garner support from foreign diplomats stationed in Sri Lanka ahead of the upcoming session at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) next month.

Roaring into politics - Thalapathy Vijay unveils party flag and honours fighters of Tamil soil

Prominent Tamil Nadu actor ‘Thalapathy' Vijay unveiled Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) party flag last week in Chennai, along with a pledge honouring fighters who fought for the rights of Tamil people.  

Thalapathy Vijay unveiling TVK Party Flag.

Prominent Tamil Nadu actor ‘Thalapathy' Vijay unveiled Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) party flag last week in Chennai, along with a pledge honouring fighters who fought for the rights of Tamil people.  

Tamils returned to desecrated temples and broken homes in Jaffna

Eelam Tamils returning to their temples within Jaffna's High Security Zone found them desecrated and their lands uninhabitable.

After 34 years, the Sri Lankan Army finally permitted Tamils in the North-East to return to their homes, lands, and temples in the North Nagulewaram Village in Jaffna.

Eelam Tamils returning to their temples within Jaffna's High Security Zone found them desecrated and their lands uninhabitable.

Tamil families of the disappeared to mark the day of the disappeared

The Families of the missing person associations have announced that they would carry out a protest in Kilinochchi on August 30, to coincide with the International Day of the Disappeared. 

Vaazhai - The childhood of a king

In six years, Mari Selvaraj has established himself as one of the foremost voices in the Tamil film industry. Since his debut with 2018’s ‘Pariyerum Perumal,’ he has released a string of films which have been both politically and emotionally charged. His fantastic symbolic use of animals in his films are what come to mind first when looking back on his filmography, paired with beautiful cinematography. His latest feature is ‘Vaazhai,’ presented by the director as a semi-autobiographical slice of his life. 

 

 

Sexual violence and intimidation against Tamils remains prevalent reports OHCHR

Ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential elections, on 21 September, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a damning report detailing the sexual abuse and intimidation of Tamil activists by Sri Lanka’s security forces; continued crackdowns on memorial activities across the North-East; and failure to advance accountability for human rights abuses committed.

 

 

 

Court of appeal rejects BIOT Commissioner's appeal and expresses 'serious concern' over welfare of Tamil asylum seekers

In a landmark decision, the British Indian Overseas Territories (BIOT) Court of Appeals rejected an appeal launched by the BIOT Commissioner, against an earlier Supreme Court judgement by Judge Mararet OBI, and reiterate its concerns over the welfare of Tamil asylum seekers on the territory, and in particular the welfare of children.