Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

""
The number of skeletal remains identified at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna has risen to 366, as excavators uncovered further remains of children on Tuesday, at one of the largest mass graves unearthed on the island and a site long tied to the enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of Tamils by the Sri Lankan military. Six sets of skeletal remains, including those of children,…

Sri Lanka decries Ontario’s “Tamil Genocide Education Week”

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement condemning the passage of Bill 104 in Ontario, also known as the “Tamil Genocide Education Week” bill, claiming it was based on a flawed premise, unfounded assumptions and blatant lies.

The passage of the bill recognises Sri Lanka’s genocide against Tamils and establishes May 11 to 18 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.”

Tamil student hospitalised after being hit by Sri Lankan Navy tank

A Tamil student from Neduntheevu, Jaffna was seriously injured and hospitalised after being hit by a Sri Lankan navy tank, last month. 

15-year-old student Kavipriyan was admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital following the incident. 

The accident occured on April 24th but the police have still not arrested the tank driver. The student's family said that the police investigation was not carried out properly, citing the lack of arrest and disappearance of Kavipriyan’s motorcycle as evidence of misconduct. 

However the police have claimed the motorcycle was taken to the station following the accident.

Ontario pass Tamil Genocide Education Week bill

Photo of Scarborough-Rouge Park MPP Vijay Thanigasalam

Ontario has passed Bill 104, the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, recognising the genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka and establishing May 11 to 18 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.”

As COVID cases soar, Sri Lanka closes tourist attraction

Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Conservation Department has announced that all tourist attractions that it operates, including parks, campsites, and tourist bungalows, will be closed as Sri Lanka continues to struggle with its rapidly rising COVID infection rate.

TNA MP calls on Sri Lankan government to allow Mullivaikkal remembrance events

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Sivagnanam Shritharan has demanded that the Sri Lankan government grant permission for the Tamils to commemorate those who perished in the Mullivaikkal genocide. 

Speaking to the press last Friday, Shritharan said, “The government must grant permission to commemorate May 18, the Mullivaikal massacre day, a day in which Tamil people remember by shedding tears those who lived amongst us and died.”  

Sri Lanka’s COVID infection rate is higher than India’s

Silva at a Sri Lankan military-run quarantine centre last year.

Public Health Inspectors (PHS) have reported that Sri Lanka has a higher rate of covid-19 infections compared to India on the basis of the country population.

45 years since the birth of the LTTE

On this day 45 years ago, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was founded.

Sri Lanka police shown dragging Tamils in Jaffna

Viral footage has shown Sri Lanka police dragging Jaffna Tamils away and forcing them to quarantine. In a special operation carried out today by Jaffna police under the instruction of Chief Inspector, Prasad Fernando, at least 20 Tamils in Jaffna were arrested for allegedly not wearing masks or following social distancing measures.

Rajapaksa ally appointed as rehabilitation facilitator for North-East of Sri Lanka

Coordinating Secretary to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Geethanath Kassilingham, has been appointed as the state’s "special Rehabilitation Facilitation Officer" for the North-East as a military crackdown on the North-East intensifies.

Former Scottish Justice Minister admits to ‘turning a blind eye’ to the training of Sri Lankan forces

Speaking to investigative journalist, Phil Miller, former Justice Minister for Scottish Parliament, Kenny Macaskill, admits to turning a ‘blind eye’ to Police Scotland’s training of Sri Lanka’s forces, despite concern over human rights violations.

 

Turning a blind eye