Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Mannar Urban Council Chairman Daniel Vasanthan has strongly condemned the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stating that the detention reflects a situation where "Tamils do not even have the freedom to sing". Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mannar Urban Council on Friday, Vasanthan criticised the decision to arrest the…

Tamil political prisoner attacked at Welikada prison confirms ITAK MP

Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam raised concerns about the treatment of Tamil political detainees in Sri Lankan prisons, after a Tamil political prisoner was assaulted in Welikada prison this week.

Soldiers in Sri Lanka's hospitals, as health workers strike

In a sign of deepening militarisation in Sri Lanka, the government has deployed uniformed soldiers to hospitals across the island, as a strike by health unions intensifies.

Sri Lanka's parliament votes to go ahead with Online Safety Bill debate amid opposition

Sri Lanka’s parliament today voted to go ahead with a scheduled debate on the controversial Online Safety Bill that has been vehemently opposed by critics who state it stifles freedom of speech on the internet. 

India committed to 13A says Sumanthiran, as new diplomat meets Tamil MPs

India’s new High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha assured India’s support for the Tamil national question, ITAK parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran told the Tamil Guardian, after a cross-party group of Tamil legislators met with the diplomat this week.

Sinhala extremist party leader shot dead in drive by

Saman Perera, the leader of the right-wing Sinhala nationalist party 'Ape Janabala Pakshaya' (meaning “Our Power of People Party” in Sinhala), was confirmed to be among the five individuals shot dead in Tangalle, on Monday (22).

Eelam Tamil refugees in India receive Sri Lankan passports, after decades in limbo

A batch of nearly 200 Eelam Tamil who have been living in Tamil Nadu received Sri Lankan passports at a ceremony organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Chennai on Friday (19), after decades in limbo as refugees. 

Tamil nationalism must begin from graves of Eelam fighters - Shritharan's exclusive interview

The newly elected leader of the Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Sivagnanam Shritharan spoke to the Tamil Guardian for an exclusive interview on how he hopes to further Tamil aspirations.

Protestors in Batticaloa call for an end to repressive Sri Lankan laws

A protest march and demonstration was held in Batticaloa on Monday (22), calling for the repeal of the the Anti-Terrorism Bill and Online Safety Bill, adding both repressive laws hinder the freedom of expression and assembly.

UN experts call on Sri Lanka to immediately suspend ‘Yukthiya’

UN experts who are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council have expressed alarm at the heavy security-driven approach of Sri Lanka’s anti-narcotics operation which has seen tens of thousands of people arrested do far.

In a statement released on the UNOHCHR website, the experts called on Sri Lankan authorities to immediately suspend and review the so-called Operation ‘Yukthiya’ and to focus on policies based on health and human rights.

We will not stop' vows Sri Lankan minister, as UN slams 'Yukthiya' Operation

Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles has vowed to continue the controversial “Yukthiya” Operation adding that they "will not stop based on anyone’s statement", after coming under criticism from the UN human rights c

Addressing a gathering of media and newly appointed members to community police committees, Alles cautioned that there “was a gang of people who are envious and working against the interest of this country.”