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…

Mattala airport to be developed with India

Sri Lanka's Mattala airport is to be developed with India's Aviation Authority, the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. 

Alternative avenues

For almost a decade, Tamil victims have looked to the UN Human Rights Council in their pursuit of justice. However, after years of resolutions followed by an extension, alongside lack of any progress on accountability, events at Geneva this week brought another deep disappointment.

Gotabaya could be candidate for Sri Lankan presidential elections - The Hindu

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s former defence secretary accused of leading a military offensive that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils, may run as a candidate in this year’s presidential elections, reports The Hindu.

Political sources reportedly told The Hindu that Gotabaya “is very likely" to represent his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa’s, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Sri Lanka is ‘backtracking on accountability’ says Amnesty International

Amnesty International said Sri Lanka has been “backtracking on accountability” and warned that victims groups had become disillusioned in the transitional justice process given Colombo’s failure to meet commitments made to the UN Human Rights Council.

Album of Persecution: Justice, Despair, Tears' - Jaffna photo exhibition


The long running campaign by families of the disappeared across the Tamil homeland was highlighted in a moving photo exhibition, 'Album of Persecution: Justice, Despair, Tears', in Jaffna last week. 

Sri Lankan navy arrest 11 Tamil Nadu fishermen

Eleven Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested yesterday by Sri Lankan navy personnel for allegedly poaching fish. 

Mannar residents accuse military of dumping trash in released land

Residents in Mannar accused Sri Lankan military personnel of dumping trash in private land which was recently released. 

United States urges Sri Lanka to ensure 'timely action'

The United States urged Sri Lanka to ensure 'time action' on justice, accountability and reconciliation, responding to the passing of a co-sponsored resolution at the UN Human Rights Council this week. 

"We welcome #SriLanka’s renewed commitment to #reconciliation, #justice, and #accountability.  Timely action to address these issues will secure a peaceful and prosperous future for all Sri Lankans," the US State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs tweeted. 

The resolution was passed amid a number of member states expressing disappointment over Sri Lanka's failure to make sufficient progress over the past four years. 

Army official arrested over drugs in Vavuniya

A Sri Lankan army official was arrested last Saturday over being in possession of drugs for supply. 

Key Tamil diaspora orgs urge acceleration of resolution implementation

<p><img alt="Image removed." src="/core/misc/icons/e32700/error.svg" title="This image has been removed. For security reasons, only images from the local domain are allowed." height="16" width="16" class="filter-image-invalid"></p> <p>Six key Tamil diaspora organisations said they were disappointed by the failure to secure a time bound pathway of implementation of Sri Lanka's co-sponsored UN Human Rights Council resolution, ensuring accelerated progress.&nbsp;</p>