Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan has accused the National People's Power (NPP) government of hypocrisy over the arrest of Tamil rapper Sangeethsan Ganeskumar under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), pointing to NPP politicians who had themselves circulated songs glorifying the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during election campaigns. Sangeethsan, known…

Kumuthini boat massacre by Sri Lankan navy remembered 34 years on

Tamils gathered in Neduntheevu on Wednesday to remember the thirty-six Tamils massacred by Sri Lankan navy officers on board the Kumuthini boat on May 15, 1985. 

Time is running out' say Vavuniya families of disappeared

Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya this week urged Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court as they held a token fast in tribute to the tens of thousands massacred by the Sri Lankan armed forces in May 2009. 

11 arrested in Point Pedro

Eleven people were arrested this week in Point Pedro by police, including two Tamil business owners and 9 Muslim men. 

Jaffna uni students and canteen owner released on bail

Two Jaffna University student union leaders and a campus hospitality worker, arrested earlier this month under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), were yesterday released on bail. 

Tamil parties call on Tamils to gather at Mullivaikkal memorial

The leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Mavai Senathirajah, the former chief minister, C V Wigneswaran and the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) called on Tamils to gather tomorrow at the May 2009 remembrance event in Mullivaikkal in memory of those who were massacred. 

British opposition leaders commit to justice, accountability and Tamil self-determination

A future Labour government would be committed to the causes of achieving justice and accountability for the Tamil people, as well as recognising their right to self-determination, the party’s leading figures said this week at an event marking the tenth anniversary of Mullivaikkal in Parliament.

“This is a sad occasion because we are commemorating the tenth anniversary of that terrible massacre,” said Labour leader and Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn MP.

UK ban of LTTE to be challenged in special tribunal

<p>The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) has challenged the banning of the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the UK, citing that is being used to crack down political work of Tamils.</p> <p>In a petition to the British Home Secretary, TGTE members said that the ban on the LTTE is being misperceived as a ban on advocacy for a sovereign state of Tamil Eelam.</p> <p>Over the past ten years, there have been no violent activities carried out by the LTTE the statement added.</p>

Hard-line Buddhists behind organised anti-Muslim violence says SL minister

A Sri Lankan minister this week said hard-line Buddhists were behind the recent days of anti-Muslim violence, describing the attacks as "organised" and "systematic". 

"These are organised attacks on Muslim business houses and premises," Navin Dissanayake, minister of plantation industries, said at a press briefing yesterday. 

The attacks were organised and systematically carried out in several locations by people brought form outside, he added. 

"They were organised thugs that have been brought to the areas from other areas. We have evidence and we can prove this," he said. 

CPJ condemns reinstatement of Army Major accused of journalist murder

The Committee to Protect Journalists this week condemned Sri Lanka's decision to reinstate an Army Major accused of the assassination of the Sunday Leader editor, Lasantha Wickremetunge. 

Prabath Bulathwatte was arrested two years ago over a number of attacks against media workers and is currently on bail. However, the army commander last week announced he would be reinstated following the Easter sunday bombings by Islamist extremists. 

EU expresses concern over anti Muslim violence

European Union countries expressed concern yesterday anti-Muslim violence which has taken place in Sri Lanka this week.