Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

The LGBTQIA+ community in Jaffna held their fifth annual Pride Walk, under the theme  “We Exist For Each Other".  The walk, organised by the Jaffna Transgender Network, began outside the iconic Jaffna Public Library and proceeded along Hospital Road and Pannai Road before ending at Jaffna Fort.  Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, human rights activists, civil society…

Urgently review cooperation with Sri Lanka' urges Amnesty International in new report

Amnesty International called on the international community to “urgently review cooperation with the Sri Lankan government” including the training and provision of its security forces, as it released a new report detailing how the military and police engaged in violent suppression of protests.

Tamil women demand price reduction of rice as families grapple with increasing poverty

Women from all 8 districts of the North-East staged a protest today in Mannar demanding that Sri Lankan government to bring down the price of rice to below Rs.100 as families grapple with effects of the economic crisis. 

‘Pressure from officials’ leads to erasure of Vedukkunaari name from artwork

A replica display of the Vedukkunaari Malai Shiva lingam was forced to have the name written on the artwork erased, following reported “pressure from higher authorities” in the wake of attempts to reclaim the area by Sinhala Buddhists.

A Government of the Sinhalese, for the Sinhalese and by the Sinhalese - CV Wigneswaran

In response to Sri Lankan minister Vajira Abeywardena's advice for Tamils not to field a Tamil candidate for the presidency, parliamentarian C V Wigneswaran issued a rebuttal, adding that Abeywardena in his capacity as Chairman of the UNP makes a statement like this to make the “incumbent President win.”

Sri Lankan navy attacks Indian fishermen, four hospitalised

Four Indian fishermen sustained serious injuries when they were attacked by the Sri Lanka navy with “iron rods” near Katchatheevu yesterday. The Sri Lanka navy patrol had also collided with Indian fishing boats causing it irreparable damage. 

The man who failed to prevent Easter Sunday attacks visits victims and sparks backlash

Sri Lanka’s head of police faced criticism over his decision to visit a church that was bombed in the deadly Easter Sunday attacks of 2019, despite his own role in failing to prevent the killings.

Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon's surprise visit to the St. Sebastian Church, Katuwapitiya, where nearly 67 devotees died during the attacks was slammed by the church, who said the state should instead focus on delivering justice. 

We need a Tamil presidential candidate to represent Tamil aspirations' says EPRLF leader

Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) leader and former parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran told reporters in Vavuniya that plans are afoot among some Tamil political parties to field a common Tamil candidate ahead of the upcoming presidential polls scheduled to be held later this year. 

Tamil protestors force paramilitary leader to flee on motorbike

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Fisheries and government-aligned paramilitary leader Douglas Devananda was forced to flee on a motorcycle, after he was confronted by protestors in Kilinochchi last week.

Militarisation in the North-East: Sri Lanka’s military sets up new cadet corps in Mullaitivu

A Training Centre for the National Cadet Corps has been established in Nandikadal, Mullaitivu this week as Sri Lanka’s continues to occupy the Tamil homeland. 

Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, who attended the opening as a chief guest, claimed that the new training centre will “build unity and harmony” between the North-East and the South of the island. 

Former Sri Lankan solider beaten to death outside Buddhist monastery

Outside of the Diyakapanathota Buddhist temple in Getambe, Kandy, a former Sri Lankan soldier was tied to a tree and reportedly beaten to death for attempting to steal from the monastery.