Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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A Guinness World Record set by nearly 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers at Galle Face in Colombo has sparked controversy, after activists questioned why the official recognition was awarded to organisers and an overseas instructor rather than the thousands of performers who paid to take part. The SANGAMAM-2026 event, held on 14 June, saw 4,988 dancers successfully set a new Guinness World Record for…

Sri Lankan police arrest 30 Tamils in Vavuniya for ‘not wearing masks’

More than 30 Tamils in Vavuniya were arrested for allegedly not wearing masks with court cases already filed by Vavuniya police against them. 

STF announces 'Special Waterborne Operation Squad'

The Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force officially launched the “Special Waterborne Operation Squad” on Sunday to curb illegal activities on the island’s water and reservoirs, as militarisation on the island intensifies. 

The special unit is tasked with managing drug trafficking, smuggling of goods, sand, timber smuggling, illegal gem mining and illegal liquor smuggling. 

Mannar municipal council pays tribute to Mullivaikkal massacre

During the 39th session of Nattan’s municipal council, members paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the Mullivaikkal massacre

Led by the council’s chairman, Tiruch Selvam Paranjothi, members lit a flame and paid a silent two-minute tribute to the estimated tens of thousands killed during the final weeks of the armed struggle.

Sri Lankan army vandalises Mullivaikkal monument and steals memorial stone

The Sri Lankan army vandalised the Mullivaikkal memorial monument located in Mullivaikkal East earlier today, just hours after the security forces blocked Tamils from erecting a memorial stone at the site where tens of thousands were massacred 12 years ago.

Tamil Genocide Education Week passes into law

Ontario’s legislature has given royal assent to Bill 104, bringing into effect Tamil Genocide Education Week, which establishes May 12-18th as a week in which Ontarians “are encouraged to educate themselves about, and to maintain their awareness of, the Tamil genocide and other genocides that have occurred in world history.”

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, signed the Royal Assent officially bringing the bill into effect.

Sri Lankan police and army block Mullivaikkal memorial stone

A memorial stone was brought to Mullivaikkal this evening by the public committee organising Tamil genocide remembrance events, but the committee was blocked from erecting the stone at the intended place by Sri Lankan army and police.

Mullivaikkal remembrance week commences in Tamil homeland

Tamils across the North-East marked the first day of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Week with a series of events earlier today, as they commemorated the tens of thousands of Tamils killed by the Sri Lankan state 12 years ago.

The Tamil National People’s Front held events at their offices in Jaffna and Batticaloa, as remembrance events and commemorations are set to take place around the globe to pay tribute to those who were massacred.

Tamil students celebrated for achieving top grades in the North-East

Several bright Tamil students from Mullaitivu and Mannar districts were celebrated after A-level examination results were released last week. Despite  various challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic, including the intensifying militarisation in the North-East regions of the island, the successes of these students became a great cause for celebration. 

Mullaitivu district

Buddhist ritual underway in ancient Tamil temple site

A Pirith chanting ceremony, a Buddhist religious ritual, is currently underway in Kurunthoormalai, Mullaitivu, violating COVID-19 restrictions in place on the island. Hundreds of armed personnel have been stationed at the site as the event is being held under the supervision of Sri Lankan security forces. 

The Archaeological Department and Sinhala-Buddhist monks are also in attendance at the ritual. 

Sri Lankan minister who called for the President to act like ‘a Hitler’ sworn in as Police Minister

Last week, Sri Lankan MP Dilum Amunugama, who publicly called for the President to act like ‘Hitler’, was sworn in as the State Minister of Community Police Services at the Presidential Secretariat.