Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

TNPF call for united Mullivaikkal remembrance commemoration

Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) MP Selvaraja Gajendran has called on people to carry out a united May 18th Mullivaikkal commemoration. 

The comments were also echoed by the party's legal advisor Nadarajar Kandeepan, who said "The Mullivaikkal Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day will remember victims of Sri Lanka's Tamil genocide, reaffirm the recognition of the Tamil nation, and reiterate the rejection of the Unitary state and the 13th Amendment."

 

A R Rahman posts homage to Tamil as he hits back at Indian minister

Oscar-winning musical composer A R Rahman posted an ode to the Tamil language on his social media accounts last week, in a powerful message that seemingly hit back an Indian minister’s remarks on how Hindi should be used across the country.

Rahman shared an illustration of “Thamizhanangu” of “Goddess Tamil” on his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Sri Lanka in medical crisis as drug and equipment shortages cripple hospitals

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), one of Sri Lanka's most powerful trade unions, has declared a medical crisis as doctors and hospitals reported a widespread lack of medicine. 

The GMOA met last week and released a statement declaring a medical emergency.  

Structural genocide and militarisation root causes of Sri Lanka's economic crisis' - TGTE

The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) expressed that the associated military expenditure with waging the Mullivaikkal massacre in 2009, the continued occupation subjecting of the Tamil people, and the subjecting of Tamil people to structural genocide are the main factors behind Sri Lanka's current economic crisis. 

‘Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has created a political one’

Responding to the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka, the Economist slams the governance of the Rajapaksa regime noting that their response has been “a mix of intimidation and ineptitude” which has produced “a political crisis to compound the economic disaster”.

 

Sri Lankan police injure 9 journalists amidst protests

At least nine journalists have been injured by Sri Lankan police during protests against the Rajapaksa regime amidst international calls for the government to respect the democratic rights of its citizens.

US Ambassador, Julie Chung stated on Twitter:

‘Ending the occupation of Tamil Eelam is the only solution’ – International Tamil Youth demand recognition of right to self-determination

Responding to the unfolding economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka, 26 international Tamil student organisations stressed the need to recognise self-determination for Tamils as the only viable solution to Sri Lanka’s current woes.

‘We want Gota’ – Rajapaksa supporters march in Colombo

Around 100 protesters in Colombo have organized a rally in support of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Sri Lankan rupee plunges to become worst performing currency in the world

The Sri Lankan rupee has plunged to a record low and lags behind even Russia’s rouble, as a political and economic crisis grips the island.

The rupee now trades at over 300LKR to 1USD, a 32 per cent fall so far this year making it the worst performing currency in the world.

The fall comes as anti-government protests continues whilst embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa struggles to hold on to power.

EU and Western states ‘stress extreme urgency of situation’ in Sri Lanka

The embassies of the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in Sri Lanka stressed the “extreme urgency of situation” on the island and called for “in-depth discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the reforms needed to bring the Sri Lankan economy back to a sustainable path”.

In a statement released this morning, the missions of the states also called on “all parties to explore constructive and democratic ways out of the current crisis” as anti-government protests continue in the South.