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…

Tamil journalist attacked in Jaffna by unknown assailants

 

Tamil freelance journalist Pradeepan Thambithurai was attacked by masked assailants at his home in Achchuveli, Jaffna, earlier this week. The assailants, arriving on motorbikes, vandalised his property, including setting fire to his motorbike and damaging his three-wheeler. Leaflets were left at the scene with a message about transgender representation.

Sri Lanka’s TID summons more Tamil activists

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division has summoned at least seven Tamil political activists in the North-East for questioning in the last three months, as the state’s intimidation of activists and rights defenders continues.

Premadasa meets with ITAK and SLFP in Jaffna

Leader of the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Sajith Premadasa who is currently touring the North-East recently met with members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarian whilst in Jaffna.

Premadasa met Mavai Senathirajah and M A Sumanthiran at the ITAK office in Jaffna where they reportedly discussed the devolution of power for the North-East.

Sri Lanka's 'iconic' memorial plan sparks concerns over selective reconciliation

An expert committee appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recommended the construction of a "centrally located iconic building as a repository of artistic and cultural expressions" to commemorate those who died in the armed conflict, political unrest, or civil disturbances. 

JVP flips on 13th Amendment in meeting with ITAK

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), met with members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in Jaffna yesterday where he affirmed his party would support the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution.

Sinhala politicians fume, whilst SJB backtracks on 13th Amendment

Sinhala politicians in the South have vented their fury, after Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa told Tamils in Jaffna that his party was for the implementation of the 13th Amendment “in full”, as he pledged to devolve powers to the North-East.

“What did he mean?” questioned ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarian Rohitha Abeygunawardena. “Did he say that police and land powers would be granted to the northern province?”

Tamils halt land grab attempt in Vavuniya by Sri Lanka's Forest Department

Tamil residents of Poovarasankulam in Vavuniya stopped a land grab attempt by Sri Lanka’s Forest Department, as they arrived at the area to demarcate and measure a section of privately-owned land.

Residents objected to the move and turned the officials away adding that they had no authority to demarcate private property.

38 years since the Mandaitivu massacre and still no justice

The massacre of 31 fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy in Mandaitivu, Jaffna was remembered today thirty-eight years on. 

The fishermen had gone fishing by Kurunagar port when they were attacked by navy personnel. Local residents gathered by a memorial built in Kurunagar in memory of those killed. 

Advanced Level exam results of Muslim students suspended over hijab

(File photograph)

The Advanced Level examination results of 70 female Muslim students at the Zahira College in Trincomalee have been suspended after invigilators complained their identities could not be confirmed as they were wearing hijabs – an Islamic headscarf.

Lawmaker M S Thowfeek told parliament that these students despite undergoing many hardships owing to the economic crisis and loss of livelihoods had studied well and sat for the exams with the hope that they could secure a good result. 

Villages in Kilinochchi still languish without drinking water

Thousands of Tamils from the Anavimbudan and Vannerkulam villages in Kilinochchi remain without safe drinking water, as regions of the Tamil homeland continue to face poverty and underdevelopment, 15 years after the Mullivaikkal genocide.

The villagers have appealed to the divisional secretariat requesting that the general public be provided drinking water through the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, as done in other parts of the country.